The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-05-09
CATHOLICS IN AMERICA.
Joseph OsfIeld Spends Sixty Minutes
With the A. p. A.


Tic american of April ~, and was
handed us by prominent Catholic
of Oakland with the request that it
be given space in this journal. We
publish it without comment.
'Joseph Osfeld, Jr., Esq, de-
llYered an address on Civil and
Religious Liberty, or Sixty Minutes
with the A. P. A." in Providence
Il. l. recently, under the auspices
of the Young Mems Christian As
ISOLATION. The address was forcible
and interesting throughout. Point
ing out that the Church had ALWAYS
been assailed by enemies of truth
and that the clergy and faithful had
in every century suffered for con-
science sake, Mr.. Osfeld referred to
the settlement of Rhode Island and
its constitutional guarantee of re-
hglous liberty. In the face of this
fundamental principle, he said, an
un-American organization has been
formed to deprive citizens of the
state of their inalienable privileges
under the law. The designs of this
organization and the form of initia-
ton of members were shown, and in
connection Herewith the speaker
proceeded to discuss the anti Cathu-
lie and anti Irish prescription moye-
ment that successfully arose and
disappeared during the past century.
Even after the adoption of the
American constitution said Mr..
Osfield, several of the original states
enacted antiCatholic laws. Up to
the year 1906, Catholics were prohlb-
tied from holding office in New York
state, and in Massachusetts, it was
not until 1921 that Catholics dis
abilities were removed. In Virginia
Catholics only obtained their religi-
GUS liberty in 1880; and in North
Carolina, up to 1886, no Catholic
could vote or hold office, without
first swearing to his belief in the
truth of the Protestant religion.
In New Jersey an odious clause ex-
Guiding Catholics from holding Of
flee was not repealed until 1914,
and it was only within Il few years
that Ney Hampshire removed a
similar stain from its constltu-
ton.
"The spirit Of bigotry has been
handed down from one generation to
another, cropping out from time TO
time in organizations under one
name or another, being first known
in this country under the name of
the 'Nativists.'
CATER the war of 1912, this Natl
visit party almost disappeared and
was not heard Of again until about
1S43, when it reappeared in New
York state, and from there spread
into several of the other states, to
such an extent that some of the
governors and many members of
Congress were elected by It's infiu-
ence.
"The new conspiracy. A. p. A.
ism was reasonable organization,
fostered by Orangemen, renegade
Irish Protestants, a few apostate
Catholics, and infidels, anarchists,
religious fanatics and bigots of all
nationalities-vandals and church
burners who destroy peace and order
by inviting religious war.
"'Put none but Americans on
guard, we hear these bigots cry.
Who | ask were on guard at the
renowned battles of Charlestown
and Fort Moultrie, the disastrous
and bloody days of Long Island,
Brandywine and Germantown, and
during the glorles of Trenton,
Princeton and Yarmouth? Who
were on guard at Eutaw Springs,
Stony Point, Valley Forge and Bun
ker Hill and saturated every battle
field in the revolutionary war with
blood? Catholics! Who carried
the money to furnish shoes, clothing
and food for Wasblngton's troops
in the field, and who pledged their
lives, their fortunes and their sacred