The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-10-22
BISHOP IRELAND.
He Discusses the Political
Duty of Men.
WONDERFULLY STRONG APPEAL.

From This Great Church Leader For the
Nation's Honor, Law and Order As
Against Organism and the Anarchy
and Repndistion of the Chscago Plat
form--Our Country Is In Peril-Letter
From the Prelats to Business Men.
st. Paul, Mimi, Oct. 12.-In reply
to a letter of the business men of the
Catholic churches of this city, Arch
bishop Ireland has given out letter
In which he gives his reasons why he
is opposed to the Chicago platform.
The letter Of his constituents is an
! appeal for light upon the duties of the
hour and asks for the archbishop's
calm and honest convictions on the
issues of the day. The following is
the reply:
Messrs Gordon, Dawson, Warner,
etc.-Gentlemen: l am not unwilling
In tn crisis through which the country
is now passing to speak for the integ-
= rity of the nation, for social order, for
the prosperity of the people, for the
honor of America and the permanency
of free institutions / am a citizen of
terests of the nation, subject to all the
responsibilities of citizenship. To be
silent when words of mine may be of
some profit to the people would be
cowarGice, would be crime
am not unmindful of the objection
made against the churchman speaking
at any time on matters which have
entered the arena Of politics, lest his
influence as a teacher of religion
sem to used to promote the interests
!. of political party. l might reply
that there are occasions when polit-
ical platform means disaster to the
country, when politics are closely con-
nected with morals or religion, and
that on those DECISIONS the churchman
must be the patriot, without allowing
a moments thought to consideration
of expediency, and must take in hand
the moral or religious issue, even if it
be vested in the garment of politics.
But in the present instance l seek no
excuse of the kind; | speak entirely
as the citizen, without warrant from
my ecclesiastical position. Deep as
my convictions are, l hold in all due
convictions at variance with my own.
impeach neither their good faith nor
their honor. / am dealing not with
men, but with principles and move
ments. This justice which I render
to those whose ideas l am ready to
combat, l am sure they will render to
me.
The Nation In Peril.
I stand by the platform and the
presidential candidates of the Repub-
lican convention at St. Louis. l am
opposed to the platform and the pres
idential candidates of the Democratic
convention at Chicago. The days Of
the civil war excepted, at no time did
so great peril threaten the country as
that which is involved in the political
campaign of today. The question of
free and unlimited coinage of silver is
put in the foreground. This question
has it's Importance, but it is of minor
Importance in presence of other ques-
tions which are brought into issue.
The movement which had it's express
sion in the Chicago convention, and
which now seeks, by means of popular
suffrage, to enthrone itself in the Capt.
tol of the nation is in it's logical effect
against the United States; it is seces-
sion; the secession of 1851 which our
soldiers believed they had consigned
to eternal death at AppomattoX, but
which demands again recognition
from the American people.
This declaration in the Chicago
Clotforv,, hoe opd oop bovo M 9th or
meaning. I'VE denounce arbitrary
interference by federal authorities in
local affairs as a violation of the con-
words point to the act of Grover Cleve-
crime against free institutions" The
words point to tn act of Grover Cleve-
land sending United States troops to
protect national property and enforce
national law during the Chicago riots
in 1894. In those words there is the
old secession doctrine that states are
Independent of the national govern
ment at Washington; there is the an.
nulment of the Union; there is notice
served upon the flag of America that
outside of the District of Columbia il
is without power of self-assertion OF
self-defense. The president of the
United States is told that to enforce
national laws and protect nationa
property he can not march his troops
into any state without the authorize
tion of the government of that state
One of the chief speakers at th'
convention of Chicago understood tn,
Significance of the convention ant
voiced its spirit: Il come from
sion," said Senator Ti,lman of Soutl
Carolina. ''Isay," he continued, "it
sectional issue, and it will prevail.
And fitting was it that the speake
voicing the spirit of the Chicago con
vention should be the representativ
Of South Carolina. Thrice now ha
South Carolina spoken for secession
when 1t passd in 1882 the nullificatio