The San Francisco call., 1896-10-27
FATHER YORKE ON
l'UNDER WHICH FLAG"
The Eloquent Priest Lee
lures for Holy Cross
Church.
He Scores the A. P. A., the Mer.
chants Association and the
=. Charter.
He Is NOT IN POLITICS.
Says He Would Not Indicate to Auy
American Citizen How He
Should Vote.
He IS NOT IN POLITICS.
"Under Which Flag ?"

under this title, last evening at Metropoli-
tan Temple. After J. J. Dwyer's felicitous
little speech of Introduction Professor
Martinez rendered piano solo. followed
by M. d. Manlloyd, tenor solo, EILEEN
Mavourneen" Professor Giulio Minetti.
violin solo, "Elegie''; Miss Julia Cote.
soprano solo, "Parlo," and then Under
Which Flag2'
The lecture was for the benefit of the
church fund of old Holy Cross, formerly
st. Patrick and st. Johns, and Mr.. Dwyer
took occasion to pay timely complin ent
to the pastor, Father McGinty, the men,
tion of whose name called out q warm
burst of applause.
The stage was graced with a profusion
of bright flowers and liberal display of
American fags-enough to clearly indi-
cate under which flag"
e. The introduction by Hon. ]. ]. Dwyer
to be sure had got the audience on tiptoe,
naming him IS the fearless leader of the
fight against bigotry and intolerance.
Father Yorke referred geod-naturedly
TO the encomiums of the chairman, and
then sought the indulgence of the audi
ence for one of his "preIudes" Assent
being signifed by laughter and applause,
the lecturer took the occasion to take
fall" out of his especial antipathy, Rev. D.
M.Ross. Then he referred to the Merchants
Association, saying that that body hau re-
Gently sent circulars to the different coun-
ellis of the A. P A, asking them to put
watchers at the polls in the interest of the
charter. He wanted to know if the Mer-
chants Association could. not get decent
men for such work; why "they should 60
down into the sewers of society" for their
assistants. 81 may use your name," he
said, lin which TO demand an answer
The first rounded period of the lecture
Cnfuried the two flags to be touched upon
IN the lecture, 'the black flag of intoler-
ance" and the "bright, starry flag of free
DOM"
The lecture was another of Father
Yorke's onslaughts upon the A. P. A. He
wondered again that such society, hav-
ing for its purpose the repeal of the
first article of the constltution-tbe
guarantee that citizens of this Republic
may worship their GOD when and how
they please; that such a society should
not only be permitted TO exist but could
flourish in this the closing days of the
nineteenth century. Such wonder be-
came possible, he said, through the
cowardice of newspapers and politicians
who feared to speak out and denounce
what they knew 10 be evil.
He said the coming election would prove
a test of the strength of this society; that
it bad its candidates for principal
officers and its mem bers were working
tooth and nail for their success. They
had within the past few months been
dashed into decency and forced back into
the darkness whence they had come, but
if they were successful they would come
forth again, bold and arrogant. and heap
their fifth upon the devoted head of
Catholicism. The society had been
whipped into silence and decency because
the great majority OF the people, Catholic
and Protestant alike, were shown to be
against it. But this society was not only
an anti-Catholic society-a society that is
pledged to oppose any Catholic for public
office for no other reason than that he is a
Catholic-but it is a secret political society
with the purpose af electing candidates of
their choice. 1t is un-American to the
last degree.
He called upon his hearers to mark the
men not only who were avowed members
of that society, but every man who had
been indorsed by it
"If you stand by your flag, my hearers,
we will. upon next Tuesday, have seen the
last of the A. P. A. 1t will have been
buried beyond resurrection and peace will
come and Digotry and intolerance will no
more raise their heads in this City.
1--WE have indeed the signs of these good
times at hand. | never knew there were
SO many Catholics until after the nomina-
tions of all the several parties in this
campaign. Every one of them have pro-
-duced evidence that they at least had a
Catholic grandmother. Laughter.l tits
amusing to see how these fellows seem to
believe that because their aunt's cousin
was distantly related to some one who
knew how 10 make the sign of the cross,
all good Catholics should fall ON their
necks and cling to them as long lost
brothers." Laughter.
The speaker then referred to and de-
plored dissensions within their own ranks
and calleo upon his hearers to unite and
stand by their flag.
SIT has been said that / had, or was
about 10, advocate the election of this or
that candidate" said the speaker. Il
wish to take this opportunity to deny it.
would not be likely to descend into the
filthy pool of politics. l would sooner see
q member of the A. p, A. in every office in
the City, from Mayor to ponndmaster,
than so much as move my little finger
toward debating vote to any American
citizen. If the A. P. A. candidates are
elected you have yourselves to blame
certainly am not to blame. Laughter
If we are beaten. however, it simply means
that We must take off our coats for two
years more. 1t must be admitted that
fighting does not disagree with US.
Laughter.
81 have said that TIE Catholic voter is
the freest voter on earth, and l repeat it.
81 have said that no Catholic priest
ever would undertake to interfere with
any manin the exercise OF his franchise,
and / repeat it. declare that the people
are fully capable of running their secular
affairs. l will say, however, as | have a
right to, that no Catholic should help to
place in authority any man pledged to or
supported by that dark lantern brigade,
the American Protective Association. /
will say further that all of the candidates
for the Mayoralty save one are lighting
under the banner of freedom"
The speaker also spoke strongly against
the proposed new charter and called upon
his hearers to vote against it. he said 1t
had been made in a hurry by men many
of whom were in no wise fitted for the
Task.
In telling peroration the speaker
CALLED upon his hearers to enlist under the
banner OF liberty and freedom, the stars
md stripes, and oppose intolerance and
vi would be we'll.