The herald., 1896-10-12
AN ARCHBISHOP
TALKS POLITICS
Not as a Priest But as I
Citizen
SILVER IS NOT The GREAT Issue
In the Opinion of the Church.
man
THE PERIL THAT THREATENS
Is the Revival Of the Old Secessioa
Sentiment
Still Worse Is the Arraylng Of Class
Against Class
Archbishop Ireland Voices His Fears
THE PERIL THAT THREATENS
Is the Revival of the Old Secessioa
Sentiment
Still Worse Is the Arraylng Of class
Against Class
Archbishop Ireland Voices His Fears
That the Great American Nation Il
Going to the Demnition Bow
wows-It Isn't.
Associated Press Special Wire

| Associated Press Special Wire
ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct 11.-Archbish-
op Ireland, in response to the written
request Of twenty-seven business men
of this state, who are of all political
opinions, gave the following statement,
addressed to them, to the Associated
Press:
Il am not unwilling, in the crisis
through which the country is now pass
| ing, to speak for the integrity of the
| nation, for social order, for the PROS
perity of the people, for the honor Of
America and the permanency Of free
institutions.
Il am citizen of the country, con-
cerned in all the interests of the ma
tion, subject to all the responsibilities
| of citizenship. To be silent when words
| of mine may be of some profit to the
people, would be cowardice, would be
| crime.
II am not unnfindful of the objection
| made against the churchman's speaking
at any time on matters-which have en-
| tered the arena Of politics, lest his in
| fuence as a teacher of religion might
/ seem to be used to promote the interests
of political party. might reply that
| there are occasions when a political
| platform means disaster to the country,
when politics are closely connected with
morals or religion, and that on these. oc-
casions the churchman must be the
patriot, without allowing q moments
thought to considerations 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 1 seek no excuse of this
kind; I speak entirely as the citizen,
without warrant from my religious po-
sition.
Deep as my convictions are, I hold
in due respect my fellow citizens who
hold convictions at variance with my
own. 1 impeach neither their good faith
nor their honor. I am dealing not with
men, but with principles and move-
ments. The justice which I render to
those whose ideas / am ready to combat.
I am sure they will render to me.
Il stand by the platform and the
| presidential candidate Of the Republt-
can convention at st. Louis. 1 am op-
posed to the platform and the presiden.
tial candidate of the Democratic con.
vention 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 the free and unlim-
| tied coinage of silver is put in the fore
ground. The question has it's import
ance, but it is of minor Importance, in
the presence of other questions which
are brought into issue.
1.-The movement which had it's ex-
preston in the Chicago convention and
which now seeks by means of popular
suffrage to enthrone itself in the Cap
itol of the nation, is in it's logical effect
against the nation. 1t is secession; the
secession of 1861. which our soldiers be-
| lieved they had consigned to eternal
death at Appomattox, but which de-
mands again recognition from the
American people. The declaration In
the Chicago platform has, and can have,
no other meaning.
We denounce arbitrary interference
by federal authorities in local affairs
| as a violation of the constitution of the
United States and crime against free
institutions
THE words point to the act of Grover
| Cleveland in sending the troops
to protect national property and en-
force national laws during the Chicago
riots of 1894 In these words there is
the old secession doctrine that states
are Independent of the national gov
ernment at Washington; there is the
annulment of the union; there is notice
served upon the flag of America that
| outside of the District of Columbia it
is without the power of self-assertion
or self-defense. The president of the
United States is told that to enforce ma
property, he cannot march his troops
into any state without the authorization
Of the governor Of that state. One of
the chief speakers at the convention at
Chicago understood the significance of
the convention and voiced its spirit
L come. from state which was the
home or secession said Senator Till
man of South Carolina. I say he con-
tinued, it is sectional issue and it will
! prevail
And fitting was it that the speaker
voicing the spirit of the Chicago con-
vention should be the representative of
South Carolina. Thrice now has South
| Carolina spoken for secession-when Il
passed in 1882 the notification ordi.
nance; when in 1861 it fired on Fort
Sumter; when in 1895 it cried out 1t n
sectional issue. and it will prevail
THE platform of the Chicago conven.
tton threatens the country with destruc-
ton of social order with lawlessness
and anarchy. The personification OF
law and official order in America Is our
courts, and the promise of safety to
out free institutions Is the prompt obe-
dience of the people to these courts.
And now the courts are to be shorn Of
their powers and shorn of them In favor
of mobs bent on rioting and the destruc-
ton of property.
1--WE especially object" says the Chi-
cago platform. ''to government hv in.
junction, as new and highly dangerous
form of oppression"
Here reference Is made to the action OF
the courts during the ChicaQo rfofa-s