The Irish standard., 1896-10-31
.I,lMBERIl IlEa
Joins Issue With: the Archbis HOP; Upon
TIE Contents Of the L.atter's
letter. 4 A
THE sUPREKE COURT nor sUPnEHE
Federal interference and Other Cues
ss,@ tons Ably Dis
cussed. @

. - r.
Archbishop Ite1snd has published i let
/ ter, giving his views on the political situa-
ton, and the relative merits and demerits
Of the Republican and Democratic plat
forms. In doing SO he IS careful to say:
81 speak entirely as citizen, without
warrant from my ecclesiastical position, !
says the Freeman's Journal.
ss We cannot but admire the archbishop s
straightforwardnes in giving utterance
to his opinions Ii, such way that they can
be squarely met with adverse criticism
and argument. Whether right or wrong the
public knows precisely where he is. He does
+ not adopt the policy Of watching to see
which way the cat is about to jump, pre-
pared to come up smilingly on the vim
ming side. He does not pose as celest-ally
Indifferent and non-partisan, while IN
du.ging IN bitter invective behind the door.
For this he is 10 he admired, whatever may
be thought of his opinions. The same is
to be said OF Bishop Wigger of Newark, N.
J.. who has made a vigorous reply to the
archbishop, !! in an interview in the New
York Journal
In stating mis- objections to the Demo
cratic platform, the archbishop begins with
an attack on the plank which denounces
"arb:trary interference by Federal author
ity in local affairs as a violation Of the
constitution OF the United States, and
crime against free institutions"
He looks upon this, in its logical effect,
as secession. But he must admit that I'M
der our dual system Of constitutional gov
eminent there must be somewhere a. limit
to Interference, arbitrary or otherwise, by
the Federal government in state AFFAIRS.
II not, we have no longer. "a United
States. We have but one state, absolute
and IRRESPONSIBLE. The constitution itself
recognizes limits to Federal authority; 1t
is a document almost entirely composed
OF concessions and restrictions TO that au-
ilority. The wisdom and necessity OF such
limitations for the preservation OF the con-
stitutional liberty Is too apparent%tc neea
argument. The trainers OF the constltu-
ton saw.txo dangers-t to the republican,
tralizatior, or the gradual assumption Of
sunre,ne power by the Federal executive,
on the one hand, and the gradual absofp~
/. Ton of the Federal power BY the states,
IN the other, making the bond OF union DIT
a rope OF sand. ~,
Seeing these two opposite dangers, the
object Of the founders OF the union was ~
formulate 4 fundamental law 1na1 Wonlu
(. guard equally against both. the result
T,as = caust.tution carefully defining the
limits Of The respective powers OF the state
and federal governments. Does not the
archbishop deem it the. conscientious and
natriot:c duty of every citizen to guard as
: sacred deposit this fundamental law
. and SOC that It's Limitations to both author
.+ias5 are carefully and scrupUlolls OBJ
iearved7 We have no doubt OF It. why
sfhens does he accuse Of secession a great
historic party because in its national con-
vantion 4 calls attention to and reatlrms
and enpD as,izes the constitutional llmlta-
+, sans NJ the federal executive? Have we
already dr;fted SO far toward centrallza-
tim that il is treason to point to the fun
,5aroental law on which rests our system
of government? That we have not 80 far
arifteI we have splendid and hope :nsplr-
r Ing evidence in the Chicago resolution to
which the archbishop objects. 1t = That
resolution that raised the Democratic I'D.
tional convention high above the RUS OF
small-polit!cs partisanship anu mace tue
party it represented truly natlonal ana con-
9eervat.ve, the party OF the constltutlon' lne'
pua rdiau Of our fundamental law. IL was
/, fh:s resolution. more than any other, that
~ wade the Chicago convention the greatest
I'm nur national history since that which
nominated Lincoln and declared war
sagainst slavery. What the latter and It's
Sssrnnninee did for the chattel slaves OF the
Snutf1 the former and its nom.nee-the
greatest since Lincoin-are destined 70 GO
III sr,r fhe hond slaves of the whole country.
The archbishop would make the conven-
stion,s appeal to the constitution an evidence
nf reasonable purposes. In reply to this
inrIication we can find 10 words more
strong and to the purpose than taose OF
Bishop Wigger in the interview above re-
ferred to. The prelate, whose sound anu
conservative patriotism will not De ques-
toned, says: ,..., H.
According to Archbishop Ireland the
Chicago platform is a. declaration Oh seces
sion and the Chicago nominees are leauers
.s:,, q movement to disrupt this glorious
a,,aion. That is absolutely not true. oafe
say, and believe, that the man who framed !!
b the .cago platform and the men hsnlin5
Nan as n,,1e patriots as Archbishop Ire
ln1,,1 am convinced Of the an
solnfe honesty an:1 sincerity OF the
democratic leaders, and / am con.
i, lrinoad that no one thought OF
S,ahall;on As honest men, they are en-
.t;tIed ia battle for the principles they De-
iieya viii bring prosperity to their coun-
Z nv snd neither Archbishop Ireland nor
any other man has right. to lmpute 10
tham motives of secession and rebellion. :
VIC, agree with the Archbishop that Sc
: ress.on is dead, and he should also agree
with us that the opposite and equal dan y :
5eer. irresponsible and unconstitutional a
Capitalization, must be buried with 1t pc
rand resurrection. His adherence OF q
4 mast danger should not blind hinlSto the
II Impending danger. His feafs5of ghost
II ofSitne past should. not induce him TO adj
Il :yocate politieat Suicide by removing al
4 con stitti}ional distractions from the path
ma f1f ambition to absolutism. To avoid the
frying pan one needs not to jump into
tie Are. There is a safe passage be-
tween scylla an Charybdis There is also
4 safe passage between secession. or dis
& i1afagraIion, and centralized dsspotisl,. It
will be found by strict and scrupulons
ii IA hererlc e to the constitution; and di-
H gence from 1T in either direction is
& fatal The Chicago convention has given
h Tl1eS warn ing of a faithful Waterman. To
III ascsesJts,lre III for doing a. patriotic duty is
VI cur rising the midnight 6rebaN that
III ;W he you from pleasant and delusiye
lss5 aIr Iiis to- find your house in flames.
EisTs IRE. next objection the Arch bishop
4 to the Democratic platform is to
4 d IIa4 ia it which refers to the Fed
saaSs4aI iistiicts courts an their newly de
Msssa - sthod OF g0Yernin by injun ction.
n NJ The con ven zion was exceeding-