The San Francisco call., 1896-10-19
DERRICK TALKS POLITICS
Attempts to Criticise the Recent
Declarations of Arch
bishop Ireland.
Claims That the Love of Catholics for
the American Flag Is of Re-
cent Growth.

Archbishop Ireland Shows His Hand"
was the subject selected by DIR. G. II. Der
rick for his talk before the Good Citizen
ship meeting at Metropolitan Temple yes
terday afternoon. The speaker was inter-
rupted many times by long and continuous
applause, particularly when he referred to
the priesthood in politics.
The meeting opened with few general
remarks from Chairman Outflow, in the
course ofwhich he said:
"The day will soon be here when we will
be called upon to show whether we have
profted by our coming together here for
the great length of time that these meet
ings have been held.
.'If we have learned in what direction our
political strength should be exerted and
how-we should cast our ballot on election
day the object of these meetings will be to
some extent accomplished.
.The grave questions that present them
selves to be decided by the ballot on the
Sd day of November are more important
than any that have confronted the Ameri-
can people prior to and which the great
American Nation was called upon to vote
in 1860 and which was finally settled by
the great contest that followed.
"The church in America is still in its
cradle, but the child is very dear to the
holy father" said DR.. Derrick in his open
ing remarks, adding while Grandmother
Yorke rocks it to Sleep" Continuing, he
said "The first few words are Martlnelli's g
greeting to America. Why are we here
to-day? Because there are rights which
are vouchsafed to US by the constitution,
but is in danger from this baby~i in the
manger. Rome is carrying on a great
campaign against this movement. Five
years ago she said, the country is ours.
Two years ago she saw people uprising,
determined to throw her back to the old
world from which she emenated.
"Within the last few days statements
have come out which seem to make the
blood of true American run cold. l have
been threatened within the last few days
by anonymous letters warning me that
had better cease my utterances. l was
threatened with San Quentin, where
could organize an Independent A. I; A.
l thought that if the time had come when
an American citizen could not speak his
mind the sooner l found it out the better"
The speaker then referred rather sar.
castically to Father Yorke's contention
that as many Catholics had died in de-
fense of the flag as Protestants. He ad-
mitted that many thousands had so died,
but he denied that it had been at the die
tation of the priesthood. DIR. Derrick also
dl1IlACA shoO ehS AO W PASotNSN
over by Father Yorke had in 1850 and 1851
stood up for secession and rebellion.
"There are people in this City who know
this to be fact" added the speaker. Con-
tinuing he said:
''Now comes this great and good man
Archbishop Ireland, who stepped from his
priestly robes and assumed the garb of a
private citizen. He said he wanted to
give in advice as a citizen. We don't
want any of that, however. The idea of
any man divesting himself OF his religi-
Gus authority to speak as a citizen is pre-
posterous. Now that is Just the very
thing we don't want because the priest
carries the votes of those who believe in
him. understand that Yorke does not
like this letter, but that does not cut
much figure ireland, you know, is so
much ahead of Yorke that he does not
count"
DIR. Derrick then undertook to analvze
the letter of Archbishop ireland, though
he desired it understood that he was not
making a political speech. He referred
particularly to the arch bishops claim that
the platform adopted at Chicago tended to
disrupt the social order of things in this
country. The speaker applied the letter
to the local situation by saying that the
Woman's Liberal League was putting forth
its best efforts to defeat the new charter.