The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-29

authors to preserve and perpetuate religious
liberty and TO guard against the slightest
approach toward the establishment of an in
equality in the civil and political rights of
citizens, which shall have for its basis only
their differences of religious belief. The
American people came to the work of framing
their fundamental laws after centuries of re-
ngious oppression and persecution, sometimes
by one party or sect and sometimes by an
other had taught them the utter futillty of all
attempts to propagate religious opinions
by the rewards, penalties or terrors of human
laws. They could not fail to perceive, also,
that union of church and state, like that
which existed in England, II not wholly i'm
practicable in America, was certainly opposed
to the spirit of our institutions, and that any
domineering of one sect over another was
REFRESHING to the energies of the peo-
pie and must necessarily tend to discon-
tent and disorder. Whatever, therefore, may
have been their individual sentiments upon
religious questions. or upon the propriety of
the state assum ing supervision and control of
religious affairs under other circumstances,
the general voice has been that persons OF
every religious persuasion should be made
equal before the law, and that questions of
religious belief and religious worship should
be questions between each individual man and
his maker. Of these questions human tribun-
ais, so long as the public order is not disturbed.
are not to take cognizance, except as the in
diViduaI by his voluntary action in aSSocieting
himself with religious organization, may have
conferred upon such organization jurisdic-
ton over him in ecclesiastical matters. These
constitutions therefore, have not established
religious liberation merely. butreligious equal
ity, in that particular being far in advance,
not only of the mother country, but also of
much of the colonial legislation, which though
more liberal than that of other civilized coun-
tries, nevertheless exhibited features of dis
Grim ination based upon religious beliefs or
professions"
At times, during the excitement of political
campaigns interested persons, working for the
spoils OF office rather than the good of the
nave I'VE sopgI q Sntb and
This charge cannot justly be made against
the Catholics. Their priests have not partici-
pated in political conventions. They have not
prostituted their pulpits or their sacred offices
to partisan political purposes.
When the maddened mobs of leading cities
in 1884 and again in 1904 and 1888, often
goaded to frenzy by unjust denunciations of
political bgots and trlckseers and have set fire
to Catholic churches and converts, the out
ragged Catholics have not invoked the lex
church of any denomination has been reduced
10 ashes by torch in the hand of an American
Catholic
RELIGION ESSENTIAL TO A REPUBLIC.
There have been times and places when it
was thought that revealed religion was in
imical 10 q republic. Such was claimed when
God was dethroned and reason detied by the
Partisan mob amid saturnaha OF crime.
Such, however, is not the doctrine of sober
thought nor the doctrine that was announced
by Washington in his farewell address to the
people of the United States.
He said: 'Of all the dispositions and habits
which lead to political prosperity religion and
morality are indispensable supports. In vain
would that man claim the tribute of patriot
ism who should labor to suovert these great
pillars of human happiness, these tTmest
props of the duties of men and citizens
Morality is indeed essential as the main
spring of popular government.
OF what value is a republican form OF gov
eminent If the highest function OF popular
sovereignty, the act OF suffrage. represents
ton and power? OF what value that legis-
lators are selected by popular vote ii they re-
spect not the moral obligation or loyalty to
their constituents and 10 the common veal?
OF what value that the people name the mag
istrates who declare the law If cowardice or
corruption drag their crime in the dust?
OF what value is liberty of speech if it be
merely the implement by which the incendiary
or the assassin stirs up deeds OF violence and
bloodshed? OF What value is liberty of the
press If it be used merely to disseminate dis
content and outbreak among those whose
honest labor might otherwise make them con-
tented and happy?
absence of moral restraint, it degenerates into
the wild debauch of the anarchist, when it re-
CARDS not the sacredness of property or person?
II moral restraint be lacking, what power in
our free Government. without a large stand
ing army, can prevent the maddened millions
OF toilers from appropria ting 10 their own pur
poses the repositories OF wealth? What can
restrain the power of the populace but the
moral force which permeates its being under
the influence OF religion?
AS Americans, we feel that in keeping alive
a religious sentiment we are guilty OF no trea-
son to the state; on the contrary, we are doing
q service TO the state. If we conform our con-
duct to the moral precepts of our creed, we
shall be better citizens of the Republic.
Let us live in kindly fellowship with our
neighbors. Let us help to develop the higher
and better standard of manhood whose abid-
ing place is to be in this vast Western world of
ours.
Let US realize that Americans still yearn for
hberty-the largest liberty and the fullest JUS
tice. Let us be worthy co-leborers with the
congregated millions OF new races OF men who
with hearts all aglow with the sacred flame of
freedom, 'witn minds broadened by the con-
temptation of the illimitable grandeur of the
country under our CONTROL souls filed with
the noble resolve 10 make America in very
deed and truth the home of liberty, the abode
OF justice, the domain OF law, the worlds
great sanctuary of inalienable human rights"