The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-10-23
THE EVIDENCE CUMULATIVE.

Arch Bishop Ireland, of Minnesota, One
of the Leading Catholic Ecclesiastcs
Comes Out Against Bryan.
Arch Bishop Ireland, of st. Paul. has
given letter to the Associated Press, in
which he says:
~ am not unwilling, In the crisis through
which the country is now passing, to speak
for the integrity of the nation, for social
order, for prosperity of the people, for the
honor of America and the permanency of
free institutions. l am a citizen of the
country, concerned In all the interests of the
nation, subject to all the responsibilities of
citizenship. To be silent when words OF
mine lay be of some profit to the people,
would be cowardice, would be crime.
1 am not unmindful of the objection made
against the churchmau speaking at any
time on matters which have entered the
arena of politics, lest his influence as a
teacher of religion seem to be used to pro-
mote the interests of a political party.
might reply that there are occasions when a
political platform means disaster to the
county, when politics are closely connected
with morals or religion and that on those
occasions the churchman must be the patriot
without allowing a moments thought to
considerations of expediency, and must take
in hand the moral Or religious issue If it be
vested in the garment Of politics. But in
the present instance seek no excuse of this
kind. speak entirely as the citizen with
out warrant from my ecclesiastical position.
Deep as my convictions are, l hold in all
due respect my fellow citizens who hold
convictions at variance with my own.
I stand by the platform and the presi-
dental candidate of the republican conyen-
ton at st. Louis. ] am opposed to the
platform and the presidential candidate of
the democratic convention at Chicago.
Ths days of the civil war excepted, at no
time did so great peril threaten the country
IS that which is involved in the political
campaign of today.
The question of free and unlimited coin.
age of silver is put in the foreground. This
question has its importance, but it is of
a minor Importance, In presence of other
questions which are brought into issue.
The movement which had its expression
in the Chicago convention and which now
seeks by means of popular suffrage to en-
throne itself in the capitol of the nation, is
in its logical effect against the United
States; 1t Is secession; the secession of 1861
which our soldiers believed they had con-
signed to eternal death at Appomattox, but
which demands again, recognition from the
American people. The declaration in the
Chicago platform has, and can have, no
other meaning. 1--WE denounce arbitrary In
reference by federal authorities in local
affairs as violation of the constitution of
the United States and crime against free
institutions" The words point to the act
Of Grover Cleveland, sending United States
troops to protect national property and en-
force national laws during the Chicago riots
in 1891. In those words there is the old
secession doctrine that states are indepen.
dent Of the national government at Wash
Ingt0n; there is the annulment of the
1ni0u; there is notice served upon
Inc flag of America that outside the Dis
srict of Columbia 1t is without power of self
assertion or self defence. The president of
he United States that to enforce national
avs and protect national property, he can
not march his troops into any state without
he authorization of the governor of that
,tate. One Of the chief speakers at the con-
yention of Chicago understood the signif-
,ance Of the convention and voiced its spirit
Il came from state which was the
home of secession" said Senator Tillman,
VI South Carolina. 81 say" he continued.
1T is a sectional issue and it will prevail"
And fitting was it that the speaker voicing
he.spirit of the Chicago convention should
70 the representative of South Carolina
Thrice now has South Carolina spoken for
ecession-when it passed In 1882 the nulli-
ication ordinance, when in 1851 1t fired on
Fort Sumpter, when in 1896, 1t cries out:
A sectional issue, and it will prevail