The Irish standard., 1896-05-16

ARD Il / |! !. ! On! Is

HARD ON THE 4 PES
The Catholic American Citizen IS De.
fined by q Souttlerner.
The Hon. Patrick Wash, editor OF the
Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, printed an open
letter in that paper on April Is. addressed
to Messrs: Oscar Palmon and 3. +. Call
lard, Jr., NJ. G. a. College, Dahlonega. Ca;
and in answer to inquiries about the A.
P. a.
He said in the course Of his able COM
munication:
Catholics love liberty as dearly as Prot
estants, and they stand ready to defend the
republic against all aggress-ors. The Cath
Ole congress held at Baltimore some years
ago, made the following deliverance, which
expresses the allegiance and obligations Of
all Catholics to the government: We re-
joice at the marvellous development of our
country, and regard with just pride the
part taken by Catholics in It's develop
meat" In the words of the pastoral issued
by the, arcAbishops Of the United States,
assembled in the Third Plenary Council of
Baltimore, 1--WE claim to be acquainted
both with the laws, institutions and spirit
of our country, and we emphatically de-
clare that there is no antagonism between
them. We repudiate with equal earnest
ness the assertion that we need to lay aside
any of our devotedness to our church to be
true Americans, and the insinuations thaa
we need to abate any of our love for our
country's principles to be faithful Catholics.
We believe that our country's heroes were
the instruments Of the God OF Nations in
establishing this home of freedom; to both
the Almighty and to His instruments III the
work we look with sacred reverence, and to
maintain the inheritance OF freedom whica
they left us, should it ever-which God for
b:d-be imperilled our Catholic citizens
will be bound to stand forward as one man,
ready to pledge anew their lives, their for
tunes and their sacred honor"
/ have defined the duties and obligations
Of Catholics to their country. l do not
know that they are any different from the
obligations and duties Of the members OF
other churches, If they are, have not
been able to find out the difference in LIE
that covers more than half a century. After
having ben honored by all people of all
denominations-.by Protestants, Catholics
and Hebrews-;t is incredible that any sane
man would believe that I am now ready tc
sell out the liberties of my country to any
foreign prince or potentate. And this is
one of the false and malicious ISLANDERS
which the ignorance and bigotry of Apais1n
circulates against the Catholic church and
its members.
No government has done so much for the
amelicration and advancement Of its citi-
zens as that of the United States. 1t is no
more certain that Christ preached and gave
to the world new gospel of salvation than
that the fathers of this republic proclaimed
a new political d:spensation in the Dec!afa-
ton of Independence which was incorpora-
ted into and concreted in the constitution
and government of the United States.
Every American citizen has right to
religious freedom and the exercise of re-
Igious worship. Born and reared in the
faith OF the Catholic church, my prayer is
that may have the grace to Worthily fol-
low it's teachings and practices in the per-
feet assura nce that would abound with
patriotism and love for my country, and
with Justice and charity for my felloW-c.ti-
zens of all denominations and parties.
Those who revile and persecute the
Catholic church and its MEMBERSHIP
tending to see in it and in them enemies to
our free institut:ons-,gnor the basic facts
of American history. They forget the sac
11llCCa VI CliC u CC1lCAS VI liz 4SSFoAatACAi'
They are unmindful of the sacred cause for
which they fought They are false to the
principles of American liberty. They are
untrue to the government which the Revo-
lutionary Fathers founded that liberty, JUS
tice and right might be firmly established,
and that tyranny, oppression and wrong
might be forever banished from the United
States.
/ make my appeal and argument to the
minds and consciences Of my fellow-coun-
trymen, irrespective of church or party as
protest against that fell spirit of intoller-
ance and prescription which is as devoid Of
Christian truth and charity as it is OF JUS
tice, honor and patriotism. No American
who understands his rights and his obl.ga-
tons to God and country will ever deny or
seek to abridge the rights and privileges
guaranteed to every citizen by the consti-
tuition and laws of the government Of the
United States.
Under the new political dispensat:on of
this republic all men are made free and
equal before the law, with rights and priv
ileges as clearly defined as to church and
state which are co-existent, but entirely
distinct and separate, as the right to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
In the observance of the constitution and
in the fulfllment of the laws made in pur
suance thereof the rights of every citizen,
irrespective of race, creed or party will be
maintained With loyalty and justice and
peace. and good will in our minds and in our
hearts, with exemplary conduct and patri-
otto devotion to the principles of the Revo-
lut:onary Fathers we will perpetuate the
best and most perfect system Of govern
ment ever devised for the peace, happiness
and those whose inestimable privilege 1t IS
to enjoy the priceless and incompatible
blessings Of civil and religious freedom.
The young men of Georgia, the good peo-
pie Of Georgia, should not be deceived into
membership or support of an organization
that fals;fies the truth of American history,
that regulates the principles of the Revo-
lutionary Fathers and that seeks to nullify
the constitution and laws Of the state and
federal governments.
No party like Apaism, based on ignor-
ance and malice, on bigotry and intoler-
ance--that wars on the dearest and most
sacred rights of American citizenship
right to worship according to conscience
can ever thrive in a land of freedom and
lust. ce4 a land dedicated to God and hui
mainly, where liberty is regulated by law
and where the citizen should never be re-
warded nor punished because Of his church
affiliation or religious belief.
THE ARMENIANS
y