The Irish standard., 1896-09-26
.HIs ] STYLE OF RELIGION.
Iconoclast Brann HauIs Over the
Goals His Theolog-
icaI Enemies.
What Has Religion to Do With a
Mans Shade of Political
Opinions.
He Has a rlind of His Own and
Wants to be at Liberty to
Express 1t.

said few things in reply. The critic says
Drann has "espoused the cause OF Roman
ISM Z In the hope Of reclainrng the edi-
| tor OF the Iconoclast, the critic then re-
hearses the musty A. P. A. bill Of indict-
1nent, including 'fwar upon our public
schools" allegiance to foreign poten-
tate," ETC., etc.
! Brann's reply is characteristic. He de-
ries being a Catholic. but says he is IAN
avowed cham pom of every religion that
has pierced life's dark shadows with one
ray Of celestial sunshine
Regarding the charges brought against
Catholics of allegiance to foreign poten-
tate, he says:
sWhat have the religious convictions of
a Catholic to do with his political ale
glance? Cannot I recognize the sover-
eighty Of Christ Jesus without getting up
! in the middle of the night and pulling the
! tail feathers out OF the American eagle?
Catholics regard the Pope simply as the
| representative on earth OF One who said,
| Render unto Caesar the things that are
! Caesars, and unto God the things that are
Gods If the Pope be eager for temporal
power and adj Catholics owe him para
| mount allegiance in matters political as
well as spiritual, why doesn't ne grab
Italy, France, Mexico and all the nations
| OF South America and set up new and
greater Roman Empire? why doesn't he
take his 235, 900 subservient janizaries
and conquer the earth? II the A. P. A. S
be telling the truth, the Pope could blot
| Professionalism out of existence, subdue ali
political opposition and rule the world with
a rod OF iron!"
Reverting again to his alleged "sectarian
preference Brann says:
'If i have exhibited aught of ssectarian
preference, it was not altogether my fault.
AS "a citizen, place our political constital-
tion above all religious creeds-the rights
Of life above the hopes Of death. have
| judged Professionalism and Cataolicism-as
political forces not SO much by read
Iing their professions as by observing their
practice. For ten years 9, the Protestant
clergy have waged unrelenting warfare
upon me for presuming to exercise the
American prerogatiye Of free speech-tor
disagreeing with them have denounced me
with for more yigor than they brought to
bear ON the devil. They have demanded
my discharge from editorial positions and
advocated boycotts on newsdealers who
handled papers on which was employed.
Yet never spoke disparagingly Of their
religion or denied their Deity; l simply
criticized people wno confess themselves
the cheifs of sinners and poor miserable
worms of the dust ] have dissented from
Catholicism also, but its priesthood have
ever treated my rights as citizen with the
utmost respect. Doubtless the Pope would
place many of my articles in the Index
Expurgatorius;' but no Catholic priest or
rrelate has ever tried to deprive me of-em-
~ sVi,v h,r-1y Ilyy
means Of that most coWardly of all un-
American weapons, the contemplate boy
colt.
Reasoning by induction, how could I
avoid the conclusion that Catholicism is
far more friendly than is Protestantism to
intellectual liberty-to freedom of speech
ana freedom of the press? When I find
prominent III the councils of the A. 2. A.
men. who for years past have striyen to
suppress my pen and seal my lips for ques-
tioning their theological infallibility, am
likely to look to that order for the preser-
walton OF my American prerogatives and
turn, like wolfish hound, upon those who
never planned me harm? Believing
with such cogent reason-that the A. P.
A. is conspiracy against liberty Of con.
science, is it not my duty to war upon it to
the ideath-to denounce its every advocate
as a potential Benedict Arnold, a political
Judas Iscariot? And must I be careful
not to wound the sensibilities of these
beachers Of high treason, these political
heretics? Should regale them with oil Of
Smyrna and honey Of Hymettus? No;
prefer to initiate the example of our Lord
and scolrge with a whip of cords those
would make the temple Of my fathers
a den of. thieves.