Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-19
ARCHBISHOP iReLAND's VIEWS.
Full Text Of His Famous Arrangement Of the
Policy Of Reputation.

The following is the full text of Arch
bishop Irelands able and ringing plea
for national honor. recently addressed
by him. in response to a written re-
quest, to the associated press. He
said:
l am not unwilling in the crisis
through which the country is now pass
ing, to speak for the integrity of the
nation, for social order for the pros
Eerity of the people, for the honor of
America and the permanency of free
institutions. | am a citizen of the
country, concerned in all the interests
of the nation, subject to all responsible
ties of citizenship. To be silent, when
words of mine may be of some profit to
the people, would be cowardice, would
be crime.
l am not unmindfu of the objection
made against the churchman speaking
at any time on matters which have en-
tered the arena of politics. least his in
tuence as A teacher of religion seem to
he used to promote the interests of
political party. l might reply that
there are occasions when a political
platform means disaster to the country
when politics is 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, even if it be vested in
the garment of politics. But in the
present instance l seek no excuse of
this kind. Ispeak entirely as the cit
izen. without warrant from any &C.
clesiastical position. Deep as my con-
victions are. l hold in all due respect
my fellow citizens who hold convictions
at variance with my own. l impeach
neither their good faith nor their hon
or. l am dealing not with men, but
with principles and movements. This
justice which l render to those whose
ideas am ready to combat. 1 am sure
they will render to me.
DECLARES FOR M'KINLEY.
l stand by the platform and>the pres
idential candidate of the Republican
convention at st. Louis. l am opposed
to the platform and the presidential
candidate of the Democratic convention
at Chicago. The days of the civil war
excepted, at no time did so great a
peril threaten the country as that
which is involved in the political cam
paign of today. The question of free
and unlimited coinage of silver is put
in the foreground. This question has
its Importance, but it is of minor i'm
portance in the presence of other ques-
tons which are brought into issue
The movement which had it's express
sion in the Chicago convention and
which now seeks by means of popular
suffrage to enthrone itself in the capt.
tol Of the nation. is in it's logical eff
feet, against the United States; it 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 decla-
ration in the Chicago platform has. and
can have no other meaning. I'VE de-
nounce arbitrary interference by Fed
eral authorities in local affairs as vio-
lation of the constitution of the United
states and a crime against free institu-
TONS. The words point to the act of
Grover Cleveland sending United States
troops to protect national property and
enforce national laws during the Chi
cago riots in 1894. In those words there
is the old secession doctrine that states
are Independent of the national gov
eminent at Washington; there is the
annulment of the Union; there is no.
tice served upon the flag of America
that outside the District of Columbia
1t is without power of self assertion
or self-defense. The President of the
United States is told that to enforce
national laws and protect national
property he cannot march his troops
into any state without the authorize
ton of the governor of that state. One
of the chief speakers at the convention
OF Chicago understood the significance
or the convention. and voiced it's spirit
l come from state which was the
nome of secession" said Senator Till
man OF South Carolina. Il say" he
continued. lit is a sectional issue. and
1t VIII prevail" And fitting was it that
the speaker voicing the spirit Of the