Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-10-03
A REPLY.


Your correspondent, Catholicus, in
reply to my recent communication to
the Gazette opposing the policy OF aD-
nexaliop, has come forward ss the
champion of his church against au i'm
agluary fJe This proves the correc-
ness of what l had said about knight
rauty being epidemic of the age.
II involved us in war with Spain, and
Gas made your correspondent run q TIL
against me. had not supposed that
4ry Que would put such construction
Oh my language about papsl bull as
10 has done. | understand that no one
can be excommunicated unless he is a
commuuicant, and therefore MIR. Nc
Kinley is sale from accommodation.
But there have also been bulls against
heretics and may be again, and there is
tradition that one was issued against
comet. 10 giving my reasons against
toi ming political connections with dis
TAFT dependencies like the Philippines
ortven Cuba and Porto Rico, as incur
r,r g heavy burdens and responsible
;es without compenssting commercial
advantages, l suggested that prob
lem Tor US TO solve would be, WHAT
shall be done with the temporal
tiles of the Catholic Church, which
,uld involve us in bit
sectarian u1. l expressed no
o Union as to the merits OF such q quar-
rel, out simply desire to avert it
Naturally the successor of Peter and
his CO TT gionisis here would oppose
the spolistion of the church OF posses
-ious it has enjoyed ever since Francis
X4vier planted the cross in the Indies
Ga the contrary many will object TO re-
hsious societies controlling large reve-
nues and exerting secular power.
Knowing the Anglo-Saxon jealousy OF
ecclesiastical power, l prefer policy
taat would avoid such conflict. L
.m as much opposed to our uLd rtak
ing the r, formation of the Spani pos
s,. sious as to sending an army on Il
crusade to Palestine. Catholics say
hat the religious orders in the Poilip-
pines will be protected in their rights
ny the constitution of the United
States. II so, some might urge this as
a good reason for not annexing the lei
.nds. But the Mormons thought that
heir church was secure until Tucker :
Eimunds and the Supreme Court told
hem they were wrong. The Tucker
f lmunds act repealed the charter
md dissolved the church OF
Latter.day Saints, aud directed gal
proceedings to be instituted to forfeit
and escheat to the United States" the
proper V of the corporation. A rectiv-
er of the property was appointed. The
cons,itutionality of the act was con
tested, but was armed by the Supreme
Court in the case of "The Church Of
Latter day Saints VS.. the United States
-136, U. S. Reports, p. /. The princi-
Piles on which the judgment of the court
is based apply equally to any religious
congregation in territory. 1t held that
Congress has plenary power to contis-
cate church property; that as property
destined for superstitious uses is given
to the king by the common law to dis
pose OF as he pleas s, the prerogstlve
Of the crown devolved on Congress, aud
decree of Lord Bacou's was approved
bv which lands given to priest 10 say
prayers for the soul of the donor were
taken from the priest and given to the
poor, which was pretty hard on the
donor as we'll as the priest. The court
said: "This prerogative Of parens
patrae is inherent in the supreme pow
er of every State, whether that power
is lodged in a royal person, or in
the legislature, and has no athnl-
ty to those arbitrary powers which
are sometimes exerted by irresponsible
mouarchs to the great detriment OF
,ne people and the destruction of liber-
ties. On the contrary, it is most bene-
fcirl function, and often necessary to
be exercised in the interests of humsni-
ty, and for the prevention OF Injury to
those who cannot protect them. elves. u
A we went to war with Spain "in the
,terests of humanity" the Catholic
Churches in the islands we have con-
uuered may be despoiled "in the inter
ests of humanity" just ss the Mormon
was. According to the opinion OF the
court in this case, should the Philip
Zines be annexed it will be simply 8
matter of policy in the discretion ol
Conpress to declare forfeiture of all
nroperty held for pious uses. The act
direc, ed against the Mormons excited
little public interest becau'e nearly slI
The Mormons lived in Utah, and Nor
mons had no votes. After the fall o.
Msrimiliau the same question divided
the liberal end clerical parties in Mexl
or. the liberals won. A few years age
7 was in the city of Mexico. My hose
had been part of great monastery
which the government had seized and
sold The room l occupied had once
been the coll Of a monk IN Whicn Aoe,
lard and Heloise might have dreameo
of eternal love. d o. ~
San Francisco, Sept. 2Sth.