The times., 1898-04-16
Hands on!

Hands on!
The American people have never toll
Grated and do not now tolerate the in
reference sof any religious society or
any of its representatives in the politi-
cal or International affairs of this coun-
try. This feeling is not directed any
more to one than to another religious
society. 1t applies as well to the Angli-
can or Methodist as to the Roman
Catholic Church.
The spectacle of a clergyman. wheth-
er Catholic or Protestant actively en-
gaging in an American political cam
paign, is something that on all occa-
sions never fails to provoke criticism
and anger. The people of this country
do not like it, and they always say so in
words more vigorous than polite.
Mr.. Mckinley was elected President
of the United States to conduct its Gov
ernment in the form and manner pro-
vided by law. Other Presidents have
managed to get along and transact ma
tional business including diplomatic
negotiations and even war, without
other advisers than those provided for
by the Constitution and the statutes of
the land. Mr.. Mckinley has his Cabinet
to advise with and the Congress of the
people to obey. 1t is quite unnecessary
for him to seek political counsel either
at the Vatican or in St. Paul, MINI. If
he needs personal advice on the state of
his soul at either headquarters that is
quite another matter, and one in which
no man has a right to interfere.
The appearance of Archbishop Ire
| land in the matter of our relations with
Spain and Cuba from first to last has
been unfortunate. We feel sure that it
is deplored by patriotic American Cath
olics everywhere as calculated to place
the Roman Church and its head at a
disadvantage. We are able to sympa-
thize with the venerable Pope in his de-
sire for peace and to wish that consid-
erations of honor and our duty to civili-
zation rendered it possible for us to
refrain from the punishment of Spain
and the eviction of that power from our
hemisphere. But We must protest that.
no matter how high and pure the papal
motives may be, they do not excuse Leo
XIII in delegating to one of his bishops
the task of interference in the pub
lie affairs of the American Government
Personally the Pope is excusable, be-
cause there is no doubt that his action
has been invited and conspired for by
the American Administration, but nev-
ertheless it affronts the universal senti
ment of the American people, and the!
will not forget the persons in Washing
I ton and elsewhere who are responsible,
for it.
: We have said that the aged and ami
able pontiff is personally excusable. w
cannot say the same for Archbishop
= /
= presumed TO know and fully realize tn
: serious objections which his fellow citi
zens entertain to gentlemen of his clotl
who, as representatives Of clerical infiu
, ence of whatever kind, meddIe in ou
D politics or diplomacy. Yet even he i
:, not half as much to blame as Tor,
statesmen who have melted him to OBJ
noxious activity, or the President VIII
, has not only tolerated but approved o
and praised it.
/ Mr.. Mckinley has made series o
stupendous bIunders in his treatment o
the Spanish-Cuban situation He ha
not made worse one than that of sup
, porting Archbishop Ireland and tn
: Pope in their effort to have continenta
5 Europe step in to prevent the punish
ment of Spain for the sickening massa
ere of Havana harbor He will live t
realize the truth of this and perhaps
attend the funeral of the Republica
: party in consequence.
r Let Archbishop Ireland go home I
= his archdiocese and preach the gospe
AS Mr. McKinley's envoy extraordinar
to the Vatican, France and Austria, h
q may look upon himself as a useful d
plomatist, but the country will be il
clined to take a different view and [
consider him NOT MANY degrees bettf
than a meddling busybody