The Irish standard., 1898-04-09
AcATHoLIc PRESTON CUBA,


1t is quite rarely that Catholic priests
in the United States become so interested
in political or national affairs as to venti-
late their views in the public press,
though from their superior education
and logical mode Of thought their utter
ances on non-religious topics would be
entitled to considerable respect. What
Is said Of the Catholic priests may be
| likewise said Of the higher dignitaries Of
the church. With scarcely an exception,
tho archbishops and bishops of this
country attend exclusively to church
matters and leave affairs OF state to the
duly elected representatives of the peo-
pie. 1t is so seldom that any priest gives
his opinions for publication on such a
matter as tho Cuban question that we
reproduce the following communication
on the duty OF the United States in Cuba
| from the New York Sun, to which it
was contributed by DR.. Edward Nc
Sweeney. Of Mount st. Mary's Seminary,
| Maryland
Here is a people struggling for liberty
and pouring forth generously Of their
| hearts blood. No one says that the
American colonies did not have the right
TO revolt iE 1776 l believe that Cuba
has the same right now" These words are
reported to have been uttered by Bishop
Foley. Of Detroit in his episcopal city on
March 10. They are worthy Of one born
in tho state which gave birth to Father
John Carroll, first bishop of genuinely
American Baltimore, whom congress in
7G requested to accompany Franklin,
Chase and Carroll, of Carrolton. ON their
mission to Canada. and who. trle priest
! and patriot that he was, performed that
public service. And Rome? Rome con-
frmed the choice OF his fellow mission
aries and named him first bishop of the
United States.
Wo priests arc very conservative in
maintaining the duty OF obedience to le-
Ultimate authority and admit no So
called fright of revolution" against 1t,
The question for us is: Is the de facto
government legitimate in it's use of DOW
err? II 1t uses its power for oppression
and destruction. the Catholce church does
not oblige the people to submit to such
tyranny. They can resist the govern
mcnt which is not carried on for the
common good See Balmes' European
Civilization" note SO to Chapter LNI.,
where ho quotes ST. Thomas Aquinas to
the effect 90; a. AZ; Art. .; adj 3 um)
Tho quotation is easy to verify.
But who is to decide whether the
Spanish government in Cuba is tyranni-
cal or not? We have no umpire now as
Europe had when tho Pope was temporal
as we'll as spiritual arbiter of Christen-
dom. The people must judge for them
selves, using their own consciences. You
would not have them wait until the day
OF Judgment for a decision. would YOU?
When Rome threatened to condemn the
knights Of Labor for scdition, the pres
cut successor OF Carroll in the See OF
Baltimore interfered successfully
against tho sentence, showing that in
TINS country tho government does not de-
edo disputes between labor and capital,
but let's them fight it out" "fwerc
better If we had an international court
OF appeal. doubtless, but there is no rec
ognizel ono today.
What is 1t Of our busincss?" great
deal We are Our brothers keeper"
Cuba Is our ncghbor, placed near us by
God. 1t is our duty to help our neigh
hor. II You saw two families OF your
neighborhood killing ono another, would
you feel bound to await the decision Of
the supreme court before interfering, es-
pcclally II one was VIGOROUSLY weaker
than the other? Plus IN condemned
that selfish. un-Chrlstian doctrine called
'non-intervention," which held that one
people had no right to help another in
case of invasion, etc. Sec Syllabus of
But the Cubans are not a separate
people" Indeed, pray how long does
it tako a colony to reach It's majority?
Cuba is 400 years old We reached our
majority after only $50 years Do you
imagine that a father can lawfully pre-
vent his children going off and setting
up house for themselves when they are
old enough? Or do You maintain that
no has tho right to keep them forever
under his own control and working for
him? Nature shows us the COW driving
away her grown calf tho hen bidding
he" mature chickens scratch for them
selves. etc. There is perfect analogy
between these animals, adult. children,
and colonies-a time comes when all OF
them Of right assume autonomy. If
Spain had recognized this truth, Cuba
today would have been loyal province,
like Canada or Australia, or Il friendly
sister commonwealth. Unfortunately
and to her disgrace. If the facts be as
reported. she has used her daughter Cuba
as tho Romans did Sicily and Africa and
the English do thcir captive India as a
klondiko for needy pro-consuls and car
pet baggers. Size has not natalized the
church In Cuba. but used even tho bish-
ops and high-class parish priests as her
policemen, insisting that they should al
ways be native-born Spaniards. She