Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-11-05
Story of the Passage of an In
teresting Bill i'm the United
States Congress.
Mr.. Walter Evans Opposes the
Granting of Equal Rights
to All Citizens.
THAT VERY, VERY YELLOW DODGER

The Congressional race in this district
is one in which all fair-ininded, unpreju
diced men are deeply interested. Mr..
Walter Evans and Mr.. Oscar Turner are
the two principal opposing nominees.
Mr.. Turner is a broad, liberal-minded
man, who is without prejudices and be-
lieves that all citizens should be protected
in the enjoyment of the rights guaranteed
them by the Constitution. Mr.. Evans,
on the other hand, is known by his rec
ord. That record is one that we would
like to get fully before the people OF this
district, but our space will not permit
that. We will content ourselves with an
account of very interesting bill which
was under consideration i'll the House OF
Representatives June 20. The purpose
of that bill was to authorize the Secretary
of War i'll his discretion to permit the
erection of building for religious wor-
ship by any sect or denomination on the
West Point military reservation. In the
course of the debate on the measure At
developed that the principal objection to
the passage of the bill was that the
Catholic church might under its provis
ions get chance to erect chapel there.
The bill provided that the erection of any
such chapel by any religious denomina-
ton should be free of expense to the
Government of the United States. The
bill was finally passed by vote of l34 to
25, Mr.. Walter Evans, of Kentucky,
voting against it (see Congressional Rec
ord, June 20, 1898, pages 1864 to 727D.
The debate OIL the subject in the House
is quite interesting. We extract parts OF
it, showing its character, as follows:
Mr.. Sulzer--In my opinion, no fair
minded man can object to It 1.-THE bill or
will object to it Let me say
that I stand for religious freedom in its
broadcast sense n and know the
passage of this bill is absolutely necessary
in order that great many people at the
West Point military reservation may en-
Joy the right to worship God according to
the dictates of their own consciences.
For one, sir, l make bold to say
that do not believe there is a man in this
house who is so illiberal, so bigoted and
so narrow-minded that he is not willing
to give his fellow-men the same religious
rights he enjoys-that is, the right to
worship God in his own way and accord
ing to his own heart. If there be such a
man he ought to hang his head in shame
He is not in touch with the liberal spirit
of his age.
A member-(Was it Walter Evans1) Is
not this bill intended to give the Catholic
church chapel at West Point
Mr.. Sulzer-Oh, no; the bill provides
that any church can build a chapel at
West Point if the Secretary of War gives
his consent We know that at
West Point are many officers, a great
many cadets a great many soldiers who
live there, and who must live there, who
belong to the Catholic church, and who
demand the right 10 worship God accord
ing to the rites of that church
1 have only pity for the bigot in these
closing years of the nineteenth century
who would deny them that right.
Mr.. Powers-Do other denominations
have chapels in this reservation?
Mr.. Sales.--future is a Protestant
church there nova Government church.
Mr.. Cannon-I merely want to ask a
70 I'D he for
There is a Government chapel on the
West Point reservation?
Mr.. Belknap-Yes.
Mr.. Cannon-And is occupied by a
Protestant CHAPLAIN
Mr.. Belknap-Yes.
Mr.. Cannon-Paid from the Govern
ment treasury?
Mr.. Belknap-Yes.
4
Mr.. Evans-How large town is West
Point?
Mr.. Hull-It is only military school
n \
Mr.. Evans-Are there not Other
churches there that they can go tor
Mr.. Evans-If there are other churche!
there that is enough.
Mr.. Evans was enc of the twenty-five
members who voted against the bill, anC
the gentleman who manifested such I
narrow religious bigotry-a spirit so op
posed to the Constitution of the United
States-is candidate for reelection anC
asking fair-minded men and members o
that religious denomination toward which
he displayed that narrow spirit to vot
for himl Is he fit man to represen
American citizens and to be entruste,
with the important affairs of the Office t.
which he aspires4
One of the most contemplate tricks o
hopeless cause was that perpetrated tn
past week by some narrow-minded cranl
in mailing to our citizens yellow, yer,