The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-06
CATHOLIC PATRIOTISM.

Spain claims to be the mother of the
Catholic church in the Western Hem
isphere. There is no disputing the fact
that she filled South and Central Aneri-
ca. Mexico and all the Pacific regions
west of the Rocky Mountains, with her
missions. These countries are still
Catholic. The oldest church building in
the United States is a Catholic chapel
in Santa Fe. Here and there may be
still found a Spanish priest, but they
are few. Spain has few sympathiZers
in that church in this country. Even
Old Mexico, a country of a Spanish
mixed race and overwhelmingly Catho-
lie, is against Spain and for the free
dom of Cuba. Reb. FIR. T. Weber, as
sistant rector of st. Peters Roman
Catholic church at Kingston, n. Y, is
alleged to have said at a funeral last
week: president Mckinley and his
cabinet are humbugs, and they ought
to be blown up Following the publ
cation Of this remark, a box came by
mail to the Kingston pOstoffice, ad-
dressed to FIR. Weber. The mail clerk
found the wrapper slightly torn, and
as he handled the box q little stream
of powder came trickling out. The au-
thorities were informed, and the box
was placed in a pail of water. On be-
ing examined it was found to contain
half a pound of ordinary black powder.
1t had a sliding cover on which was
affixed sandpaper, and several parlor
matches were SO arranged inside that
they would come in contact with the
sandpaper when the cover was pulled
back to open the box.
Fr. Weber's alleged remark came to
the ears of Archbishop Corrigan, who
at once removed the priest from his
functions. The archbishop's secretary
said: Il cannot understand how the
man came to make such utterances. We
could not indorse such an attitude for
a minute. 1t is probably true that he
made the statements credited to him,
for we made sufficient investigation to
warrant us in acting as we did. The
church would vigorously resent any
attack on the rights Of its members as
American citizens. and it would, with
equal viger, defend and guard with
jealousy the rights Of all citizens" Rev.
2. Cronin, editor of the Buffalo Catho-
lie Times. indignant and amazed at the
utterances sscribed to FIR. Weber, says:
American Catholics know no other
COL - r-Tr h1r oIa
owe temporal allegiance. To them its
flag is sacred. and to defend the honor
OF that flag they would once again as
oft before pour out their hearts blood
on land and sea"
In consonance with this spirit comes
the utterance of Father Dalton in ad-
dressing the High School q Kansas
City day before yesterday, as reported
in the Eagles dispatches Of yesterday
morning. In talking u 1900 pupils,
Dalton. who is well acquainted with
Captain SiEshee, as we'll as with the
makeup OF his battIeship whlch now
lies buried in the mud OF Havana har-
Dor, says that while he does not be
heve that Spain is responsible for the
awful crime. that yet Il she did do Il.
then the God OF wars will bless our
people i Wa take Up arms and drive
tie Spaniards back from this western
continent Il Spain is q nation that
would Go al act Ike this. We should
drive her into oblivion. II there IS war.
the American people Will be Of one
opinion. ana God viii speed Us TO de-
stroy ana tramp'e under foot this enc
my and every other enemy Of our com
try.