The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-10
Catholics Mali1ned.

On account of the manifest interest of
the pope in the fortunes of Spain many
Professionals are questioning the loyalty
of Catholics in this country. There Is no
room for doubt if one may take the
words and deeds of Irish and German
Catholics as an irdext of their freedom
from papal influence in the present crisis.
Companies and regiments are offering
their services to the United States: pro-
tests from American priests and bishops
have been cabled to Rome and the Irish
in America are enthusiastic in their ex-
pressions of patriotism. Even those in
pathy in more ways than one. When the
news of Dewey'S triumph was, given to
the world. President Mckinley received
this cablegram from an ackuowled Irish
leader:
In the names of millions of Irishmen
the Parnellite members of the house Of
commons send you their congra lula tons
on the brilliant victory of the American
fleet. JOHN REDMOND"
The Irish press indicates the same feel
ing. The Dublin Independent says:
1t is evident that the great heart Of
the American people has been touched to
the quick by the Spanish atrocities in
Cuba The war will not be one for the
annexation of Cuba, but for Cuban in
dependence The absolute disnterested-
ness of the people of the great republic
in this matter is manifest. The joint
resolution of the two houses shows by
its terms that the object Of the United
states Is not 10 assert any common over
Cuba. but to set the Cubans free. The
position of Spain in this emergency
would be pitiable were it possible to feel
any sympathy for a country which, in
spite OF its great traditions, has acted
with brutal savagery in its attempts to
repress the Cuban Instruction. The con-
duct of the Infamous Weyler in Cuba can
only be compared to that of Cromwell in
Ireland The hour of retribution has
come and the butcheries and burnings of
the SpaniardS in Cuba will be avenged by
their defeat and humiliation. Justice lies
on the side of the Americans. and may
God defend the right,
United Ireland" takes this view:
The United States has the right to sue
cor the Cubans. They do not, let US as
sumo, derive that right from any such
derive it from higher law. that of hui
manity. They are the natural protectors
of the Cubans. geographically speaking.
and they would deserve the execration of
the public opinion of the world. and their
prestige as people that have earned for
themselves the right to be called cham
pionS OF human freedom would be mock
ed at If at their doors they saw a brave
people trodden to the dust. and battened
under the heels of vile oppression. ard
did not put forth a hand TO save. That
would not be the spirit of American lib
erty. That could not be the spirit of the
people who knocked the manacies from
the limbs of millions of slaves Nor
could 1t be the spirit of a people largely
made up of Irish eXiles driven from their
land by oppression, and whose proudest
is that for ages they. have
struggled for freedom In fact the Ameri-
cans could not, with any regard for their
own. traditions. have turned deaf ear
to the cries for help that have come 10
them from the Antilles. The Cubans de-
serve their freedom. They have str1le-
gied brayely for it.
Besides, 1t might be asked: When and
where did Irishmen learn TO sympathize
With Spanish OpDresSfOn7