New-York tribune., 1900-01-24
IN THE TRANST44L.
WHAT CORRESPONDENT BELIEVES,
AND WHAT REPRESENTATIVE
CATHOLICS DECLARE.
To the Editor OF The Tribune

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: st. John Gafney correct when he made
the statement that Catholics did not suffer from
any disabilities in the Transvaal Dr. William I.
Leyds, writing to William Redmond NJ p says:
The clauses against the Catholics in Articles 20
and q OF the Grondwet of 1858 were cancelled by
resolution of the Volksraad of June l. 1870. Article
ed The resolution adopted by. the Volksraad in
oftice office was cancelled by the Voiksraad on June TO-
1896 Article S74. The assertion that candidates for
among among other Catholics holding office under the
k KPuger Admin5stration for several years are Or;
Law; Mr. Hogan. Secretary to the Commandant-
of the Johannesburg Corporation. One-fourth of
fne at,df dffansyaa Ctyil Service are Catholics The
to the Church
In view of the religious conditions prevailing in
Ireland 1t is certainly amusing Great Britain
protesting against religious disabilities in another
country. JAMES J. WALKER.
New-York, Jan. 90 1900.
1--WE are glad to print this letter Its statement
concerning the status of Roman Catholics in
the Transvaal is Identical with that made by
t. St John Gaffney In a recent communication.
But Mr.. Walker gives his authority for the
statement, while Mr.. Gaffney did not
We have already cited Mr. Bryce's testimony
on the other side. We have also printed the
statement Of Mr.. ]. d'Hotmaul. ]. P, in letter
from South Africa to that stanch Roman
Catholic paper the Paris "Univers" quoted ap-
provingly by the great h~Tlan Catholic organ
The Tablet Of London. in its issue of January
6, 1900, to the effect that 'n the Transvaal the
Catholic religion Is not viewed with a kindly
eye, and no Catholic can look for any official
employment" In the same issue of THE Tab
let we find the following statement. made by
Bishop Gaughran. Vicar-Apostoc of the Orange
Free State: England very seldom had a more
for l'haQbRrIaDG Indictment
of the Transvaal Government was perfectly fair
am not an Englishman, nor are my sympathies
in general with England: but in this case do
believe that England will do credit to
mon humanity by forcing small State, calling
itself republic. to give equal rights all.
The prejudice of the Boer shows itself principal
ly regards the Catholic Church. The Catholic
Church is his bugbear. Catholics heathens
to him" The same issue of The Tablet also
quotes the text of the Transvaal Constitution of
1896 Sections 20. So 81. los and 113. in which
it is explicitly declared that none but a Prot
estant may become President, member Of the
Volksraad. other high officer Of State
Nor is that all In The Tablet" of January
13. just received. find approvingly quoted
letter from the Rev. ]. ]. O'Reily Catholic
priest of Wynberg. South Africa, dated No
vember last, which runs in part as follows;
It is against the law Of the South African Re,
in the State. for the Raads or the Presi-
dent, no matter how long he may have been In
the country. Catholics and Jews ranked with
coored people and 'ilegitimates In these disabili
ties President kr0g to gain their favor. quite
Gently proposed 10 remove Catholics and Jews from
such degrading category, but the Raad rejected
his proposition. The only people who employ
Catholics in the Transvaal, aye and literally
port Catholic institutions. the much deCred
capitalists; As to Leyds. he must have concealed
his Cathocity successfully /. for one, should
not be more astonished II heard that Satan him
self We're loyal son OF the Church. As TO the
Pretoria nuns. the GIT. if any, from the Brit
ish Government. which I'm 1881 stipulated for the
non-dsturbing OF existing institutions when handing
them to the Transvgal Government. My
conviction Is, however, that there was no gift
whatever, but simply compensation for the de-
struction Of property during the siege. the British
garrison having occupied the convent the best
strategic position for the defence Of the town.
With that good Catholic authority we
quite content 10 leave Mr.. Walker. Mr.. Gaffney
Mr.. Redmond, Dr. Ieeyds, and all who hold Ike
views to theirs.-Ed.