The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-07-14
Bearing tho Celtic Cognomen Of
VIM. Michael Byrne.
AND sQUELC LCHlD BY JOHN P. SUTTON
Catholicity Not Propagated by
Armies and Fleets.

The following letter from the able
pen of Mr.. John p. Sutton, we'll known
Irish Nationalist OF Lincoln, Ncb., ap-
pcarcd last week in the Boston Repub-
lie:
1t is very natural and becoming that
Roman Catholics everywhere should feel
anxious for the safety OF the priests and
religious men and women who have de-
voted themselves to the work of convert
ing the tccming millions OF China to the
true faith. l have no doubt it was this
very laudable feeling that animated Mr..
William Michael Byrnc, United States
district attorney, Wilmington, Del,
when he forwarded the following re-
quest TO President Mckinley:
Il share with my fcllow-Catholics
throughout the republic a profound llor-
ror at the reported outragcs on our
Catholic convent at Pao-ting-fu and
urge the administration to deal swift
and condign punishment on the muir
dcrous assailants. AS St. Paul was
saved from stripes through the dignity
OF tho Roman name, SO let the brutal
cclestias know that the same virtues
inllcrc in the dignity OF American citi-
zcnship. Make it known that every
American, the world over, acting in the
scope of his citizenship in propagating
tho Catholic or any faith, will command
the whole force OF our government for
the protection OF his essential rights to
life, liberty and property.
"Thc unhappy war now waging on the
part OF the misguided l'ilipinos will have
It's compcnsations, and Il further reason
will be found for American retention Of
the Philippines if an efficient base is cs,
tabiishcd there for the protection of
Catholic and other missionaries in their
superb work of evangelical civilization.
"WILLlAM MICHAEL BYRNE."
Mr.. Byrnc received a reply from Sec
rotary Hay to the effect that the United
States government was doing all in its
power to protect American missionaries
in Cllra. This message was delivered
at the Hotel Walton, Philadelphia, OH
the Saturday previous to the Republican
convention, and no doubt was well ad-
vcrtiscd for the benefit Of the g. o. p.
Now, making all due allowance for
Mr. Byrnc, who, l presume, is a most
! cstimablc gentleman, Notwithstanding
the political bad company he keeps,
! think he has been guilty OF little over
| officiousncss and presumption in de-
| manding that the government Of the
United States should ignore the cstab-
] lishcd and recognized government Of
China and proceed to usurp its func-
tons. Not very long ago number OF
Italians were shot down in Louisiana by
! a murdcrous and lawlcss mob; since
then pcaccablc Austrans were massa-
cred at Hazlcton, Pa, by mob equally
murdcrous, but claiming to act as shcr-
iff's deputies under the laws OF Penn
sylvanla. tsam not aware that any idea
was entertained in Italy or Austria that
powers OF Europe should seize upon the
government OF the United States and
run the country to suit themselves.
am not aware that the Roman Catholics
in the convent Of Pao-ting-fu were
American citizens. If they we're not, it
is not the duty OF the United States
government to constitute itself the de-
fender Of people whose proper govern
mcnts arc both able and willing to pro-
tcct their own subjects. If they are
American citizens, then prudence and
modcsty would have counsclcd Mr..
Byrnc that the duly ordained and con-
sccratcd authorities OF the Roman
Catholic church in the United States
are the proper persons to take the in
itiativc in such cases.
Mr.. Byrne's citation OF the protest OF
St. Paul is not happily taken. ST. Paul
pleaded the law of the Roman empire
against a sentence entered against him
by one who was himself servant OF the
same cmpric. He did not plead his
Roman citizenship as a reason why
Rome should interfere with the admins
tration Of justice in a country beyond
Roman jurisdiction. He simply appealed
from the provincial to the imperial law
OF the same empire. The government
of China has certainly as valid a right
to forbid the landing. of foreign mission
aries in China as the United States gov
ernment has to prohibit Chinese jmmis