The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-08-04
Rev. M. A. Femme Replies to Capt.
O'Farren
ST. MARY's CHURCH,
Claar a.a..Ia.II..r LII. Il..aA

ST. MARY's CHURCH,
GovANsTowN, ND, July 30 1900
Editors Democratic AdUocdte I'm the Advocate Of
July 14th there appeared reprint of a speech of
Captain o'Farrel, sharply arraigning the Admins
tration, and incidentally making an q am willing
to suppose unpremeditated) attack upon our Church
for the part she has taken by her acting in conunc
tiQn with the President In his efforts to adjust the
disturbed condition of AFFAIRS, and solve the vexed
problem of church property (more strictly, the
property of the Friars) in the Philippines.
hold no brief for the President, and leave the
purely political aspect of the speech to the discus
sion of the political wiseacres of both parties. But
| cannot allow some of the wild statements and
sashing blows the fiery of Mars delivers upon
the armor of the Church (his own church by the
the way, he is at pains to inform s) to pass
unchalenged A soldier may be pardoned many
an unguarded word In the heat and strife of the
present political fray; is the military ordi
narily an ungenerous foe. And fancy the Captain
would not be the last to exhibit the soldierly trait
of admitting mistake. and apologizing for
when brought home to him. Still the adventitious
importance given to the speech lit has been we
told incorporated in the Congressional Record) and
the rash utterances concerning the Church made in
1t, justify the protest wish to enter against some
of its baseless allegations and monstrous insinua-
tions.
ley is trying to work the Church-the Catholic
Church" not in the Presidents confidence,
and cannot vouch for his ulteror designs II would
not indeed be the first time politician tried to
play that game. But l resent the imputation that
the Church is or would he partner to it, Possibly
the Captain has recently been suffering from at
tack of Fultonism the disease known by the phrase
separation ofChurch and State shibboleth banded
about still by the bigot and the ignorant, but no
longer to be met with among the thinkers of the
world suffice 1t to refer to the words of the Rev
Dr. Edw. Ev. Halea Unitarian minister and cultured
scholar. who. in The Independent of July 5th, page
1882 reminds the reader to remember that 1t is not
true in America that the Church and State di-
vided from each other. 1t was the fashion to say
SO once. and very ignorant peoplesay so now" No
amount of defamation from the rostrums Of politi-
cal or other demagogy can do away with the stern
fact that the Church and State must cooperate with
each other each in its own sphere, In promoting
the welfare of the man and the citizen. 1t would
be sad commentary on the advance of political
life If the words of Senator ingalls, were true gener
ally tersely expressed by him as in his mind a pa
thetic fact, that "the decaogue has nothing to do
with politics." But the Church's legitimate nfu-
ence in the political less than the religious and
social life of nation is very different thing from
her abject acquiescence in and acceptance of the
role of mere political tool drawer of political
chestnuts. Even in the eyes of good Democrat
the President may sometimes rise to the plane of
the statesman
Nor can / see any reason for the attack on Mr..
Mckinley because Of his friendliness towards Cath
olics (as at Patsburgh) on the one hand and Meth
odists lat Asbury Park on the other. He is Presi-
dent for members of both and all denominations
"The undigni6ed attitude of the President going
on his knees to the Pope" is simply piece of shall
low rhetoric striking instance of saying the thing
that is not If he employs Archbishop Chappelle
in the solution of problem beset with legal and
moral difficulties, he but shows the possession Of
some statesmanship. For statesmanship 1t is to
settle amicably and with due regard to the rights
ofaI concerned that knotty and vexed question
not easy of solution 1t may appear in the eyes
Of fiery soldier who. Aexander-like, may be ex-
cused for his readiness In untangling the Gordian
knot by cutting IL That question calls for cooler
delibention and more unprejudiced investigation
| than the good Captains impatience would allow.
1t is not so much question of confirming but
rather of recognizing rights, more ancient than
any enjoyed by the property holders Of our own
glorious Union enjoyed before that Union born.
The title cs the Friars is good to say the least in
the eyes Of men sufficiently intimate with the his
tory Of the Philippine Islands as that OF any church