New-York tribune., 1900-01-21
CATHOLIC SYMPATHY FOR ENGLAND.
ENGLISH FREEDOM COMPARED WITH
TRANSVAAI4 INTOLERANCE IN
RELIGION
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: 1t is interesting to see what different
views people take of the present war in South
Africa. Well, for my part I heartily sympa-
thize with England, and do so because
Catholic. It would be little short of calamity
to the Church II England fell from her high
estate. Wherever the English flag waves there
the Church is free. And yet there Catholics
who write and speak If they would rejoice to
see a league of the Powers formed against Eng
land. These good people, whose pety is greater
then their intelligence, have certainly not trav-
elled abroad and seen what little liberty the
Church enjoys in France, in Germany, and In
Russia compared with the liberty which she
enjoys in England
In THE London Tablet" Of July 10, 1899, is a
speech delivered by Archbishop Ireland before
the Catholic Old Boys Association of Liverpool,
in which His Grace said referring to England
and America: wherever the flags of these cOun-
tries went the Catholic Church also went, and
was allowed fullest liberty. 1t was the glory of
these two flags that they bespoke liberty"
Surely this cannot be said of the flags of any
other nations. Even in so-caled Catholic Spain
not a Bishop can be appointed without the ap-
proval of the State.
And in late number Of 1.-THE London Tablet"
January 6, 1900, is a letter written by Monsignor
]. dHotmaul to the Paris "Univers In which
this old time resident or Soutn Africa says
An admirer Of that great Christian man, Louis
Veuillot you will allow to say with all
frankness that your articles and those OF the
French Catholic press against England are a
source of real pain to the majority of the Cath
olic clergy and people of South Africa who, un-
der the flag of England enjoy the fullest liberty
as citizens, besides meeting with a help and
encouragement for our schools Whlch you GER
tainly do not get in France
In the Transvaal the Catholic religion Is not
viewed with kindly eye and no Catholic can
look for any official employment. Such state
English flag. You not, perhaps, aware OF
what we old coonists know so well, that Presi-
dent Steyn of the Free State, as far back as
eighteen years ago, was busy preparing the
present war by raising the Dutch In Africa in
concert with Paul KRUGER and others ana
for this object founded a secret society some
thing like Freemasonry-the Afrikander Bond
Pere Limbour, of the Fathers of the Holy Ghost
and the Sacred Heart of Mary, and professor
of philosophy in Paris, who is in possession OF
all the details of this Machiavellian plan, Will
be able to enlighten you on this subject England
Is not the instigator of the war, far from 1t.
That is the historical truth of the matter In cur
ewes who have for eighteen years watched the
dongs Of the Bond
We conclude by saying that while we may
not all think alike in regard to the war between
England and the Transvaal Republic, we may
safely assert that the great majority or per
sons who have travelled and who by their read
ing and by their natural intelligence are htted
to form an opinion on the subject, upholq the
cause of England. CATHOL1COo'
NeW-YOrk, Jan. 1S. 19UO