The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-06-23
Are Trampled Under Foot by the
Present Administration,
TREATMENT IS SIMPLY OUTRAGEOUS
The Blame Wholly Lies.With the
Catholics Themselves.

| The following address, which was re-
Gently delivered by Bishop McFaul of
Trenton to the knights OF Columbus
in his episcopal city, deserves the care
full consideration OF the Catholic socie-
ties of the United States:
"Sir Knights: You have asked me to
| address you on The Influence of Catho-
lic.Socicties,' and most chcerfully conf
1 ply, because Catholic societies have en-
gagged my attention ever since the early
| days of my priesthood.
| lowing to reasons which it is not
necessary now to discuss, they have not
realized our hopes. 1t is true they have
not been altogether wanting in good re-
suits; we had, however, right to ex-
pcct them to WELD greater power, to
cover wider field, to unite more
strongly the rising generation i'll the
pursuit of truth and virtue, and the at
tainment as we'll as the protection of
our religious rights.
"No one, at all events, will be dis
posed to deny that our societies need
new life. They must be reused to activ-
] ity. One means to accomplish this is to
improve the material of which they are
composed. Let us then grant the mem-
bcrs the benefits of night schools, and
as they advance let them have lectures
on such subjects as will be useful in
practical way as well as Intellectually
and morally.
"Why cannot the professors in our
Catholic colleges organize themselves
into body which shall be prepared to
give all our Catholic societies the bene-
fits of the university extension plan? In
this way the tastes OF the young would
be elevated, the avenues to knowledge
! would be opened up, enthusiasm in the
work created which, in due, :imc, would
bear ample fruit.
"In recent letter to the national
convention OF the A. O. II. suggested
a union Of our societies, saying: 1T
seems to me that our societies conf
l
touch at certain points, so that while
each retains its identity and pursues its
own aims independently of other Or
CARNATIONS, there may be bond Of
union, enabling them in given circum-
stances to exert concerted influence.
This influence should be felt in our
state legislatures and In the national
congress-wherever bigots attempt the
invasion of our rights was careful
to state that it was not my intention to
advocate Catholic political party
This, think, would be unwise for
many reasons; neither do l think that
we should unreasonably emphasize our
claims for justice. We are American
citizens entitled 10 certain rights, and
these we must possess. Bigotry shall
not be allowed to deprive us of the ex-
ercise and enjoyment Of any OF them.
| We ask no favors, we beg for no privi-
legcs, but we insist that our religion
| shall not be made an obstacle to the
attainment OF our constitutional rights.
eve arc 100000 in America, yet
how small is our influence What rep
resentation have we in state and ma
] tional affairs when we measure it with
| the proportion we bear to the whole
population of the country? was
| about to say that we are almost a
nonentity so far as excrting any inf1u-
ence in connection with national poll
| tics Would it not be better to be di-
| vided between the two great national
parties? For generations we have been
casting our votes for our fellow citi-
zens, never asking what mans reli-
gion was, and, as rule, simply requir-
ing that he belong to a certain political
party. 1t has not been with this i'm
partiality that we have been treated. If
a Catholic presumes to stand for any
political Office that same individual who
has enjoyed the benefit of our suffrages
may perhaps be the first to cry out:
Don't vote for him, he is Catholic
1T is, OF course, to be understood
that we must be guided by principles,
that our ballots must be cast conscien-
tiously; any other vote is unworthy of
| a freeman. This, however, will not
prevent us from SO overwhelming ig-
norant, presumptuous bigotry, when
found in either party, that not one of
its candidates shall ever dare raise his
head for political office in America.
I "All honor to the Protestants for the