The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-24
CATHOLICS AND THE STATE.
rur PROPOSITION MADE BY BISHOP
M'FAUL.
Expressions Of Sentiment From Roman Cath
olIcs-They want No Favor From Legislation
and Pablo Opinion. bat Only Jastce-No
purpose to Form . Political Party.

To THE EDITOR or THs SuN-Sr: ! have
,ust read In to-day's SIN two letters signed
"An Irshman" and "R. J. Mahon." In which
the authors take Bishop McFaul TO task for
acme opinions and views to which he gave ex-
nre,sion in an excellent Grafton delivered at
. banquet of the Knights OF Columbus. The
writer's evidently did not read the Grafton very
~oarefully, as We shall presently see. IAN Irish
man" writes: Neither the Roman Catholic
rburch nor any other can demand special le9is-
,s,ion in It's favor" Neither Bishop MoFaul
nor any sane-mindsd Catholic has ever de-
nanded such legislation. The Catholics OF
America do not want special legislation for
their Church, but they want the same rights
and privileges as non-Catholics. The Catholics
OF hi, country have Redeemed the hillsides OF
our and with their blood that the Union might
be- preserved. and that this country should re-
main the greatest and most glorious on earth:
Great. glorious and free,
First flower OF the earth
And nrst gem Of the va.
Why then. should We be denied the same
Nights and privileges as our non-Cathonc coun-
tymen2 We ask no more than our non-Catno-
Nc fellow citizen. and with no less shall we be
%sati.fed.
An Irishman" continues: The Constitution
n the supreme law Of the land. and not the
Church, nor the creed OF any particular Church
Let lis zee: The writer clearly does not refer
10 the constitution Of the nation. as that Is I'M
changeable, although II may be modified He
must mean the written Constitution This Con-
sutution IL simply a restraint on the will OF the
people. 1t Ia a creature OF the sovereign vii OF
the American people. and is not sovereign The
real sovereign Is the convention. or the repre-
sentative Of tho sovereign territorial people.
In ENGLAND the British Parliament, conf
posed OF Queen. Lords and Commons.
Is as our convention. omnipotent-it
possesses the plenitude Of political sover-
eighty. The writer forgot that our Gov
eminent is q new contribution TO the science OF
politics. Like the average lawyer he has never
Srasped the fundamental principles OF Consti-
tutional or any other law. wonder what he
thinks Of Lincoln, Sewsrd and the Higher law
II the Constitution was aItaRonistic to bis re-
lgious belief. would he follow the Bible as in
terpreted by the Church. or the Constitution
as interpreted by the Supreme Courtf
Mir. Mahon tells us that organized religious
union for political effect was unsuccessfully
tried In tho theooratio days Of Massachusetts"
Here Mr. Mahon places the Puritan gospel on
9 level with the one preached In his own
Church. wonder what the Apostle OF the Gen.
tiles would say to aso-oalled Catholic to-day
know he once said; IF an angel from Heaven
preach another gospel besides that which l have
preached 10 you. let him be snathems-" But
such little things do not disturb some Catholics
IN these prosaio days.
Mr.. Mahon assures US that there are thou
sands who will suspect US II We ask for our
rights. 1t Is true our motives may bs miscon-
...l 49,, -a.h.n ravar Ia unharctDod avnApt
We educate our fellow counuymen who enter
tain preJudioes against us. To do this We
must make q beginning. and we must be pre-
pared for rsbufrs from non-Catholic. and in
gratitude from the few intellectual dwarfs that
stole into our Church by q side entrance. Some
OF those crying inuuders often act a. though
the interests OF the Democratic party are par
amount to those interests which are Intimately
related to their eternal welfare. The great
curse Of the Church to-day in this land II that
nearly all her children vote the Democratic
ticket. So blinded with prejudice are
Catholics against the Republican party that
believe q great many Of them would vote for
Bryan even II the notorious silver advocates
running mate was his Satanic Majesty. Catholics
may never expect to obtain justice II year after
year they follow the same old political leader Of
the bell-wether variety. We must have not
only the simplicity Of the dove. but the wisdom
Of the serpent. We must watch the signs Of the
TINES and act, not blindly. but with judgment
and discretion. and above all we must not fold
our arms and sit in silence on the anxious or
any other seat, while so-oalled friends and open
enemies lie about u.s.
Mr.. Mahon continues: I'm what are the oon-
ritutional rishts Of Catholics now rsstrainedT'
The unvarnIshed simpl city Of the writer is adj
mirablel A reader of the greatest paper on
earth. THE sun! Dear reader. do you think we
could elect a Catholic President, or even a
Catholic Governor in most OF the States? Mr..
Mahon evidently is still wrapped In the robes Of
bap,tsmal innocence. or probably he is wrapped
in the solitude OF his own originality. He Is
clearly not a member Of the Ice Trust.
Mr. Mahon may tell Va that the whole quss-
ton II one Of expediency. II so, surely Bishop
McFaul's judgment rs IA good as Mr.. Mahon's.
In the sciences Of theology, civil and canon law,
POLITICAL economy and allied sciences the
Bishop stands highest in the American Catholic
hierarchy. He Ia a man Of marked ability in
every sense OF that word; he Ia a scholar OF
worldwide reputation: his judgment has been
sought and follow wed by men of national fame;
hi, literary style has a finish and polish second
to none. and. above all. he Is a man OF good
Common sense; in a word, he Is a man Of deep
conviction, who has something to say to his fek
low man, and he knows how to say It. While
our would-be leaders ara basking IN the sun
chine Of their own Importance. the Right Rev
erend gentleman is laying the foundation OF
Catholic organizations. broad-based and firm
enough to resist the shocks Of time.
He sees that Catholics too often purchase the
freedom 20 worship their God as their con-
science dictates. at the eI pense. as II has been
truly said. Of their dignity as men, and their
rights a. citizens. Their leaders have been
towards and untrue to them. The Bishop
knows the American people are fair and honest
and Just and that We have only 10 explain TO
them our principles and religious belief to win
their respect and gain their affection. He we'll
knew that in every STATE in the world except
or own State the written Constitution IL So
Thisloal and opposed TO the unwritten one,
hence to the logic Of things. The United
elates are dialectically constituted and founded
O Catholic principles, hence he knew that that
'hurch alone will triumph here which Is
founded by lncarnate Wisdom.
The reader must remember that II Is not with
tn' state or the laws Of the State that Catholics
md fault, but with some Of the people Of the
State. 1t Is not the world. but the PEOPLE In II
W" blame. We have a right to our share OF
public patronage. and We do not get It, We shall
lot be satisfied with the offices which the Demo-
Gratis generally offer 10 IA. viz. pound-keeper