The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-07-14

Chinese people to foreign religious mis-
sionaries has much more to eXtenuate
it than ferocious English hatred of the
Roman Catholic church, that soaked the
soil OF Ireland with the blood OF priests
and people because they would not
abandon the faith OF their fathers.
The propagation of the true faith has
never been dependent upon the arms OF
secular powers. Whenever and wher-
ever foreign secular authority has con-
stituted itself the protector OF the mis-
sionary in independent and heather
countries, such assumed protection has
retarded rather than helped the propa-
CATION Of the gospel. The missionary
has to encounter opposition from rcli-
gious prejudices apparently beyond hi
man power to overcome. How much
more are his difficulties increased when
those to whom he breaches Christianity
have plausible if not well-founded rea-
son to fear that his religion is but a
cloak for other designs, and that he is
the emissary of foreigners intent upon
invading and despoiling their country?
The conduct OF the European powers,
and latterly of the United States gov
eminent, has more than justified the
apprehensions of the eastern pagan and
Mohammedan peoples, and when they
compare the teachings of the missiona-
ries with the morals of the Christians
they come in contact with, who can
blame them if they look upon Chris
tianity as mockery, delusion and
a snare? The less true missionaries
have to do with European and Ameri-
can governments the better for Chris
tianity. Roman Catholic missionaries
in China or elsewhere do not seek the
armed intervention of outside govern
ments to protect them. They are not
shrieking over the wires, Save us or
avenge us! like the hirelings who, at
the first breath OF the storm scurry to
the seaport towns to boast and talk big
under cover OF European and Ameri-
can guns. The true apostle is not
dreaming OF an ocean voyage, the greet
ings OF friends, the lecture hall and the
applause OF men. He is where he can
best serve his stricken flock and minis
ter to his little ones, and he is thinking
over the means of repairing the dam
age inflicted by the storm as soon as it
shall have subsidized To the Roman
Catholic missionary priests, the attend
ant lay brothers and the consecrated
brides of Christ who assist them, mar
tyrdom is but the realization of their
hopes, the reward of their labors, the
crown they have prayed for.
If the armed Intervention of European
and American governments should be
deemed necessary in behalf of Roman
catholic missionaries, MIR. Byrne can
rest assured the request will come from
those better qualified and more author
lzed to make it than the jealous Re-
publican United States district attorney
OF Wilmington, Del.
MIR. William Michael Byrne tells us
the unhappy war now waging on the
part OF the misguided Filipinos will have
its compensations" -if we hold the Phil
lpplnes, and-"an efficient base is estab-
llshed there for the protection of Catho-
lie and other missionaries in their SUI
perb work OF evangelical civilizations"
Had Mr.. Byrne said "the unhappy
war now being waged on the Filipinos"
he would have been nearer the truth,
II the war is a cause Of unhappincss to
Americans, let him blame William VIC
Kinley and the gang Of Methodstical,
hypocritical plunderers who arc now
plunging the American people into
mass OF entanglcncnts from which it
will take years OF craftsmanship to extri-
cate lis. In the history OF the world
there is no more damnabc crime than
Mckinley's trcachcry to the Filipinos.
Mr. Byrne places the Roman Catholic
missionaries on level with the other
missionaries in their superb work OF
evangelical civilization" Ii Mr.. Byrnc
is the Catholic that he processes to be,
he should i'll conscience believe that the
Roman Catholic is the only true and
authorized missionary; Of the gospel,
that all other so-calitd missionaries are
the apostles OF error, and therefore delr
mental to the propagation OF truth, and
that with them and their doctrines
Roman Catholics can have nothing in
common but the intercourse authorized
by Christian charity and courtesy.
Truth and error cannot stand on the
same platform; they are essentially and
Numerically the antithcsis OF each other
and therefore incapable OF giving NIT
tual support. On the contrary, these
missionaries OF error have invariably
shown their antagonism to the true faith
by their schemes and falsehoods and
efforts to destroy its influence. Catho-
lies may share MIR. Byrnes anxiety for
the fate OF their co-rcligionists in China
but they do not join him inrlis request
tor the armed intervention OF the United
States. They know that the religion
they profess has not been and cannot be
propagated by the sword, that it is not
dependent on the support OF the great
powers or little powers, but upon the
might OF the omnipotent God. We read