The Irish standard., 1902-03-08
Saws 1t is Time for American Catholics
to Awaken Themselves from
Political Stupor.
They are Aiding the Enemy Of the Church
to Destroy the Principles
They Dearly Love.

ideas of public opinion, of citizenship,
and all the theories underlying our sys-
tenn Of political economy are based
upon MATERIAL1SM, low ideals and
anti Christian principles. All these
principles are not favorable to the
Catholic religion, and hence should not
be to the Catholic. This is the cause
of all grievances; that is the reason
why we do not receive Justice and
our due, why we are being discrim-
mated against. The principles which
underlie the social and economic
structure, and which we, alas! in our
civic position ignorantly acquiesce in
and indorse, are not our principles,
and they operate against us.
There are certain things which we
cannot forget. We cannot forget that
under the administration Of one of our
Presidents the late DR.. Newman, Bish.
op Of the. Methodist church, then pas.
tor Of the Metropolitan Methodist
church at Washington, was sent on a
trip around the world to inspect the
consulates Of the United States Govern.
ment stationed all over the globe, and
this at the expense of this Govern.
ment and with a good salary. Would
this have happened with Catholic
priest or bishop, then the cry would
have been raised that it was against
the principles Of the church and state,
and justly SO. We cannot forget that
an ex-United States Senator, an able
and distinguished citizen, Mr.. Herman,
was once nominated as Governor for
the State Of New York, and an open at
tack was made against him because he
was a good, loyal and devoted Cath
olfc, and he was defeated. Yet to
nominate for the Presidency the son
Of Irish Catholic parents, who remains
loyal to his church-or a non-Catholic
who becomes Catholic-would be ta-
boed by both parties. But a month
ago the President had to appoint a
Superintendent Of Education for Por-
to Rico, inhabited exclusively by Cath
olics, and the choice fell upon a young
professor Of Pennsylvania University
"a Protestant.
Under the present circumstances and
under the existing conditions, it is to
the laity that we look for help. In
this field the lay apostolate must ex-
ercise it's influence and demand re-
adjustment of the order, or disorder,
of things. That can be done by their
asserting themselves in politics as
Catholics, regardless of party af1ilia-
tion.
We have not thus far performed the
duties which belong to the lay apos-
tolate. We have allowed the enemy
to intimfdate us. He has made us
swing the flag on all occasions, not
in the interest of country, but to
carry out the very undertakings which
We're intended to destroy the principles
we hold dear, and to weaken either
here or elsewhere the salutary influ-
ence of the church we love so much.
1t is time we awaken from our polit-
ical stupor and intoxication. I say it
boldly and confidently that the careful
student Of history will find in its pages
corroboration Of my statements, and
see at glance their force and bear
ing upon our future.
In the war of the Revolution Cath
olics stood loyal to the struggling COL
onies, and they were repaid by Prot
estant bigotry, by penal and disabling
laws for their patriotism.
Again, in 1860, with devotion un-
surpassed by any, Catholics contrib
uted, toward the maintenance Of Amer
lean unity, and they were repaid by
seeing the education of the land seoul
arized, religion banished' from the
schoolroom, compelled to pay taxes for
educational institutions repugnant to
their traditions and to their faith, to
see the schools which they erected
upon the great sacrifice of labor and
money among the Indians deprived of
support by the intrigue and narrow
mindedness Of a Government which,