The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-05-09


try 1t is plain to the observer of
European social life that lie American
republic was very much dlstrusted in
Italy, France, Spain and even among
the higher classes in England. The
Italians, who learn all things from
history, fancied that they had the key
to the future of the United States in
the past of the Venetian and FlOren-
tine republics, and the separation OF
church and state, leaving each entire
freedom, was to them, knowing how
Cavour's maxim had been interpreted,
impossible. Catholics in France We're
inclined to Judge the American repub-
lie by the vagarics Of their own series
of systems. the work of experimental
list "doctrinaries. and Spain, politi-
cally meGmcated, looked with doubt
and scorn on the crude collection OF
states across the sea. The late war
has somewhat changed the attitude of
Europe; it has, with it's result, the &C.
QUESTION of the Philippines, changed
the point of view of the court of Rome
to the United States and ALTERED to a
great extent the position of the United
States in the eyes of Europe and
Rome itself, the very center Of the
most delicate diplomacy. There are
some American Catholics who see in
this reciprocal change a misfortune,
and many others, not Catholics, who
imagine that it has dangers. How
ever. Archbishop Ireland was one of
the first to perceive-w what President
Mckinley and his advisers did not
perccivc-that, when the Philippines
were acquired, Rome. as a diplomatic
and economical factor. must be coll
sidcrcd. 1t was another evidence of
the broad view, deep insight and con-
slant devotion to the hest interests Of
religion and civic virtue that has
marked his career.
Archbishop Ireland has done more
for the creation of Il sentiment against
what was called the s''salO1n interest"
than any other Catholic except Arch
bishop Keane. And in this process, he
made many cncmies-in the Christian
sense-even in his own fold, and he
undertook Il difficult work; but who,
comparing the condition of Catholic
sentiment on the Liquor question
with what it was in the sixties, can
doubt that Archbishop Ireland and
Archbishop Kcanc have succeeded?
1t is with dislike that Catholic al
lutles to the wrctched disputes on the
school question, in which the late
archbishop of New York and arch
bishop of ST. Paul occupied opposite
episodes i'm the history of Inc Cath
Ollie Church i'm this cOlntry-H history
which hitherto had 10 page which Il
reasonable man could desire to blot;
but honesty requires the statement
that the difference Of opinion brought
out all the malice and uncllaritablc
ness from which tlcologians are sup
posed, except in moments Of great
crisis. to he free. This was n moment
of great crisis. if one may judge it by
the hatred of the two parties.
Nobody who looks below the surface
imagincs that the Apostolic legation,
represented at first by Cardinal Satolli,
was welcomed unrcservcdly by the
Catholics of the United States. 1t is
said that the establishment of this
legation was made possible by the dis
union of the bishops, and that Arch
bishop Ireland threw himself on the
side of the legation, in order to
strengthen his position. But, as there
are public documents in the case, this
assumption may be dismissed for lack
of evidence. There are no Catholics
in the world more devoted to the holy
father or the unity of the church than
the Catholics of the United States.
The school question WAS at its height
when the apostolic delegate came.
His reception in some quarters, usual
ly esteemed most orthodox, was
marked by extreme GOODNESS, while in
those quarters looked on by the untra-
orthodox as liberal" it was most en-
thusiastic. The west was troubled
perhaps more than any other part of
the country by two qucstions: Might
Catholics send their children to the
public schools, without fear Of cXcOm-
munication, and what secret societies
were really condemned? The Catho-
lie Church had not legislatcd against
secret societies merely rs secret socie-
ties, but against societies which de-
manded absolute obedience under an
unnecessary oath. 1t seemed to many
as if these questions had been an
swered by some bishops from a foreign
point of view; hence the coming of
Cardinal Satolli, rumorcd to he sympa.
thetic with what was called the
American opinions, was looked ON as
hopeful.
Cardinal Satolli stopped the practice
of communicating parents who sent
their children to public schools where
there were no other schools of equal
merit, and prudent distinctions were
made in the matter of the secret so
cieties. And tacit support was giver