Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-06
NO KEEPERS OF CONSCIENCE.

NO KEEPERS Of CUNSCIENCE.
| If the Dubuque Telegrs phi Herald is
! to be credited with understanding its
own case two prominent Catholic
churchmen claim the right to control
editorial discussion in that newspaper
for the reason that its editor and pub
fishers are communicative of the Ro-
man Catholic church. Failing in obedi-
ence its influence among Catholics is to
be wiped out.
In an article given space in another
column OF the paper the Telegraph
Herald says plainly that the animus OF
the attack upon the paper by Mon
signor Ryan and Father Toomey lies in
the Telegraph Fl erald's defense of the
public school system as the safeguard
of our liberties. The T.--H. charges
that the bread is to be taken from the
mouths of its publishers and editor be-
cause being Catholics they defend the
public school system as broad-minded
What the Telegraph Herald is likely
TO lose in money it will gain in respect
by its refusal to submit. its editorial
columns to the self-appointed censor
ship Of these arrogant priests. That
priestiy opposition means financial loss
in Catholic community like Dubuque
is foregone conclusion. There are
too many Catholics who will follow the
suggestions of their spiritual directors
to drop a newspaper opposed to their
POLICY of absolutism. The Telegraph
Herald is likely to lose much, but the
Catholic church is likely to lose more
thru the ill-advised arrogance and big
otry of Its representative.
This is not Catholic country. With
all due respect toward that magnificent
hierarchy and with full appreciation of
its usefulness, any attempt at church
domination in state affairs will be
painfully resented by the American
people. Any organized attack upon the
public school system will meet with
prompt punishment whether urged by
Romanism or Methodisrn. The paro-
chial school is not an American insti-
favored by the American people, of
whom a respectable number favor It's
entire elimination. Father Toomey and
Monsignor Ryan instead of pushing a
parallel against the public school sys-
tenn are digging a mire for the de-
struction of the parochial school when
they threaten a journalist with the
penalty of starvation for the crime OF
defending the greatest Of American in
stitutions. The United States has been
extremely liberal to illibcrality. 1t has
kept hands off the churches and given
entire freedom to religious conviction
and expression. but 1t knows
no difference between the ban
10 OF the Salvationist and the
pyx OF the priest. IF Father
Toomey and Monsignor Ryan desire to
create such a difference and prejudice
the people against the robe and tonsure
they are going the right way to sue
coed. Their assumption to be keepers
of conscience and unqualified and as
sertive antagonism to the public school
will not fail in time to accomplish 1t.
There is no occasion for church issue
in this country and none should be
raised. The kindly feeling toward the
Catholic church in this country has
been evidenced only recently by the
sympathy and interest expressed dur
ing the illness and death of its supreme
pontiff and makes the il!iberality OF the
Dubuque priests the more fragrant and
by comparison. The
Times Republican is inclined to
consider the Dubuque episode as
q solitary instance of self -assertive-
ness on the part Of local priests, but If
an issue Is to be made between the pub
lie and parochial schools the people will
understand how to meet it.