Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-09-04
ANGLES LETTER.
A New Book.

"The Catholic question in the United
States is one of extreme interest. With
in few years it will be the Catholic
peril" NJ. Urban Gohier.
One excellent trait in the American
is sublime conceit in his country, its
and its Institutions. This
being undeniable, | assume that such
a people will extend a cordial welcome,
and afford every facility to foreign writ
ers visiting the country to get informa-
ton and ideas to serve as subject matter
for a profitable production of up-to-date
literature. Confident, and justly so,
that sufficient for volume of matter
gratifying and reassuring can be found,
the book, when it appears in this coun-
try, is sure of wide circulation; for
Americans are ever keenly interested in
the Europeans view of the American
system.
From a French author of note, whose
supposed aim is a reproduction OF his
impressions and deductions from afford
ed information, it is reasonable to ex-
pect graceful representation of an
optimistic view. Surely there is no
necessity for more serious motive than
the promotion of amity between the
peoples of two great republics.
When a foreign writer perceives
danger, perilous as he assumes, and pub
fishes this, it is clearly an improperly,
since by so doing he draws attention to
the remissness of the people threatened
by the alarming (D conditions. If his
purpose is to warn protestants of their
danger he of course assumes that they
are too dull to discover this for them
selves. The author, in his production of
this sensational matter may be actuated
only by desire to achieve fame and
fortune; in this case it is an imperti-
nence, pardonable only if it creates no
ill feeling among the people more nearly
interested.
M. Urban Gohier is an author of
evident ability. His book "The Ameri-
can People" has already ELECTED much
comment from the American press.
Judging from the extracts from the
book which appear in the Literary Di-
gest under the heading SIS there Cath
Ollie peril in America ?" the book will
afford pessimists matter for serious re-
Election. Even if published with good
intent such forceful presentation of
prejudice cannot fail to induce a like
sentiment among those who have not
realized by study the lofty conception OF
morality embodied in the Roman Cath.
Ollie faith.
Foreign labor was essential to the de.
velopment of the vast industries of this
land of plenty. Among the emigrants
there is turbulent element, stoical in
their indifference to such punishments
as the law can infict; their saving grace
is in their superstition; the Roman
Catholic faith is clearly the best means
for their advancement.
M. Gohier claims that during the
coal strike the Roman Catholic clergy
event solidly for the strikers" but he
fails to give the clergy due credit for
their strenuous labors in the suppression
of violence; in this they proved valua-
BILE auxiliary to the law.
Again, we are informed that while
the protestant" population is twenty
times more numerous than in 1890, the
Roman Catholic portion is three hun.
bred times more numerous. 1t is in this
phenomenal increase that Mr.. Gohier
sees cause for alarm, inasmuch as the
Catholic element "forms solid block in
the midst of a heap of crumbling prot
testant fragments" But although the
great majority who go under the gen.
eral name, professionals, are much divided
into sects, it is safe to assume that these
would quickly unite in resistance to un.
due encroachments upon liberty, which
no reasonable being will believe is really
threatened.
The advanced intellect of the day per-
ceives that spiritual teaching, only, is
the real function of the church, and the
tendency of the times is to enforce this
view.
| Why assume that Roman Catholics
are impervious to light ? But grant that
in their growing strength they may VEN
ture to clay aside diplomacy" why as
sumo that the government of the United
States will be less equal to the difficulty
than the government of the French Re.
public?
| M. Gohier also finds that the public