The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-02
AIMED AT SOCIALISM AND HIT TOM
JOHNSON.

JOf1NSONs
A curious feature of the closing days of
the Ohio campaign is the dragging of the
Catholic Church into politics. 1t appears
that a short time ago the Ohio Federation
of Catholic Societies issued a propaganda
against socialism in that State. The prop
uganda was general in its views, directed
against a principle or cult and without any
personal application, but as Tom Johnson.
Democratic candidate for Governor, is adj
v~ocatng some socialistic ideas 1t was con-
strued by his friends as an attack on him..
So much was being made of the matter
that the church enthusiasts in Ohio have
deemed it worth while to state that the
Interpretation Of the original statement
above referred to Is unfounded. They add:
The paragraph against socialism was
written first at the request of a priest in
Toledo, In whose parish the Socialists are
most active and who has reason to know
thai the same pernicious propaganda is
being carried on all over the State.
Secondly, the whole statement was first
submitted to the consideration OF the arch
bishop and bishops Of Ohio before 1t was
published. and they surely would not have
sanctioned any mere partisan politics II
such had been intended.
Thirdly, the federation accepted as timely
the suggestion Of the Toledo priest to sound
a note or warning to Catholic citizens
against socialism. especially since a strong
propaganda has been made by the Socialist
party-which has a complete ticket In the
feld-in favor Of their doctrines, advocated
by several exopriests, a doctrine directly
This has more than local interest be-
cause 1t touches the relation Of the Catholic
Church to socialism and to partisan poll
tics. AS to the first point there is no room
for doubt. The church has been infiexibly
opposed to socialism in all its forms from
Europe. The Catholic Church Is pre-emi-
nently conservative. 1t stands for legiti-
mate government, for the powers that be,
for all persons in authority, for vested
property rights and for established insti-
tutions generally. In 1879 Pope Leo XIII
advocated by Socialists. Communists and
Nihilists as being aimed at all human au-
thority and all rights of property, and
urged the bishops and clergy everywhere
to labor to instill into the young respect
for parental and state authority. There
mus DONh ~ NAAe@hoO ~
| church since, and 1t stands unalterably
| opposed to socialism in all it's forms and to
all movements aiming at the subversion
of property rights. 1t follows. of course,
that the propaganda issued by the church
authorities in Ohio was In strict accord
ance with standing instructions from Rome
and with the attitude of the church every
where. That Tom Johnson's friends should
nave construed 1t as an attack on him
shows first that they do not know the at
titude of the church on the subject, and,
! second, that they regard him as open to
the charge of advocating socialistic views.
If this were not the case a propaganda
against socialism in general could not have
hurt him. 1t was not an appeal to any
person to vote for or against any candi-
date or ticket, but simply a reminder to
Catholics that socialism is contrary to the
tenets and authority or the church.
The statement above quoted says that
church authorities would not nave sane
toned any attempt to NEEDLE in mere
partisan politics. There is no reason to
doubt the absolute sincerity of this state
ment. There was a time when many per-
sons believed that the church did NEEDLE
in politics, and perhaps there are still some
prejudiced persons who think so. but there
is no ground for the belief. Many OF
it's members NEEDLE in politics. as do a con-
siderable number OF Protestants, but the
church itself deals only with moral ques-
tons and general principles. and Its clergy
are no more open to the charge of med
ding in politics than are those of the
Protestant churches, II as much. 1t is the
misfortune Of Tom Johnson that he stood
where he was liable to be hit by a weapon
aimed at socialism.