The Irish standard., 1905-10-28

alconoI properly and honestly labele,
is regulated and restricted, but tn
sale of some patent medicines is abso
lutely unrestricted. The liquor use,
in these connections is always tn
cheap kind, and consequently NOR,
harmful than the real article.
AOUTY OF THE CATHOLIC PAPER.
/ 1t has been 4 matter of wondermen
viii us for some time why the Cath.
Ole papers OF the country are sucf
negligible quantity in the discussion
OF questions OF graft ana public dis
honesty. Most of the Catholic papers
are, as they ought to be, nom political
in their nature and most of Them nc
doubt, would give this as reason for
not commenting upon the dishonesty OF
public officials. Governor Folk has
well said that graft has no politics and
there would appear to be no good rea-
son why Catholic papers should not
use their influence in their respective
communities on the side of honest gov
eminent. In some places, no doubt,
the fact that nominal Catholics are
connected with political machines en-
gagged in the pursuit of graft has led
certain journals to desist from criti-
cisng. With US a CRATER who calls
himself a Catholic is deserving of less
consideration than the CRATER who
disavows connection with any church.
There is no difference between a DEM
ocratic CRATER and Republican graft
er. They simply assume those names to
better enable them to carry on their
business in the community in which
they live. If the locality is Republican
in it's tendencies the CRATER is usually
called a Republican, and If Democrat
ic he calls himself a Democrat. These
names are assumed for business pur-
poses but we know of absolutely no
reason why CRATER should parade
himself as Catholic unless 1t be to
draw scandal upon the Church and
religion. There ought to be no reason
why a journal protesting to be Cath
Ollie should apologize for such men by
quiet. The fact that a pres
ident of one of the large life insurance
companies now under investigation,
happens to be a Catholic should not
entitle him to any different considera-
ton at the hands of so-called Catholic
papers from that accorded the presi-
dent of another life insurance company
who happens to be a Presbyterian. We
do confess our astonishment at the
lishcd in cities where struggles are now
in progress to ril the people of dis
liolest political bosses having abso-
lu;ely nothing to say about the strug-
giles in progress. Can these news
papers excuse themselves by saying
that they are not political in their nat
ure? We think not. The struggles
to are not political, but moral,
and certainly the Catholic Church is
interested in morality and public hon.
esty. Fortunately the Church is not
for the action and attitude
Of papers calling themselves Catholic.
The action of these newspapers, how
ever, give non-Catholics good reason
sor accusing Catholics of being the al
les Of dishonest politicians
Gifts by dishonest political leaders
Dr. by the heads of great financial in
situations to Catholic Churches or
charities can in no way lessen
conduct. 1t is time for
papers to widen their field a
bit Or else cease to exist. 1t is not
sufficient for them to guard against |
open attacks upon the Church but 1t
should be their mission to protect the |
Church and religion from insiduous at
,acks. Every time that Catholic is
convicted of political crime it is an
injury to the Church and religion, and |
such attacks upon the Church should
De as fearlessly fought as If the culp-
lit were outside the Church and abus-
ng 1t from without. Catholics have |
)ften been accused of sustaining cor
'upt municipal rings in power. Every |
lime that Tammany has given a poor |
government to the City Of New York, |
he Catholics have been roundly abused |
IS the chief supporters Of Tammany.
Today in the City of Philadelphia there |
Is a fight in progress against the dis
honest political ring. Catholics are
accused of supporting that ring. The
attitude of the Catholic papers in that
ought to leave no room for
such an accusation. There certainly
should be no hesitation when it comes
TO the question of choosing whether
one is to stand with the goats or the
sheep.
POLITICAL REVIEW.
AS this is an off year in politics
there is no general interest throughout
the country in political affairs. There
are. however. two or three places in the