Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-09-12
TO the inference drawn from this al
legged agitation, and asks:

10 lbt lntcfNbtt uToNH llVAh Ah4a a.
legged agitation, and asks:
"Aro We Catholics. then prescribed?
DO we enjoy IN fact ~ IN theory equal
civic rights I'm the United States? Why
has no Catholic ever been elected pres
idcnt IN ths past? "Oh." SOME Csth'-
lies OF the jclly-nsh type viii say. we
ought to be thankful FOR the freedom
we enjoy ln this republicl" Thankful
10 whom? TO God yes. whose overrJl-
lnR providence has guided aud VIII
continue 10 guide the destinios Of hu.
mauity toward the goal OF liberty IN
America and throughout the World.
Thankful to Tho American nation? Are
we Catholics not dn integral part aud
most important integral part OF the
nation To be- thankful 10 oneself Is au
absurdity. Catholics might b. grateful
10 the government NJ the sublime Porte
for concessions ma privileges. tecause
n Turkey ne people an, w theory ana
ln farl subjects not citizen sovereigns.
But in the United Saies public PRIV.
liege Is o public crime ggains, ihc M
iion. The Tcople have constitution
and laws framed 4n1 rnacted hv them
selves. Of witch the fundamental prln.
cipie r. equal rivie rights Tor an prlF-
ileges TO- none. Have not our people.
20 spafE With Fr.ui moderation. con.
tr.hu,el ~ much 10 tine oriein. GROWTH.
defense 4n vransiou Of the republic
and ~ i1siiutions as any other So.
iiou OF ths population? Take any ma.
floral infnru euch o. tie sanetitcs
~ Rome llf' tal0r in O. fCli abiliy
IN De lel~ned ngofCssiont iisntcrri.
ncss in public no n"d iaf 'is a'f our.
selves phai alas- Of Arts 1ean oiiiz Nc
have eXcelltd th, Ga hol.rs under any
one ~ these categoriess
Tair brings io mini the fact mot not
many wears ago tho sanc objection
that have been offered hr seciaries
againsl the "Mrwon" church .,
factor iu political affairs were rgisei
even more ,iolcntly 1goins, The Cath.
Ole church for similar alleged reasons
II appears that TO q limited extent The /
same intolerance exists among the Va. /
rlous secis today. or there would be ma /
stir" among ihe prcss on The pcop,e 1
over he simple utterauce Of the Pres
id,nt what Is there IN The constliu- 4
ton % the Tinted states. or IN the /
Declaration Of Independence OF In the I
general spirit of American institutions
which folbids The election OF a Catho-
lic 10 ans office IN the government tx
ecuiive judicial or legislative
Earnest and active members Of dif-
fsrent religious denominations. SOM Of
them hiders in those churchcs. have
occupied the presidential chair We
do not say that they were elected be-
cause OF their religious status or az
citations. but suggest that these I'D
not and ought not TO cut any figure IN
the matter nor affect their quallhca-
ions for those positions. on The same
rule. II a Catholic should he nominated
for a high Office. even the highest IN
the gift Of the people. his religion
should not IN any way interfere with
his election or IN the discharge Of his
public duties
We were in hopes tina, th1 higotry
which svayed many people in this land
OF liberty years ago. when the word
Catholic excited them as much as the
name Mormon" has done recently, had
faded out Of the hearts and minds OF
the American public. But II seems
that il Is still there IN some degree and
30 FAR rs II extends It is reproach
TO The land Of the free and the home
OF the brave"
The questions prorouaded by the
World cannot be truihfully answered
10 the disorcdit o. the Catholic citizens
Of the United States. nor IL there evil
dence in the history Of this Republic
that the representations Of the anti
popery extremists, who once raised
riot over The mingllng Of Church and
state" and "priestly influence" which
was 20 wreck tn nation and bring
about dire disasters II Catholics were
allowed 10 obtain influence IN political
affairs, have ever received fulhllment.
II viii be the same, as time rolls on.
In regard 10 the threats and predictions
Of evil which have come from similar
sources IN reference to the "Mormons'
aud the progress OF "Mormonism.r
All citizens cf this country have
equal rights before the law The priv
ilsgcs Of citizenship must not be
abridged or denied or infrlngod IN tho
least degree because Of their religious
beliefs or associations. Throughout
the land let freedom reign, and lei no
religious test ever be applied as quail
ificatlons for once anywhere in these
United States,