The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31

At a mass meeting Of the citizens Of
| Washington, held last night at the Colum-
bia Theater, meeting at which 1000 peo-
pie were present and fully that many
turned away for lack OF accommodation,
| the action Of the French government in
attempting 10 conhscate the churches and
property Of Roman Catholics in France
was bitterly arraigned
Speeches were made by the Hon. Edgar
/ II. Cans, Of Baltimore: Mai Edward T.
McCrystal. OF New York: the Rev. John
Van Schaick, and Rev. D. J. Stafford,
pastor Of 81. Patricks Church
The ca5legram above was sent 10 CardI-
nal Merry Del Val. at Rome. and the fol-
lowing resolutions were adopted by unan-
imous vote and amid applause:
Whereas we view with exceeding regret and indig-
nation the action by which the Catholic Church in
France is 10 Il deprived Of about 25gg8 u is
churches. episcopal aud parochia residences clerical
summaries and other church property; and
/ Whereas this feeling has been acceutuated b. the
/ tse4 thst Catholic France IN The beginning u
history ana st all times since has becn the stsnch
friend u the American republic; and
Whereas we learn from the m1st authentic sources
that Tor many years the Catholic Church has been
prosecuted by the French government and Is being
slowly but surely deprived Of lis property and The
rights which belong 20 free people; ane
Whereas the public uJterances Of several Of the
/ leading statesmen q France indicate desire %
strike az the very root Of Christianity and are thus
serious menace 70 Christian civilization; therefoTs
1 Be It
/ Resolved, That We citizens Of Washington. the
capital Of the great American republic. Of various
religious denominations. assembled il mass meeting
/ ca this the S0th day Of December. II tie year OF
/ cur Lord 1895. vehemeutly condemn the action q
the French government in the vn5st c0ndscation q
the entire prope.ty of the Catholic Church II France
and as hbeTty-CyIng people. re den0uuce such coz
duct hostile 10 the freedom Of Christian worship;
/ be Il further
/ Resolved, That Gail upon al lovers Of religious
/ liberty throughout the civilized world and esre-
ciaily N 0Ku beloved country, wherein eyerv
mans religion Is protected and 10 mans religion Is
preferred, to publicly record their protest and 70
deter By eveTy lawful means within their power tie
present conduct Of tie French government IN sitting
religious worship in France. in uniusty sezing Pr
Tate property, IN depriving thousands OF innocent
people Of homes and the means Of livelihood and
IN forcing into military service over 100 students q
1 religion; be Il further
/ Resolved, That while vigorously condemn the
/ present act Of spoliation we hope and pray our
Heavenly Father wiz stay the hand oE His enemies
N the French republic. 10 the end that the Cath
oiic Church. and al other churches in that coup-
/ Try may be granted the rights and privileges
which they nov enjoy under the protection of the
government q the United States
Resolved That copies Of these resolutions Be for
Warded 70 the French Ambassador 70 the United
States government and that they be also furnished
to the press Of the United States Tor p1blicztion
SympRthizers Crowd Theater.
The meeting at the Columbia Theater
was a spontaneous outpOuring OF SYM
pathizers with the Roman Catholics os
France under the injustice they are suf-
fering at the hands of the government,
t-r, 4
great number Of Catholics were in the
audience and on the stage. but there were
many prominent people from other de-
nominations present, and every bitter de-
nunciation of the French government,
Clemenceau. or Waldeck-Rousseau, was
greeted with hearty applause
The hour set for the meeting was SIS.
but long before that time the theater was
packed with people and it was with diff
Guilty that the police on duty could make
the hundreds waiting to get in understand
that they were doomed to disappointment.
The stage was decorated with palms
and draped simply with the American
flag. There was little delay owing %
the late arrival of Mr.. Cans from Baiti-
more. but as soon as he got TO the thea
ter the meeting got down TO business ct
once.
The meeting was called 10 order by
Thomas J. Donovan, and the chairman OF
the meeting was Mr. P. J. Haltigan. Tn,
first speaker was the Hon. H. Z. Cans. a
prominent lawyer Of Baltimore, who
without any attempt at rhetorical display
told simply and as briefly as possible
the exact status of affairs between church
and state in France.
No Constitution in France.
He explained first that France was not
a constitutional government, as that of
the United States. He pointed out that
In this country the rights o. ali the
people are jealously guarded, and that
any law passed by Congress and signed
by the President must. TO be effective,
be in accord with the Constitution. He
showed that in this country no law would
hold which should attempt to interfere
with the right to any religious belief.
the right to express It. At once the
judiciary would hold such law null and
void. He went on to show that France
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