Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-12-15

Der l5. 1906.
learned a more prudent and measured
method of attack. They are almost sci.
entific in the means they take to sup
press Christianity. And yet the utter
ances of such men are received as I'M
suspectingly by Americans as would be
Roosevelt or Mr. Taft--men who
recognize the powerful influence that
religion has in promoting the welfare
of society.
1T Is easy to show that | am not
mlsrepresenting the spirit of the anti
clericals. They make nc secret OF
their hatred of Christianity. They
avow II In the press and in the cham,
bers. Let me give you few examples
of the language of those men. and you
can Judge If the American people have
ever heard of anything similar from
their own leaders. or " the American
statesmen would dare to utter such
statements. In the course OF long
speech In the Chamber OF Deputies,
the we'll known Socialist leader, Jaures
said:
Quotes Jaures.
"If God himself appeared before the
multitudes in palpable form. the first
duty OF men would be TO refuse him
obedience, and to consider Him not as
a Master to whom men would submit,
but as an equal. with whom men may
argue.
IN viviani, the new minister of la
| Dor. speaking also In tho Chamber Of
Deputies, gave utterance to these SEN
timents:
"'All OF us together, first by our
forefathers, then by our fathers, now
by ourselves, have been attached to
| the work of anti-clericalism and ire
ligion. We have snatched the human
conscience from belief In future life.
Do you think that the work Is
at an end? No, it is but tie beginning.
The chamber agreed that the
speech from which this extract was
taken should be placarded In every
town and village in France.
In the same strain. the present min.
lister of public worship and the most
strenuous advocate Of the law OF sep
aration, M. BRAND, said In an address
to school teachers. The time has
come to root up from the minds OF
French children the sncient faith
which has served its purpose and re
place 1t with the light Of free thought;
II is time TO get rid Of the Christian
idea. We have hunted Jesus Christ
out OF the army, navy, the schools. the
insane and orphan asylums. and law
courts, and now we must hunt him
out OF the state altogether
What would Americans saws If q
cabinet officer were to propose this as
iut EicdL ain vi iii5 ADMINISTRATOR.
Review of Controversy.
After reviewing the relation OF the
church and state from the days OF the
Reign OF Terror. the Cardinal says:
1T is essential TO bear in nina tnai
the concordat was a genuine contract
and that this contract was annulled Ds
one OF the parties. the French govern
ment, with no regard to the wishes o.
the other party. The sovereign pontif
was in nowise consulted and utterly
ignored in every stage of the pro
ceedings
Perhaps the feature OF the situation
that win surprise us most and call fol
our just Indignation as Americans Is
the French governments absolute dis
regard for the property rights Of ths
church She has been despoiled o.
the salaries granted 20 the ministers
of religion as a compensation for the
funds which the church relinquished
under that express condition. We say
II not In the heat Of passion as parti
sans. but simply as lovers Of justice
What should we think II our own gov
Z eminent had seized on the friars
lands in the Philippines without Civ
ing any compensation, or after having
pledged solemnly compensation
should afterward refuse to keep its
part Of the contract Furthermore
suppose the American government
had left the FiIipinos merely the use
and not the ownership Of their
! churches, and only under conditions
laid down by itself, and even that their
4 very use were liable to be revoked at
any time?
Ignores Church Constitution.
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