New-York tribune., 1907-01-28
CATHOLICS PROTEST.
ATTACK FRENCH ACTION.
SpOliatiOn and Breach of ConcOrdat
Obligations Denounced.

crime Of the century. Resolutions were read and
adopted by standing vote condeTnning the action
Of France and pledging TO the Church there the
E!npathy and support of American Catholics.
Ex-Justlce Morgan J. OBrien. the chairman.
opened the meeting by declaring that Catholics
OF France had shown 20 the world one Of 'the
most remarkable examples of respect for consti-
futed authority II has ever known and that the
present rulers OF France" were preparing a day
Of wrath for themselves Neither the Catholics Of
France" he continued. nor the lovers of liberty
throughout the world ever viii permit the success
OF n attempt 10 destroy religious and civil liberty
Many persons well known in business and relig-
fous circles were The platform In the audience.
unobseTved by anybody, was also the French Con-
sui General Alcids Elray. Addresses the vari-
Gus phases OF the question were made by Arch
bishop Farley, eX-Corporaton Counsel John J. De-
lsny, John G. Agar ex-Judge DAILY and Justice
James Fitzgerald Of the Supreme Court who is
presiding over tho Thaw trial.
In beginning his address eK-Iustice o Brien said
he wished TO make it plain that the Catholics of
this country neither asked desired that French
Catholics should under their government have any
greater rights than enjoy under our own" The
complete separation Of Church and State, he ad-
Fnitted was . question To he decided by the French
people themselves. He continued:
:, But speaking as an American and for what I be-
men in this country 7 feel certain that 10 man
they always have been and are, with respect
Church and State II in rance It be conci1Ided
bv majority of the people thar that is their ,ievE
then assuredly that end can be accomplished With
out violating every principle Of honesty and fair
be worthy of Nero a Diocletisn.
Speaking OF the Concordat OF Napoleonic times.
eX-Justioe O'Bren said:
The Church made no claim FOR the S2oa.oo2on
worth Of property which had been conlscated dur
ing the Reyolution) In return for this pledge TO
leave the tltle OF the holders Of the land unQues-
the use and control Of its church edfces. hospitals.
STopefie i To- nno 5n Pefo@s s oI & The ToIhscafe9
intended .
the fundamental law Of the nation. Reduced 10
entry into portion OF d wronsfully converted
property and a mortgsge upon the remainder. given
IN consideration Of no attack being made upon the
title Of those in possession.
After reviewing the Incidents leading to the pres
ent crisis. the speaker said;
But this is only the beginning. The government
The principal because refuse to pa9 interest any
i9ngeT II retains The principal and asseTts that
erry vested absolutely IN the state by the provisions
which was the condition of that investiture-
The resolutions adopted denounced the act OF sep
aration and attacked ts provisions IN detail They
heartily praised the action of the French clergy
snd laity during tho crisis. and ended with this
preston Of sympathy:
From the hearts OF freedom We send an express
sion of adnliration and encouragement 70 the soy
ereign Pontin for his brave stand and fatherly al,
1ort Vigorously the efforts Of their bishops Tor the
welfare Of their own republic and the of
freedom everywhere.
These resolutions were introduced by ox-Judge
DAILY who said, in part. in presenting them
Fv the laws referred 10 which have been enact
she latest blow struck in the warfare against re-
ligion waEed in that unhappy country.
Justice Fitzgerald said in part:
zion law Would be more ft5ngiy titied were it
seslElsied the statute ot SPoa,ioa ana sacrlleEe,
State in control OF the Church any more than II
material purposes OF life we look the State. To
satisfy our spiritual requirements and immortal
longings Ne rely upon our Church To protect
Individual rights. and 70 enforce our correative
UPON 5i1S the sl law 5ft Of the land lo' fo''S 'y
alone Catholic question II IS blow at civil and
religious liberty the character Of which II per
that most sacred OF ali rirhts-the fundamental
basis Of our American Constitution-the guarantee
worship God IN accordance with the dictates Of his
conscience.
The longest address Of the evening was made by
John G. Agar, who dwelt upon tho history of the
Church and OF the necessity for the Church with
its widespread interests. to preserve herarchcal
form Of choice Of officials. He also said that the
second essential of the temporal and spiritual es-
Establishment OF the Roman Church was the demo-
cratic organization Of the Church itself including
clergy and laiy- In this he said it differed from a
democratic state only in that the choice Of officials
was made from above. ana not by a majority
After relating the history OF Church and State IN
France, he said:
Te5f The real & issue FL; is the attack OF the French
C'hJIrcl-the hierarchcal form-which has come
down 10 us from Peter. and which is a part Of its
lts mission on earth. and coupled with this is an
n nr9a 9 ne -. @ dlsnt OF ne Churcn 70 hold prop
church and school and seminary.
Archbishop Farley made the final address saving
that all had met citizens Of a free republic 70
register before the world q protest against an act
Or Injustice. an act which. he said, had for it's OBJ
iect the avowed destruction of Christianity in
France by attempting crush out the life of the
Roman church in thnt country
Public opinion" he said. rs beginning 10 see
that the fault lies wholly with a government which
has never kept Faith with the Vicar of Christ.
which has repudiRted arbitrarily it's most solemn
laws have no guarantees. whose policy has been
marked persistently by nsincerity dishonesty and
insults-an ntolerabe condition that had 10 be re-
sisted by the invinsbls non possumus of the head
Of the Church.
He said that the Church had tr1uInphed before in
many struggles and ended by saying:
such viii he the issue of the present conflict
S tl1s = mas spuTned the hypocrisy of a Herodian
ness - nor WEAKNESS, that concession is not sur
render. His attitude unchanging ana unchanee-
times far darker than these he has been no ! less m
,. h0 seSs courageous than was Innocent XI
4asse 4 heTole a e, fontns won glorious triumphs so
pre forgotten and their memories held Ia rnaledic
nor - nus VIII II be with the multitudes of those
who have risen up against Sion"
After the Archhishop's address David NscC1uro
offered for the consideration of the audience
cable message which he asked permission 10 send
70 the Pope in the name OF the ArchbIshop. The
cable read:
Cardinal Merry del Vel Rome:
York Tonight protest against religious ersecf;o sw
and sympathy 10 HIS Holiness Pope Plus eens
rrfu1