Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-28
ANTI-ROMANISNr.

1t Is now supposed that the murder
of The Catholic priest IN Denver is but
one in a series contemplated by mem
beers Of a society which is said 10 have
for It's sole aim n murderous warfare
upon the church. II is even asserted
that the slayer Of Rev. Leo Heinrichs
was inspired from Chicago whore the
society is thought to have a branch.
According to story printed in the
Chicago Record-Herald. the meeting. at
which Il Is asserted Guarnaccio was
present, was held Dec. Is in a hall. at
Green and West Harrison streets. II
had been sensationally advertised
through local Italian paper. the Trib-
una ltaliana Translationa. The adj
dresses were Of fiery character and
their keynote was demand for the ex-
termination of tho church. The date
Of the meeting is regarded as acqulr-
ing particular significance from state
ment made by the murderer of Father
Leo. He asserted that since Dec. I5 he
had done no work and, while he added
that he had been idle because unable
to obtain work to do, in the explana-
ton which he added of his motive
for the tragedy he quoted almost d.
rectly the ideas expounded In the ap-
peal for the meeting referred to.
1t is rather significant that the
grounds on which this society proposes
to wage war against the Roman clergy
are very nearly identical with those
on which the leaders OF anti Mormon
gangs Justify their hostility The APP
peal printed in the Tribuna sets forth:
I'VE would not make war on God
but war on the Pharlsees who
make use of His name in order to stu
pefy the crowds and rob them of their
gold; war on the vagabonds who make
OF religion an agreeable trade; war on
the charlatans who deny the truths of
science in order to teach lies to the
credulous, whom they intend 10 milk.
War on that class of shameless priests
who In the name of God preach the
ruin Of fatherland. in the name of
obligatory cellbacy bring dishonor to
the nuptial beds OF the faithful. in the
name of the poverty OF Jesus
Christ are always asking for
money. in the name OF hui
miity impose their way of seeing
and, in order to destroy all right to
| free discussion. invent dogma and re-
| vealed truths
That the teachings embodied In this
appeal were not lest upon the assassin
is evident from his confession. He said
In part;
Since Dec, Is have done no work
OF any kind because / could not find
any to do. The last two weeks have
had no money and | have eaten at the
Salvation Army place. During these
days It was In my mind that | should
aVenge myself upon the priests who AL
ways prey upon the poor and live an
the fat of the land. while others
stnrYe."
The point IS that in the wild magma
ton OF such wretches the clergymen OF
any church are Pharisees, deceiyers
charlatans, oppressors of the poor de-
filers of women, impostors and oppres-
sors. and consequently. they should be
murdered. The murderous argument
Is so much like the anti-"Mormon" ar
gument OF the Salt Lake Tribune as to
suggest a common origin.
But Is It not time for the American
people 10 wake up to realization of
the fact that human life and the rights
of man are no longer safe whom
bigotry has too much liberty.
The war against churches, be
they Roman or Protestant, Mo-
hammedan or Mormon is waged
by the enemies of liberty in order to
conceal from the public view their real
and ultimate aims and purposes which |
are no less than the elevation OF an
archy upon the throne of liberty. the
establishment of crime in the halls OF
Justice, The murder Of the Denver
priest should be a call to the American
people 10 read the signs Of the times
correctly.