Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1908-02-29
LOCAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Maintain the Church
FEosrHuEG, Mp2 February %, l

TO the MINING JOURNAL.
Once the church offered the right of
asylum to the fugitive from justice.
Now it Is no longer a safe place for
the officiating minister.
Last Sunday morning Il crime so terri
bic was committed as to appal the world.
In has no parallel III twenty centuries
At that time, while in the act of ad-
ministering the Holy Communion, was
Father Leo, of ST. EIizabeth's Catholic
Church, Denver, shot through the heart
EXclaiming-"My God My God.' he
fell from III front Of the altar and died
None but a heart denounced by hate
can contemplate this scene unmoved
The horror of it is unspeakable We
are shocked, dazcd, grlef-stricken. Our
hearts go out in tcnderest sympathy
with the pitiful grief of the stricken
congregation and with the deep bereave-
ment of the entire Chmch.
But following our grief there comes Il
rush of fierce Indignation. Why is such
thing possible III free America? We
can see some reason for anarchy III
Russia, but why in free America: Is it
because we have allowed this country to
become the refuge and the plotting
ing from the operation of the memorable
law of retribution: Is it because that
with Understanding hospitality we
have welcomed all, regardless of char
acter, to our shores:
How lOng-O, American, how long
Will you allow the worst Of Europe to
pass unchallenged through your wide
open and unguarded gates: We're we
not warned: Did not the tragic death
Of Mckinley. the we'll beloved acceutu-
ate the peril? But did we heed it then !:
And Will we now:
Immediately we should put in opera
ton the suggestion of the immigration
Commission to pass upon the character
of the candidate for Immigration at the
port Of departure rather than the port of
entry. Immediately should we abridge
freedom Of speech \ man has no more
right to counsel murder than to commit
it. The trouble with the assassin Of
Mckinley WaS-We executed the wrong
person. 1t should have been Emma Gold
man, who excited him to commit the
crime. The nest of vipers in Paterson,
n. j., should be broken up if it takes a
volunteer army to do it.
de rattlesnake has no right to de
public road"
personal liberty ends where public
injury begins"
Liberty Is the privilege to do as one
pleaseS, when one pleascs to do right
But when one pleases to do wrong in a
way that Injuries others, then his liberty
becomes license, and should be abridged
The measures for destroying this evil
should not only be represslve but con-
sructive as well. In addition to the APP
plication OF the law we need the com
bimed influence of the home, the school,
and the Church to be eXerted upon it.
1t is with reference to the last that
our conduct is most rcprehcnsiblc
Thousands of our people never attend
any Church They spend the Sabbath
i'll revelry and song, i'll play or social
intercourse, or in luxurious ease, never
for moment considering the claims of
the church upon them.
And vet the church is the most power
full cOnserver of public morals and the
chief support Of free institutions. De
TocqucVille, the great Frenchman, long
ago called our attention to this fact. Its
influence is felt i'll every walk of life
1t is the foremost agency i'll preventing
the success of Anarchism and all it rep
reseutS. So convinced are Anarchists
of this that they hate the Church with
a perfect hatred. Not the Catholic
Church, nor the Jewish Church, nor the
Protestant Church, but the Church Of
every name, and always and every
where down with the priests of
every robe and hue" is their cry. "God
is the evil I'VE must abolish the idea
OF God"
Why acknowledgement tothe Church
so strong? Because they know that
respect for human is born of respect for
Divine law. They cannot succeed until
man becomes a practical atheist
DO you deprecate such result? Do
you shrink from the thought of riot and
blood-shed- chaos and disorder? Do
you value the quiet and stability of the
present order? Do you value life and
property:
Then throw the weight of your
moral influence upon the side of the
Church. No longer let others support
an institution which is protecting and
enriching you. Bear your burden like
a man. Give it your presence as well
as your purse. Whether Catholic, Jew
or Protestant, line up with your dOnomi-
nation and stand by it.
For be We well assured that when the
Church goes all restraint goes with it.
1t is the symbol of all the highest and
best things IN our civilization, and can
be neglected only to our peril. when
the Coliseum falls Rome falls"