The Washington herald., 1909-03-01


q loyal American citzen?" was the sub
jet Of a lecture by Rev. Joseph N
Woods. s. J, professor o. philosophy n
the Jesuit House OF Studies, Woodstock.
No. last evening IN Gonzsga Hall
The lecture had been heraided as a
refutation Of the charge that Catholics
cannot be true Americans and true Cath
olics."
The speaker convincingiy showed The
fslsity OF the charge. Declaring that a
true Catholic must necessarily be 3 loyal
citizen. Father Woods produced many
fcTcible proofs to show that. as he sald
what Catholics have done IN this land IS
amply sufficient 10 prove that they can be
loyal Catholics and loyal Americans
Loyalty TO Religion.
The audience was largely Catholic. Al
though many persons OF other denOmine-
tiCns were present The sympathy ard
attention accorded the speaker evidenced
a loyalty 10 religion. while every patri-
otto reference awakened an enthusiasm
that might be accepted as an index TO
Catholic sentiment and love OF country.
The priest said. n part:
The Catholics word Is as honest a
wcrd as that OF any other honest mar
and the Catholic has been obliged 10 re-
peat It again and again, that obedience 10
the Pope and MS church interfereS in no
way with the obedience he owes IN con
science 10 the Constitution and laws OF
MS country
Yet the Catholics word and the Cath
olie-s deeds OF vaI0r. written on page
after page Of American history. have not
been enough 10 convince some Of his fel-
low-citizens OF his UnfalteTing loyalty 20
the fag.
Against BigOtry.
The letter Of J. c. Martin to Presl-
dent Roosevelt and the Presidents vigor-
Gus reply are stfI fresh in The minds q
all In Il Mr.. Roosevelt came down with
both feet on bigotTy. But he alarmed
some ardent Americans.
The Lutherais and Bsptists enacted
and published resolutions declaring that
Catholics could not be true Americans
We do not accuse these men OF malice.
but surely. before making such an op-
probTious accusation. they should al least
take pains TO find out what the Catholic
Church teaches on obedience TO the Pope.
Il Is not fair 20 Stigmatize without q
hearing millions Of American citizens
who are their neighbOrs, WHO transact
business with them. rub elbows with
them, and pay their taxes as others Do.
The history Of what Catholics have
done in this land Is amply sufficient 10
prove that they can be loyal Catholics
and loyal Americans. Catholic mission
aries were among the first 70 law the
foundation stones Of civilization and
Christianity and liberty IN this nation.
The statue Of one OF them. a noble
representative OF them all, Pere Mar
ouette, stands under .the dome Of the
Capitol, a peer among the select patriots
Of the land. placed IN that proud emf
nence BY the citizens of Wisconsin. ire
spective q creed. and looking only for
true worth and true manhood Catholics
were the first 70 raise in triumph the
banner Of American freedom in what is
to-day our great republic Lord BaIr-
more and his fellow-Catholic coIonists Of
Maryland did that.
Tells OF Leaders.
Catholics, few as they were. were heart
and soul in the struggle for American
independence. Among the leaders IN those
days were a Moylsn. Burke. q Rocham-
beau. a de Grasse. AIDE KsIb. Pulaski.
Washington appointed the irish Catholic
Barry a commodore IN his infant Ameri-
can navy
The man who periled most in signing
the Declaration Of American Independ-