The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-02-27

6UAhY ~, 10V1.
Several Catholic papers. which sup
ported Bryan in three campaigns. de-
raanded proof. but although the Com
moner receives them in exchange, the
associate editor thereof never noticed
their objections, but continued the
publication of Silly letters from the
enemies Of the Catholic Church. :
While remaining Indifferent to the
denials and protests Of the Catholic
press, the associate editor Of the Com.
moner has had his eyes open to clip
from papers that backed up the false.
hoods of his bigoted correspondents.
In last weeks issue, on page is, under
the caption of ut Is No Mystery" he
quotes from the Boston Herald, q
Republican organ, to the effect that
though Mr.. Vahey obtained at the
Hub plurality of between eleven and
twelve thousand, Mr.. Taft nearly car
ried the city. causing the Herald to
say that anyone can see that Mr..
Taft's handling of the church ques-
ton in the Philippines has won for
him a great body of Roman Ca-tol!c
support" And then follows this com.
ment from the YOUNGSTOWN, Pa, Demo.
crat: 49,
"This was substantially our inter-
probation of the result at the begin.
ming. Mr.. Taft is to succeed Mr..
Roosevelt, not because he promised
to 'cinch' the Roosevelt policies,
not because he has promised a 'rea-
sonable profit to manufacturers,
not because he was the inventor of
government by injunction, not be-
cause he approved the presidents
action in the Brownsville affair, not
even because Of his personal suavity
and charm, but because certain re-
ligious elements on purely sectarian
grounds were drawn to his support.
Is, this not something that should
give us pause?"
AS we have already discussed this
question in all it's aspects, it Is not
necessary to say anything more. Our
object is to show that the ma1 who
edits the Commoner in the absence of
William j. Bryan is apparently lacking
In fairness and impartiality. We do
not hold him responsible for the opin-
ions of ti-Catholic correspondents,
but when clipping from exchanges he
ought to give both sides or none. He
is aware that Catholic papers, which
supported Bryan in all his campaigns,
have protested against his policy Of
exclusive publication Of anti-Catholic
utterances. We are glad that he has
at last granted space to Catholics to
defend themselves from unfounded
charges We do not object to the
most thorough discussion Of the sub.
ject, but we want it carried on i'm
partially. That Taft received big
vote from Catholic citizens, both Dem
ocrats and Republicans, is probably 3
fact; but that they were instructed
by bishops and priests to vote for him
is not true; and when it is stated by
writer's in the Cohlmoner that "the
Catholic vote was delivered" it is alb
solutely false. What Taft did in the
Philippines relative to the Catholic
Church may have got votes for him
for president, but government money
was also spent for building and sup.
porting Protestant churches under his
regime, as it is now in. Panama, and
that may have gained him votes. Cath
olics do not vote as Catholics but as
citizens, and they were entitled to vote
for either of two Professionals for the
presidency-Bryan or without
being made target of by men who
are ignorant of their religious prin'
ciples. The most ardent supporters OF
Bryan in every state of the Union
were Catholics, and IL Methodists,
Prcsbyterians and others worked for
him as Catholics did, he would be in
augurated president on. the 4th Of
March. If Taft believes that he is
indebted to Catholics for his election
why does he not recognize the fact by
the appointment of Catholic to q
cabinet position? The president-elect
is shrewd politician, il not states
man, and il convinced that his victory
was gained through. the so:called
Catholic vote" he would manifest his
gratitude by giving a Catholic place
in his cabinet. But he evidently does
not believe he is under any obliga
ton to Catholics for his election; and
no body Of Catholics, ecclesiastical OF
lay, or any single Catholic individual
in the entire country has been heard tt
charge Taft with ingratitude for not
giving Catholics any representation in
his advisory council. And why, If they