The Irish standard., 1910-08-20

the attitude of the Holy See and that
of Catholic Spain towards the irritat-
ing policy of the Canalejas Cabinet
has no foundation in fact. Conse-
quently the attempt to discourage the
energetic and widespread agitation of
Spanish Catholics should be brushed
aside summarily. The attitude of the
Holy See towards the acts and declar-
ations of the Canalejas Cabinet not
only do not disapprove of the active
agitation against the encroachments
of the Canaletas Cabinet. but they en-
courage it as being both righteous
and lawful agitation.
This is the situation. in Spain: Cd
Catholic Spain protests against the
practicing OF Professionalism in public,
ETC.. because it is a violation of the
Constitution and the Concordat, and
also because ii ia very grave i'm
propriety in dealing with the Holy
Sec. with which the Government is
negotiating for an amendment of the
Concordat. The same decree places
the Spanish government in the wrong
so far as the Holy See is concerned.
The Holy See has protested, and
still protests. against the decree con-
Jointly with Spanish Catholics co
Catholic Spain enters protest against
the so-called decree of 1902, dealing
with religious Congregations; in the
same sense the Holy See protests
against the said decree.
An Unpublished Decree.
Public opinion should be enlightened
in respect to this decree. In 1902
Liberal Cabinet had drawn up this de-
cree in which were embodied several
restrictive measures in regard to re-
ligious congregations. II so clearly
violated the letter, or at least the
spirit. of the Concordat that it was
never published. Consequently when
they speak of the decree of 1902 we
must understand that the decree was
published neither in that year nor any
subsequent year.
In 1903-1904 the Spanish government
began negotiations with the Holy See
for a convention which would deal
with thes religious congregations. In
the meantime, while awaiting definite
action by the convention. the govern
ment came to an understanding with
the Holy See in regard to 'modus
vivendi," in which there were illegiti-
mately inserted certain restrictive
measures in the still-born decree of
1902. What they would have us be-
lieve is not true, namely, that the so
called decree of 1902, now published
by the Canalejas Cabinet, is the same
as the "modus vivendi" to which the
Holy See agreed. The Holy See,
to protest, against the decree Of 1909
which M. Canalejas has just published.
Catholic Spain in protesting against
the same decree is in full accord with
the Vatican.
(C) The brilliant role of brave
paladin defending the cause Of liberty.
etc, which the Canalejas Cabinet
would enact, when analyzed amounts
to this: In Catholic Spain the wishes
of an international secret body shall
be carried out by granting an illegiti-
mate and unlawful liberty to Prot
estants, while denying legitimate and
lawful liberty to Catholic congrega-
tons. The brilliant role assumed by
the Canalejas Cabinet consists in un-
claiming brutal passions against the
Church, which always has been the
preliminary of general attack upon
the political and social institutions OF
typifed in M. Canalejas himself, who,
in introducing to M. Sucnz Pena, a
Spanish politician who was a well
known enemy of the throne and Of the
altar, made use Of these exact words:
"Your Excellency, present to you the
future president OF the Spanish Re-
public" M. Canalejas may have smiled
when he spoke these words, but 1t re-
mains to be seen whether he was in
the person he introduced or at the
expense of some other parsonage.
Took Precautions.