The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1912-04-20
ARE RONlRSTS TRAITORS?

MIX nOlhAiuolo ThllUnot
TTiiE most antuie defenders of the
parai infallibillty. when they
would escape The impuintion of
.ditioyalty % the civil government 20
which they owe allegiance. have ne.
course 10 the following sorhistry a. q
cover for their rank treason 20 the
eivil power.
Why they tay. there IL not en- earn.
csi ran among you that does not say
10 himself \ Win obey this civil
power. 20 Ions a. u does not command
me 10 vinlate the laws % Cod. But I
have a higher law % ny own. and
when the civl law commands me 10
break u. I viii disohcy the civil law.
When ] think that God has com.
mandcd one thing. the law shall not
compel mo 10 do another"
And they say "the Catholic Just
stands In the same category. Tie has
IA higher Law. lie thinks God has
spoken 70 him. lie thinks that God
speaks 20 him oil the time through
the pope. lie believes the pope 70 be
irnalhble. The pope's commands 20
him are the higher Law; only that. aud
nothing more. lie obeys the civil law
IN all things. when Il does not con.
nlct with the highor law. But when
Il docs, ltko the Protestant. he pre-
fcra the command OF God 20 the com.
rand of man. HIS aliegiance stands
on the same basis precisely. lie Is
no more disloyal than his Protes-
tant fellow citizen"
al this is very nice. and truth 20
say. most excellent logic. so far AZ Il
secs. In theory. the Protestant who
reserves 20 himself the least quality
Of this higher law doctrine. land who
docs notO is. 80 far rs he Is con
oerned, hostile 10 the supremacy OF
civil government
But there are some qualities 90
small, that however injurious the quail.
ity. they cannot iniure. There is not
a loaf Of bread. but contains some
poison. But We eat the bread without
n thought OF Il. and receive no dam
aEe. Increase tho poison a hundred
fold. and the bread kills all who par.
take Of a.
u is Just 20 with this higher law
ingredient IN the Protestant and Cath.
olic. With the Protestant II Is an
infiritoEirnal quality. rather healthy
than harmful We respect II for It's
reserve. We honor II for its heavenly
independence! II Injuries none. In
fact Il Is one OF the safeguards OF
public liberty.
But with the Catholic. the odor IS
too strong. 70 Is not n manly inde.
pendencc. 70 Is Forvilc submission 10
tho Judgment Of others. II n like
poor cooks overdose OF salerntus In
the bread. u not only havors. II rem.
fders altogether unpalatable and un-
wholesome.
Suppose, for example. We take IN
the case OF Protestant and a Cath.
ollc-offerlnr themselves for naturall-
Zation. and stating their respective
conditions Of mind-and let us see
how tho matter would stand:
The Protestant SAYS. ~ accept the
republic. and the viii OF the people
as my law; and 7 swear 10 support
them. will do my best 20 have good
laws made, but will az all times
Icheerfully obey and support what.
ever the majority may determine. l
must, nevertheless. be permitted 10
say thst should the majority pass laws
that infringe my equal rights. or com.
mand me DO things that are so re-
purnant 20 my sense OF duty 10 my
self. my family. or my God. that
would sooner die than DO them.
shall not obey them. do not antici-
pate the passage Of any such laws
But yet / cannot but regard the thing
as possible. and let all men know that
make this reserve. The higher law,
with me, hath this extent no more"
But the Catholic comes with n very
different statement. "Yes, I will Join
may be allowed to vote and hold Of.
Gee. and take up land. and enjoy all
its other privileges: but tell you now
that the whole thing II wrong from
beginning 10 end. You have set up
government by the people without the
sanction OF the pope. You have no
right 20 do go, for he Is the fountain
Of all power and has already con-
demned and cursed this very thing.
You propose TO make laws without
calling on the pope for his sanction:
and ] think all such laws are sinful
and wrong. You may make laws which
the pope will condemn. and shall be
certain that he ia right and you are
wrong. You may sometime come
in conflict with the pope. nay.
you are already acting In defiance Of
his claims and authority. and I be-
lieve him TO be right, and you to be
wicked heretics. He may deem e
necessary TO use force to upset your
wicked republic, and shall Join him
and fight against you. I shan belong
to your republic while can do no
better; but as soon as ! can I will
help the pope 10 dash Il 20 pieces.
The Protestant Is all that we can
ask of a rational being. The Catholic
Is an enemy who Joins our ranks only
to destroy our liberties Just as soon
ne ha ran