The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-09-06
NO CATHOLIC VOTE IN POL
ITICS.

Religion should not enter politics and
with the true Catholic it does not. ReIa-
tive TO this matter the following is from
the able pen of Rev. John +. Noll an
eminent Catholic priest and editor Of
the Sunday NHt0r should prove of
| great interest showing as It does, that the
| Catholic Church does not tell its men,
bers how to cast their ballots, and that
there is no such thing as a Catholic vote.
| Despite quite general impression
| to the contrary, neither Catholic Bishop,
| priest or layman, takes any cognizance
OF the religious aftiliaton al any nominee
for any office, if his other qualifications
| be satisfactory.
During the last half OF a year several
despicable sheets have been born osten-
sibly Ia fight the Catholic Church. but in
reality TO defeat President Taft During
every National Campaign one of the
political parties strives to win votes from
that element which is prejudiced against
the Catholic Church by representing that
the Catholics are all in favor OF the other
fellow, either because of iavorS shown or
favors hoped for
However, several papers. such as
HakSoH'S Magazine in the South, and
the MENACE in the West, have been,
from political motives, appealed to pref
udce their readers against the Catholic
Chnrch. They have been warning their
benighted readers against the Roman
Catholic Political Machine, and telling
how President Taft is under Catholic
control, and therefore he ought TO be
defeated in November.
How many of our readers are ready
to believe the silly charges | do not
know, but | am willing o take solemn
oath and stake my whole reputation on
ii to the effect that there is no Catholic
Political Machine, and that there is no
such thing as a Catholic Vote
mo Catholic neither Pope, Bishop or
priest had any care. whether one or more
of those selected to head the National
tickets were Catholics, and now that the
nominations have been made, there is
no Catholic disappointment" If men
in the high offices are Brought into con-
tact with Catholic affairs more than with
those of other denominations, 1t is be-
cause of our greater numbers in the
country. Very few Catholics knew Gov
ernor Burke to be a Catholic.
Taft and Sherman, Wilson and Mar
shall, are all broad minded men, and
hold no silly prejudice against the Cath
olic Church. Only recently each has
committed himself unlimited
President Taft on January Goth, of
this year said: Non Catholics may prop
erly express a high appreciation of the
good influence of the Catholic Church in
our community
Last Summer NiCe-President Sher-
man, at Kalamazoo, Michigan, spoke
along the same lines.
Governor Wilson says: Here is a
group OF men who illustrate in their lives
and conduct not only public morality,
but the teachings o; the great (Catholic)
Church of which they are members
{ (Irenton, 1910
Governor Marshall: 4 like many
things about the Catholic Church, and |
am not coward enough to conceal it in the
State of Indiana. (Rensselear, Indiana,
1910. J"
Religion should not enter politics
they are things apart, says Ihe Monitor,
the Catholic Weekly of New Jersey.
"And with the Catholic, it does not
enter We never think OF inquiring what
is candidates religion or discrminat-
ing against him for it.