The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1912-06-22
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The unveliing OF the statue OF Co
iumbus AZ Washington BY the Roman
Catholic Knights bearing HE name.
Notwithstanding the fact that this
event mas heid the front rage head
lines OF the Roman Catholic press for
the past six months. and notwith
standing the fact that the Knights OF
Columbus boast OF nearly a half mil
lion membership. the press announces
that only hfty thousand we're In at
tendance. a. any rate ray old
time was had. Cracked ice and
cracked heads were In evidence 20.
ward the close OF the proceedings. ye,
the details are lacking In the majority
OF the Romanircd dailies OF the land
President Taft. OF course. made the
unveiling speech.
Following the unveilinE. the Italian
Ambassador and ministers from Eu'
ropean legations spoke OF the glory
and honor due the bold discovcrer
who made known the possibilities Of
the Western Hemisphere. Secretary
OF State Philander c. Knox. Chairman
OF Arrangements. took charge OF the
parade and the reviewing stand. In
the parade were 10000 regulars,
militia and Knights OF Columbus.
The knights were given right Of way
ever all other civic bodies.
The Columbus statue was erected
with money appropriated by congress.
and paid by the taxation Of all the
people Of the United States. regard.
less OF religious belief. or the lack OF
any religious belief whatever: yet the
dedication Of that statue was entirely
a function OF the Catholic church.
managed wholly by members OF that
church. and Il was designed from the
beginning to end as an advertisement
and a glorihcation OF that church.
The parade down Pennsylvania ave
nue. is said TO have been composed Of
more than 10000 Knights Of Colum.
bus fall Catholios). together with
several thousand members OF Italian
societies TALL Catholicsl. These peo-
pie came from all parts OF the United
States and Canada, and some came
from as far away as Australia tall
Catholics). Il was an occasion when
mo Protestant or non-Catholic need
apply" There are many thousands
Of Freemasons. Odd Fellows, Elks
knights OF Pythias. and members Of
other secular societies in Washing.
ton and other places who might have
desired 10 do honor TO the memory Of
Columbus by marching in that parade,
but as they are all "non-Catholic"
they we're denied the priyilege-ex.
cept that one small lodge OF colored
knights OF Pythias was permitted TO
Join In the procession. This conCes-
sion Is supposed 10 have been granted
as a sort OF currying OF favor with
the colored people preliminary to an
attempt that Is to be made TO convert
all OF them to Catholicism. The Red
Men OF Washington begged urgently
and insistently 10 he permitted to
march in the parade, but we're de-
MED the right on the ground that
there we're mot enough OF them"
(only about 400). yet the small num-
: her OF twenty Cuban Catholics from
Havana, were welcomed gladly, and
given a prominent place in the pa.
rade. Except some so or 60 colored
knights OF Pythias. the only mon.
Catholics" who were in the parade
we're among the United States sol.
diers, who were ordered out TO lend
importance and an air OF nationality
20 this purely Catholic occasion and
"fete day"
In the face OF the facts like this
Catholics will stand up and grow
black In the face arguing and pro.
testing that the Catholic church is
fixedly. determinedly and unalterably
opposed to a union OF church and
state. or OF anything that squints In
that direction. II you please. can
you tell us what the ceremonies at.
tending the unveiling OF the Columbus
statue we're, II not an entering wedge
toward effecting the union OF the
Catholic church with the state in this
country?
The Catholics comprise less than
one-seventh Of the population Of the
United States, and pay less than one
fiftieth OF the taxes. Here We see