The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1912-11-01

of his humber fellow churchmen; but
one would have to put willful stigma
upon the Catholics of the State by as
suming them so bereft of the essen
tials of good citizenship as to believe
them willing to surrender their inde-
pendence of political action to the
judgment even of a most eminent pre-
late
Roma ipsa locuta est; causa est
finita," was never uttered as a sane
tion to political activities by humble
priest or purpled prince of the church
and the most ignorant Catholic
knows, where the domain OF the
church ends, and that of the State be-
gins. And the most humble has the
inviolable right to the enjoyment Of
his citizenship, untramelled by the
craving of political power on the part
of any clergy. Sad indeed would be
the day when the Catholic would con-
sent to have his vote cast in accord
with the mandate of any clergyman.
1t is unfortunate that the archbish-
op and bishop, signing the circular in
question, should have found it neces-
sary to oppose in any manner at all
all of the proposed amendment, writ
ten for the relief Of the struggling
masses, to relieve them of some of
the burdens of taxation by transfer
ring them to those who have never
borne them before, or never borne
their just proportion. The fear that
someone might leave a legacy or
make a donation to the church or to
some charitable institution of an ex-
cess over half Of his estate, and in
that event the State, which had waiv-
ed it's right for the good of these ben
eficiaries, would ask tax for her
own needs, is indeed poor ground for
the antagonism of these eminent gen.
tlemen to a general plan of tax re-
formation so needful to our State.
Does it not appear very liberal
proposition on the part Of the State,
through. the proposed amendment, to
permit any institution to receive free
from taxation any gratuities to the ex-
tent of so per cent what one owes be-
fore the State should claim a pittance
for her own purposes? Has not the
State a right to moneys necessary for
her maintenance? Is she not engag-
ed in the work of securing the peace,
happiness and prosperity Of her peo-
ple-upon which conditions these re-
ceptive institutions depend for SO
much of their prosperity Has not the
State her Charity Hospital her Asy-
lum for Deaf and Dumb and Blind?
Does she not care for her children 8
education
Is the great Catholic citizenship of
Louisiana, of which I allege myself
an humble member, to recognize the
plea that a reform of the evils which
affect the State must not be undertak.
en- because, perhaps, at some unknown
time some unknown person may make
a donation of some unknown quantity
to some church or educational or
charitable association, when, if that
gift passes a certain limit of generos-
ity, the State asks for herself small
portion of the abundance? How fire.
auent are the donations to these insti
tutions in excess of one-half of the do
nor's property that there should be
i such benefactions as to bar the State
in a great effort which is being pro-
posed to remedy the evil to the mass
es of the people, which is not felt
once in a generation, but is the bur-
den of every day? Is not the effort OF
the State to give permanent and
daily-felt relief to these very people
whose munificence day after day make
the religious. charitable and educa-
tional institutions of our State keep
abreast with the progress OF our peo-
| pie?
One of the greatest inheritances OF
the American people is the separation
of church and state. Under this prln-
ciple, imbedded in our political life,
church and state have prospered in
marvellous growth. Each has striven
! with the other for the advancement
of the American people. Neither has
sought to direct the internal affa1rs
of the other who would assume re-
sponsibility for any other doctrine
spreading discord where peace has
reigned, and wreckage where spien.
did achievement attended the labor OF
each day WALTER ]. BURKE.