The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-08-16

the ultimate asylum of the soul. in
presence of civil or of ecclesiastical
authority. Both Americanism and
Catholicism bow to the sway Of per-
sonal conscience.
1t is Americanism that the ballot.
box is the sanctuary of good citizen
ship opening it's doors only to the
veal and honor of the country. A
sacrilege it is to step towards it with
bride in hand, fraud in mind, to reach
towards it the offering Of selfishness,
or of injustice. None, more careful of
the unstained ballot-box than the good
Catholic, loyal to his Catholic faith:
America is the sole issue before him
Its veal and honor. Ought else in
mind or in heart, he is traitor to
his creed, as he is traitor to his
country.
The best man for the Office, what
ever the religious creed of the man.
To put a Catholic into Office, merely
because he is a Catholic though
otherwise unworthy and incapable, is
a crime against America, a sin
against the Almighty God.
Catholics Not Influenced in Politics by
Ecclesiastical Authority.
In choosing his candidate the Cath
olic voter is the freest of the free.
1t is calumy, that we deeply resent,
to say that in civic and political mat
tiers Catholic voters are under the in
fiuences of the Church. Priests and
bishops do not dictate the politics of
Catholics: if they strove to do so.
their interference would be promptly
repulsed. 1t is of public knowledge
that the Catholic vote is distributed
among the several political parties Of
the country. To speak of myself,
privately and publicly as citizen 1
give my allegiance to particular po-
litical party. Do dare preach from
my pulpit the tenets of that party to
the discredit of another? Do I dare
allow that, if needed at all by others,
my choice of a ballot, should or could
receive other attention than that due
to it's civic and political merit? AS
matter of fact legions of Catholic
voters in America believe me hope
lessly wrong in politics. AS a citizen
l may regret that my political influ-
ence is not wider: as Catholic, I
am glad of the independence of the
citizenship of America.
There is in America no Catholic DO
litical party: none should there be.
AS matter of course, we're a special
issue raised, in which rights of Cath
olics were menaced, the conscience of
Catholics were impelled to defend
those rights, on the ground of Ameri-
can fair-play itself That-and moth
| ing more.
Now and then 1 myself made the
complaint that in America Catholics
are not represented in the higher
offices of the land proportionately to
their numbers. My words were inter
preted as if l had urged Catholics to
take political control of state and ma
ton in the interest of the Catholic
Church. Nothing is further from my
mind. My sole contention is that,
seemingly, Catholics are lacking in
legitimate civic ambition, or in high
civic qualifications: else, their fellow
Americans would have been more will
| ing to honor them Is this position
not squarely American-equal rights
to all, provided the merits be equal
| repeat the lesson to Catholics who
now hear or may later read my words.
For your own sake, for the sake of
America, upward be your march in
social and political ambition, in ability
to render service to the country, in
moral worthiness, in intellectual cul-
ture: then trust yourselves to the So
cial and political justice of your fell
low-Americans. Some Catholics there
are who complain that hostility to
their religion keeps them in the dark
vale, while too often the fact is that
their own shortcomings forbid them
to ascend to the sun-lit hills. Either
they have not fitted themselves for
high positions, or they have been with
out the legitimate ambition to honor
themselves by giving to the country
! highest and best service. | have said
trust to the justice and fair-play OF
your fellow-citizens. Should, however
| the particular case arise where it is
plain you are set aside solely because
you are Catholics, then, in the name
of Americanism, protest-so loudly
that never again will similar insult be
! offered to your American citizenship
Catholics in Days of War.
I have told of the American Cath
olic in time of peace; shall / tell Of
him in time of war? Here / prefer
no argument: l relate historic occur
renee. It was at Gettysburg, fifty
years ago, the second day of July
1863. The command is hurried to the
Irish Brigade to check the onrush Of
General Anderson's Confederates. The
Chaplain, Rev. William Corby, leaps tt
the top of large boulder-stone: "The
Catholic Church." he shouts, refuses
Christian burial to the soldier who
turns his back to the foe or deserts
his fag''-adding that he is ready tt
impart sacramento absolution to those
who in their heart make sincere ac
of sorrow for sin. All are on theil
knees. General Hancock in his saddle
removes his hat: the absolution il
given the charge is made: the Con
federates flee backwards
Gettysburg is but one of hundred
instances my tongue could easil.