Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-08-16
Discussed by Archbishop Ireland
at Great Public Meeting in
Milwaukee.
Defends Church and Says 1t Is
Not Ambitious For Polit-
heal Power.
Places Blame For Decay Preva-
lent i'm Morals and
Religion.
The SALVATION OF AMERICA

Before 200 church dignitaries and
5000 laymen Archbishop Ireland de-
livered his address at Milwaukee on
"Americanism and Catholicism" The
vast audience sitting in the audi
torium paid close attention as he
spoke of the patriotism of the Ameri-
can Catholics and at the same time
| condemned those who accuse the
| Catholics of lack of patriotism.
Archbishop Ireland declared that
'the evil today in America is the de-
cay of religion, and, in necessary
sequence, the decay of morals. In
both instances the cause of the de-
cay is the enforced secularism of the
State schools. Others than Catholics,
heedful observers and intelligent
| thinkers, admit the evil, admit the
cause and give the alarm. / trust
tie awakening common sense and
patriotism of the American people to
discover the remedy. Meanwhile in
telling the evil and the cause, my
right hand on my conscience, / rank
myself among truest and most loyal
Americans.
Nov, in America, some do say
that the Pope of Rome is ambitious
Of temporal rule over America, Of
planting here the yellow and white
instead of the Star Spangled Banner,
that priests and Bishops are active
agents in his yearnings; that Cath
olcs dream of the day when his COM
mand in civil and political matters
will sway the White House and the
Capitol; that to this intent associa-
tiCns are nightly befitting themselves
by sanguinary oaths and secret drill
ing of arms to murder their fellow
citizens, and in the name of a for
eign potentate, take forcible posses
sion of the land of the brave and the
home of the free. allude to such
wild alucrubrations of diseased
brains, only to ask in unanswered
wonderment how such follies can be
thought out and acted upon even by
a handful of men in the twentieth
century in America. But Of course
the insane are ever with us, and all
the insane are not put into safe
keeping.
"The partition of Jurisdiction into
the spiritual and the temporal is a
Vital principle of Catholicism; no
less is 1t vital principle of Ameri-
canism. Catholicism and American
ism are in complete agreement. In
America the Government is the Re-
public-the government of the peo-
pie, by the people and for the people,
With you, fellow Catholics, with you,
f%I1 A NJ Itafn kA NO
public. l thank God that the people
of America are capable of possessing
a government of this form, the re-
public-it is the fullest recognition
OF human dignity and human rights,
the fullest grant of personal freedom.
that due regard for the rights of
others and the welfare of the social
o. ganism may allow.
"After II to an empire or mon
archy! Never, so long as our lips
mays praise 1t, or our hands WELD
sword in its defense. Permit the
barbarous onslaughts of lawlessness
and anarchy to undermine its founda-
tions or loosen the cement binding
together it's walls! Never so long as
l!fe still throbs within our bosoms
They know us little who accuse us
Of coveting civil and political power
that we may dim the splendor of the
tairest flower in the garden of
Amerieanism. Our combats, IL COM
bats there be, are never against the
liberties OF America, but In defense
Of them; never against America but
against such of it's sons whose souls
never yet have thrilled In fun re-
sponse to its teachings and inspira-
tions.
''Now and then, even In otherwise
intelligent quarters, charge, II not
OF anti-catholicism. at least of un-
Americanism, is laid TO the door OF
the Catholic church. The charge must
seem most singular, so soon as we
at all advert to the essential charac-
teristics of religious creed, profess
ing to be OF divine origin. Yet the
charge is made. Substantially II Is
this: The Catholic church in its faith
and morals does not bear the stamp
Made In America II Is un-Ameri-
can to go across the Atlantic or the
Pacific for aught that America uses
or needs-even for its religion. Now
the head OF the Catholic church IS
the Bishop OF Rome, a foreigner; its
general councils composed OF men OF
ali pations-foreigners in the major
ity. Europeans. Asiastics, Africans
Iegislate in faith and morals for
America. Why not a Pope strictly
American? Why not councils, as
those OF other religious bodies. ex-
clusively Made up OF AmericansY
Yes-the Catholic church is extra
American. in the sense that II is
supFa-national. begotten for all ma
tlons. not for America alone; its SUI
preme pontiff Is extra-American,
super-national-a foreigner on no
spot OF the earth's surface, every
where at home. as the spiritual father
d all tribes and OF all peoples who
,eek divine truth from universal
49, a