The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1913-11-01
zneSday, N0Uem6ey 4, is General Election Day
Do Not Elect Catholics!

/" HE above heading may seem
strange 10 some Who urder.
~ stand that The Menace is not
q political paper. We shall attempt
TO make our position clear In a few
words:
That The Menace IL not a political
paper. In the sense Of being partisan.
In true. That the Catholic church and
It's various aEcneics. priests and prel.
atcs arc In politics. Ia also true
The vory basis for the existence of
The Menace is that this Catholic
church Is In politics. and the political
machinery OF this organization be.
Ing the gravest danger 10 American
liberties ana American government.
Tho Menace II forced to take its
stand In opposition 10 Roman Catholi-
cism. collectively and individually. In
sotar as the organization and It's
membership become politically active.
The cry Of "bigot" may be -aiscd
against the advice contained the
heading OF this article. Some good
people win no doubt repeat tho con.
stitution OF the republic and quote the
civil law 70 the eject that no one
shall be deprived OF any political rights
on account OF his religion. etc. but the
fact remains that tho same cry might
bo raised and the same laws quoted
about the different political parties.
While these parties are not professedly
religious, those allied with them are
citizens guaranteed the same political
rights. But Il Is no strange thing for
we'll informed and conscientious peo-
pie and papers. az times. 20 advise
against supporting candidates OF other
parties.
The Menace does not advise
against electing Catholics 10 public
ofiice because they are Catholics, but
because Of certain well defined prin.
ciplcs. teachings and alliances OF the
Catholic people. Il would not for a
moment teach the antlthesis OF the
Catholic doctrine. that the worst
Catholic is better than the best Prot.
estant" II would not say that all
Protestants are better qualified for
public ONCE than Catholics. There
are many Catholics fully as well
equipped, so far as education and gen.
eral honesty are concerned. for posi-.
tons OF public trust as any Protest.
ant There are principles that reach
deeper than mere education and per-
sonal Qualification. II is upon such
principles that The Menace bases It's
reasons for advising that only non
Catholics be elected TO I'LL ofices Of
public trust
Some of these reasons are as fol.
lows:
Rome Has Always Been In Politics
Dating from the latter part Of the
fifth century when Rome was only a
very small reptile, wriggling It's slimy
way among the ruins Of the Eternal
City," darting its venomous tongue
and swapping its beady eyes at any
thing and every thing within sight,
this organization which we call Rome,
has been in politics.
The early Christians were non-as-
piring; they we're satisfied TO live in
novels, forests and caverns; they
sought no places OF honor or emolu.
ment; they lived In the simplest man
ner and we're content to enjoy the
privilege OF following Christ in mat
ters OF personal conduct. But while
the rulers OF the larger nations and
the petty kings and princes Of the
smaller ones were striving for the
glitter and glamour OF political power,
certain wicked and conniving men EN-.
braced the tenets Of the Christians and
Immediately set about 70 raise them
selves TO positions in the church from
which they might WELD influence. In
stead OF the simple, apostolic condl-
ton. where each was considered equal
to every other Christian, these con-
nivers started a movement which had
for its purpose the creation OF certain
Offices and positions unheard Of by
Christ or His apostles. This develop
ment was assisted by pagans who saw
an NHieA AuhiAg W sam III Tue NuITNl
what they lad lest under the Old Ro-
man forms. They we're assisted by
unprincipled christians" and the re
suits we're, bishops" priest" etc,
who soon began TO gather about them
a set OF men thirsting for temporal
power.
Thus, was the purity OF the church
despolled and the church itself dis
rupted.
These bishops, priests and other Of.
ncers began to rule. first, their mem
bers, and secondly. others living in
the bounds OF their parish" These
astute politicians. like their children
OF today. saw 70 It that the kings.
princes and other rulers about them
always had plenty to quarrel over. and
vars were never at an end. While
these civil rulers were thus engaged,
he rulers" in the church we're incul-
eating their damnable dogmas OF
temporal and spiritual power. and as
they became stroncer and the other