The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-06-11
a Catholic Editor on federation

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canvass election returns.
A Catholic Editor on liberation.
Louis Murphy, in Dubuque Tele-
graph Herald: Let there be an end OF
mixing creeds with politics! The
state has it's sphere, the church its
sphere, and their ways lie apart. 1t
] is as well settled in the constitution
that church and state shall never be
associated in government as that
these United States shall forever be
a republic.
AS well settled is it that the public
lscnool system shall be retained and
buttressed and continued in It's glOr-
ious function as that there shall be
freedom of worship. And equally as
well settled that the state shall neith-
| er directly nor Indirectly impair that
system nor yield one iota Of the prin-
ciple that public education Is a public
function to be supported by enforced
taxation upon all peoples irrespective
OF their creed, nor impaired by exemp-
ting from taxation for support of the
public schools members of creeds,
which maintain their own schools.
These matters are beyond dispute,
out Of the range of argument. Vino
ever asserts the contrary brands him
self an ignoramus or bad American.
Who drag creeds into politics will
destroy themselves. They will not
hurt those whom they seek to destroy.
History is replete with testimony that
persecution for conscience sake
makes strong the prosecuted and weak
their prosecutors. There is instinc-
lively attracted to the man assailed
because Of his religion all others of
his faith. Nor these alone, but others
not of his faith, but shot through with
the great spirit Of American institu-
lions, and who recognize that the one
thing we cannot afford to tolerate in
this country is intolerance.
When the Catholic Lord Baltimore
lin the colony Of Maryland and the
Quaker Penn in the colony OF Penn
sylvania wrote tine guarantee of con-
science freedom in the laws Of those
commonwealth, they gave force OF
binding expression to principle that
was to liberate this nation, not mere
ly, but the nations OF the world chain
ed then to government. IN association
with creeds, and fettered by the
medieval sophism that service of
God called for the persecution and
murder of all peoples who worshipped
Him differently from themselves.
Prejudice dies hard and in Iowa to-
day is evidence that benignted minds
have yet to be delivered from enslave-
ment to suspicious that, whatever the
reason Of them in other times and
other lands, lack here justification.
1t is a CALLING insult 20 the Amer
lean Catholic that back of his political
activities, back Of his professional
zeal for the welfare of common men.
back of every phrase he writes and
every word he speaks on matters
public is concealed desire to serve
not his country, but mis- church in
selfish design 1t is alleged 20 harbor
against this government. It matters
nothing that If the church ever sought
to do what its wisdom will stop 1t
from ever attempting to establish here
the dual power, which is fast being
destroyed in the Latin countries OF
Europe, or otherwise gain voice or
authority in government, these very
Catholics would be first to expose the |
design, to protest, to condemn, and to !
oppose as jealous guardians of our in |
stitutions, and sound warning to all
the people of their own and other |
creeds! Nothing matters, because the |
hfoof doec no+ reason
There is no room on American soil /
for bigots. Against Them the mighty |
force Of decent public opinion must |
be arrayed- In every community
where they spread their libels and |
preach the stuff that impugns the
patriotism Of a people who have left
their dead on every battlefield. fight |
ing In defense of the flag, they should |
themselves be branded as unfit Amer |
leans and undesirable citizens They |
are not brood of humanity. They are /
not builders. but iconoclasts. What
ever the purpose animatfng Them, /
the hope OF selfish profit to |
come in business or desire to destroy |
the democratic party is not material
No end can justify the means they en-
ploys- They would, IL they had their /
way. destroy all peace. Let them be
marked for what they are and branded
before all eyes. that all who come