New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-24
Protection of American
Rights by De Facto Gov
eminent Demanded.

A resolution attacking President
Wilson and his Administration was
adopted at a meeting of the German
Catholic Central Verein last night in
the Park Avenue Hotel. The resolu-
tion reads:
at was until now unheard of in the
history of our country that the highest
official of the Republic should think It
appropriate 10 make In public ana
even official utterances, without bring
ing any proof whatsoever, against one
rert of the citizens of this country,
the most NOR strous accusations, ana
that thereby, he nouriShed within our
people distrdst and race hatred when
endangers our peaceful living together
and is apt 10 harm the ocial AMI pollt-
ical development of our country IN a
dangerous degree.
During the further continuation OF
this world war we expect that the gov
eminent in a more energetic manner
than heretofore will safeguard the
rights of our people against all
belligerents and that among others II
will find ways and means TO make
amends for interference with the mails.
ave approve of every step tending
to avert from the American economic
development the danger of pernicious
interference.
Finally, we again express the ex-
pectatIon that the experiences OF inns
war may lead to the creation OF law
which for the future will prohibit the
furnishing of weapons and war ma
terial to any belligerent nation
A resolution calling upon the Ameri-
can government 10 take action in Mex
leo and demanding the protection of all
American citizens and their rights by
the de facto government was passed by
the convention.
The resolution, which was immediate
ly telegraphed to Secretary of state
Lansing, was introduced by +. 7. kenkel,
of st. Louis, after Monsignor Francis
Kelly, president of the Society for
Catholic Church Extension in Mexico
had drawn a severe indictment OF
Mexican outlawry. The resolution was
passed with enthusiasm. IL read:
"Our government having recognized
the Carranza regime in Mexico, there
by according the so-called de facto gov
eminent of the First Chief CarranZa a
place among the nations of the world;
and our government, having at the
time assured the citizens of the United
States that the de facto government OF
Mexico had finally pledged a guarantee
of religious liberty to all Mexican cIti-
zens, which we, OF course, understood
to mean that religious liberty and free
dom of conscience would be enjoyed by
them, but which, however, has not been
carried out;
1--WE now, therefore, as American
citizens, call upon our government TO
| hold the de facto government TO the
strict observance of this guarantee and
accountable for the violations thereof
ave also demand the protection OF
all American citizens and their nights
/ by the de facto government of Mexico.
/ Monsignor Kelly opened his speech
/ by saying that the vexing ques'
F tion in Mexico was not the agrarlar
question, but the religious ques'
/ ton. He spoke forcibly of the i'll
treatment that his co-religlonlst'
had suffered in the land below the
Rio Grande The Monsignor told how
priests were jailed and how, IN Yucca
tan, they were forbidden to hear con
/ fessions By the order of the Socialist
/ form of government that has been
set up.
ne government VI "N"N"i -
/ therefore, about the same form OF gov
eminent as that Of Russia, except that
| Russia at least has Duma where mat.
tiers are taken up and discussed said
Monsignor Kelly. I'VE must state the
case of Mexico. Religion and religious
freedom are the cause OF the whole
fight II is a fight against the Cathollc
Church, such as was waged IN Fortugal
Italy and South America. But | be-
lieve it found a climax in Mexico"
/ Father +. F. Markert, Of the Society
/ of the Divine Word, stationS IN Texas
also made a brief address in connec,
tion with what Monsignor Kelly had
said. He confirmed many Of the mon
signor's views. Father Markert has
been engaged on both home and for
/ eign missions and is regarded as an su-
+ thority on religious matters in Mexico