The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1916-07-22

Political optimism is one Of the
vices Of the American people. There
is a popular faith that God takes
care Of children, fools and the
United States" We deem ourselves
a chosen people, and incline TO the
belief that the Almighty stands
pledged 10 our security, safety and
progress. Until within the past
few years probably not one in
hundred Of our population has ever
questioned the security Of our fu-
ture. Such optimism is as senseless
as pessimism is faithless. The one
is as foolish as the other is wicked.
Thoughtful men Of the present
day see perils on our national hori-
zon. Our argument is concerned
not with all Of them, but only with
those which appear most threaten
ing and which, il not met and con-
quered, will bring disaster and ul-
innate ruin.
For over five years THE MENACE
has been making certain, specific
charges against the Roman Catholic
hierarchy, publishing these facts
and charges to the world and, as a
result, has brought to its assistance
in this crusade hundreds of thou
sands Of patriotic citizens of the ma
tion, and the combined strength Of
countless patriotic orders, secret So
cieties and religious and semi-re-
hgious bodies.
| There are those who are disposed
to attribute any fear of Roman
Catholicism in the United States to
bigotry or chiIdishness. Such see
nothing in the character or attitude
Of the organization that is hostile
to our free institutions, or find
nothing portentous in its growth,
therefore a bold and candid state
ment Of our claims is necessary, a
rsfutation by Rome, il it can be
adduced, will be welcomed, and a
thorough, SCI ching investigation Of
our claims by the highest court Of
inquiry in the land is earnestly
courted.
i Our basic contention is that Ro-
man Catholics bear allegiance to a
foreign potentate and are, to all in
tents and purposes, aliens who
should be happy and content in the
simple prerogatiyes of citizenship,
much less in the privilege of wag-
ing war on the basic principles Of
our government and our free, demo-
cratic institutions.
The Declaration Of Independence
teaches popular sovereignty. 1t says
that governments derive their
Just powers from the consent of the
governed" ROMAN CATHOLIC
4 DOCTRINE INVESTS T II L
POPE WITH SUPREME SOW
EREIGNTY. The Canon laws Of
the church are above the state and
are binding on all Catholics every
where and in all lands.
The revised statutes of the United
States declare, "The alien seeking
citizenship must make oath to re-
nounce forever all allegiance and
fidelity to any foreign prince, po-
tentate, state or sovereignty, in par
ticular that to which he has been
subject" The Roman Catholic
profession of faith, having the sane
ton Of the council which met at
Baltimore in 1884, contains the fol-
lowing oath of allegiance to the
pope: "And / pledge and swear
true obedience TO the Roman pom
tiff, vicar of Jesus Christ, and sue
cessor Of the blessed Peter, prince
of the apostles"
While Roman Catholics are pro-
fuse in their denials Of allegiance
to the pope 70 the detriment Of
their citizenship, their oral teach
ing and all their written literature
prove that the converse is true
What applies to the laity apple:
also TO the subsidiary secret orders
of the hierarchy, all of which carrt
an oath of fidelity to the pope Of
Rome, protestations of the mem
bership to the contrary notwith'
standing.
Results of Foreign Allegiance
A stream cannot rise higher
than its source, and as result Of
this inculcated allegiance to a for
s eipn notentate. the Roman Catholic