The Irish standard., 1916-11-11
RIGHT REVEREND 3. j. KELLEY,
D. D., WRITES ON THE QUEs-
TON OF LOYALTY OF CATHO-
Lies - THE STORY HISTORY
TELLS FOR THE AGES TO READ,

The following letter from Right
Rev. B. j. Kelley, D. D., Bishop of
Savannah, will be read with special
interest at this time.
Savannah, Ca, September 6, 1916.
l had begun to hope that the ideas
which formerly were held in the coun-
try districts that Catholics had horns
had disappeared, but l am beginning
to believe that my hopes were prema-
ture. However, as you say that this
charge is believed by persons who are
otherwise we'll informed, will say:
Catholics in civil matters owe and pay
allegiance and loyal support to no
person, power or authority save the
United States; that the Pope has no
authority over us in civil matters;
that no Catholic recognizes in him
any right or title to have or demand
civil allegiance
Is that denial comprehensive
enough?
Furthermore, assert that we Cath
olics are more loyal to our institutions
than others, or at least that our 10y
atty is based on much higher and
stronger motives. We believe that
all authority comes from God; that
resisting lawful authority is resisting
God; that our government is the law
full government in this land; hence
with us loyalty to God and loyalty to
the republic go hand in hand, being
based on the same motive and resting
on the same authority-the Word of
God. Can our Protestant fellow citi-
zens do better? Can they do as we'll?
Our loyalty to our country is not
based on our grateful recognition of
the freedom that we enjoy here; nor
on the equality which is guaranteed
by the law; nor on the absolute right
which our constitution gives to every
man to worship God as he wills; nor
in the absence here of the special
privileges granted the few by reason
of accident of birth; but we love our
country and are faithful to it's laws
and loyal to it's constitution for Gods
sake and for conscience.
Story History Tells.
To say that Catholics are not loyal
to this land is to be blind to the story
which history tells. On every occasion
when America called on her children
none responded more quickly than
Catholics. The war between the
states, the Spanish-American and the
recent furry on our Mexican frontier
showed the spirit and the prompt 10y
atty of American Catholics. Was
there ever any doubt cast on the 10y
atty of the federal commanders: Rose
Grams, Keys, Dana, Lane, Newton,
Stanley, Vincent, Harden, Harvey,
Hunt, A. ]. Smith, Brisbane, Foster,
T. R. Smith, Fountain, Tenny, Reid,
Whipple, Sturgis, Stone Sheridan,
Olmstead, McDougall, Kearney, Scam.
mon? Yet they were all Catholics.
Did any one in the south question the
loyalty of Generals Northrup, Frost,
Hardee, Jones, Beauregard, Gibson,
Wayne. jenkins. who fought for the
southern cause in the war between
the states? Yet every man of them
was Catholic.
The highest judicial officer of the
United States is practical Catholic.
Is Chief Justice White loyal citizen
of this land? Is Mr.. Justice McKenna,
one Of the associate justices of the
Supreme Court, loyal American citi-
zen?
Work Of eioots.
The constitution of this state, Geor-
gia, declares: Nor shall any person
be denied the enjoyment of any civil
right merely on account of his relig-
ious principles" Yet it is a notorious
fact that attempts have been repeat
eddy made to deprive persons who
were Catholics of some of their rights,
and for no other reason than their