The Irish standard., 1916-03-25

WQll0 Cne SENATE OOumlLIco VII III
dian Affairs were considering the In
dian Appropriation Bill, Rev. Wilbur
F. Crafts of Washington, d. c., ap-
peared before it, and after stating that
he was Superintendent of the Inter
national Reform Bureau, a body cor
porate of the District Of Columbia,
which owns an unencumbered Office
building next door to the Library of
Congress and another in China; that
they do work in all parts of the world
but especially in these two countries,
and are promoting moral reforms by
education and legislation, read let
ter which he addressed to His Emil
nence, Cardinal Gibbons, and the re-
ply as follows:
INTERNATIONAL REFORM
BUREAU INC.)
| Washington, D. c.,
February IA, 1916.
Cardinal Gibbons,
Baltimore, Md.
Very Reverend and Dear Sir: AS
you know, am one who deplores pro-
motion of sectarian hatred, which has
grown to be national peril, like the
race hatred that has plunged Europe
into war. Our country is menaced by
race, class and sect hatreds, and all
Christian forces should unite in "pre-
paredness" against these most dan
gerous foes. My nationwide tours
have given me opportunity to observe
that a majority of Professionals have
no sympathy with petty attacks on
Catholics. But this majority which
desires to work with Catholics against
the great evils of our times will be
compelled to take an anti-Catholic po.
sition in support of the most funda-
mental of American institutions, in.
Guiding an increased opposition to
Catholics for public offices, especially
legislative Offices, unless an end is
put to such manifest unfairness as is
found in the appropriation for Catho-
lie schools among the Sioux Indians,
which was first knocked out of the
Indian Appropriation Bill in the Unit
ed States House of Representatives on
February 8, 1916, on point of order,
and was then replaced by new de-
vice moved by Hon. H. l.. Candy Of
South Dakota, who made the following
plea:
IF the gentleman had his way, $50
pupils would be deprived of the
school facilities they now have, in
the face of the fact that the Govern
ment is already short over 1900 of
having school facilities for the chill
dren."
Please take good look at this prop
osition: To save the richest church
in the world from supporting few
UNCONVENTIONAL schools containing
only $50 children, or to save the rich
est government in the world from
providing unsectarian public schools
for them, the House of Representa-.
tives votes to continue sectarian
appropriations to Catholic Indian
Schools, already given to them for 20
years since Protestant churches ask
ed the discontinuance Of such aid to
their own schools and all others as
against the spirit, If not the letter, of
the constitutional provision separat.
ing church and state.
Must we appeal to the sovereign
people against this petty sectarian fa-
voritism, whose influence on politics
and the Nations life will otherwise
be serious? So long al these Sec
tartan appropriations are desired OF
Congress. with the necessity of having
them reported by the Indian Commit
tees of both Houses and approved by
the President and dispensed by the
Secretary of the Interior, there is a
temptation to Catholics to influence
the selection of the Indian Commit
tees and of a Cabinet officer. and
especially of the Indian Commissioner,
and the election of Congressman. Sen
ators and the President; and so long
there will be occasion for anti-Catho.
lie suspicion that sectarian influ-
ence is at work for its own financial
benefit in these high functions where
selfish consideration would faint the
very springs of Government
The great majority Of Catholics no
doubt believe the independence of all
churches is an advantage, and we ask
you to use your great influence not
only to have this sectarian appropria-
tion cancelled by the Senate Indian
Committee, but also to have Congress
submit the Sisson amendment to for
bid all sectarian appropriations by
State and National Governments for.
ever.
Yours, for better world" here
and now,
WILBUR F. CRAFTS.
A grandson Of the Atheist Renan,