The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1916-12-02

IA-l NallN AflNuNld'N Nllt NlNHt
LII prominent and inspiring fact
OF the present is the growing
evidence that the Protestant mil
lions Of America whom Rome has
been so industriously druCging 10
sleep are awakening 10 a realization
that the age-long foe Of religious
freedom and Of liberal democracy
is today the supreme peril Of the
hour--a peril alike TO our free in
stitutions and 10. that intellectual
hospitality that has favored adyanc-
ing civilization in all Protestant
lands.
Recently the Baptist and Metho-
dist fellowships have spoken in nb
uncertain tone, touching this dead
ly peril in brave resolutions. Emi-
nent representative speakers Of vari-
Gus churches are also coming out
on the side Of the Lord in this life
and death struggle with the vast,
monarchial, political machine which
masquerades under the cloak Of re-
ligion, while seeking TO throttle and
pervert free government, strangle
Freedom Of religious discussion, de-
stroy freedom of press, speech. and
assembly and secure special priyi-
lege for its own sectarian institu-
tions. Later in this paper we will
give the ringing resolution adopted
by the last general convention Of
the northern Baptists held at Min
neapolis. Also brave uttcranccs
adopted by the northern Methodists
at the Saratoga Springs convention
during the past summer.
Before noting these inspiring cN-
amples Of the awakening of the
, Protestant churches, We wish TO
point out the real issue inrolrsd.
and to show how Rome has been de-
liberately and Systematically OBJ
scuring that issue by leading
the easy-going, superfcial-thinking
many upon an entirely false trail,
and seeking TO cover with ignominy
all Of those who have dared to stand
for the democracy Of Washington,
Jefferson, and Lincoln.
Would Make Nation Believe Lie
For more than half century and
especially during the past thirty
years, the Roman Catholic hier-
archy, working sometimes directly
but more frequently, mole-like,
through its numerous secret organ
izations, has been carrying forward
an elaborate campaign of Jesuiticai
deception or false pretenses for the
purpose Of lulling to sleep the con-
science-guided Protestant millions
of our republic, and diyerting the
attention Of public opinion-formins
agencies from Roms's organized po-
liiicdl aetiriiiss. while she has been
ceaselessly intrenching herself in all
The ramifications of city, state, and
national government. At last she
believes she is sufficiently formid-
able TO attack and destroy those
Fundamental principles and vital
safeguards of modern liberal de-
mocrscy that are a fatal handicap
to autocratic rule whether that
sovereignty is represented by car,
kaiser, king, or pope. A demo-
,atic government which recognizes
,the people as the source and sover-
Feign power in the state, is as pope
Leo XIII clearly indicated, in dead
~ opposition to the papal theory o,
government. ..............
The One Vital Issue
The one thing Rome has striven
% persistently to hide is the one
+ hing most essential for every
american citizen and friend Of free
Institutions to recognize, and that
i the supreme fact that the conflict
being waged is between two sys-