The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1916-08-26

Respectfully,
THE FREE PRESS DEFENSE LEAGUE,
By @. o. NATIONS, Vioo-PreadsHi.
The charges frankly set forth in this letter,
though bold and incorporating have the SUI
premc merit Of being true.
They embody not only the teachings Of the
papscy-the so-called "infallible" and "irreform-
able" uttersnces Of me last three popss, but also
The present day practices Of the subjects Of me
pdpdl sovereignty. IN America.
The Broadminded Viewpoint
We are sincere. Is Rome sincere? III we can
not substantiate our charges we have done polit-
ical Romanism the greatest possible service which
friend or foe could render the hierarchy in Amer
ics, for we have given her the opportunity TO vim
dicate herself from the charges which millions OF
patriotic Americans believe TO he true. Clearly
II she is sincere she will whoeheartedy Join us in
demanding q full, impartial and sweeping IN
yestgation.
For years the Roman Catholic politicians have
recklessly denied our charges while belyiug their
words in their actions. They have declared that
they did not owe allegiance to the pope and the
papal system in matters political, and then they
have straightway sought legislation 10 sbridge
freedom Of religious discussion As provided by the
constitution, bat Which is contrary 10 ne teach
iHgs Of the pope aud ne papal theory Of govern
msHi.
Our democratic system Of government protects
a free press by provision for jury trials. The
Papal system would suppress obnoxious period
icals by dutocratic or bureaucratic authority. ani
so We see the subjects OF the papal sovereignty
seeking TO secure legislation contrary 10 the con-
stitutiona guarantee of O free press and which
T0uld replace ne democratic provision of Jury
trials With dutocrdiic r1ls
The papal system opposes freedom Of speech
and assembly, and though our constitution guar
antees these bulwarks Of democracy what more
natural than the spectacle which has been pre-
sented by the subjects Of the pope, the knights
Of Columbus and other props Of the Roman
Catholic hierarchy during the present year and
for many years past indulging in rioting, criminal
lawlessness, mobocracy and murderous assault IN
order 10 destroy The constitutional guarantees riid
10 democracy. that are inimioal 70 the papdl sys.
tenn.
Our public non-sectarisn education has proved
the greatest Of all the bulwarks and safeguards
of liberal democracy. II has been at once the
mighty melting pot of democracy, the DESTROYER
Of religious and race prejudice and the most ef-
fectiye promoter Of intellectual and spiritual hos
pitality, vet this vital shield and defense Of de-
mocracy is denounced by the papsl sovereign and
in this country Roman Catholics have further
proved their allegiance tn the pope by boldly de-
nouncing our free schools as Goddess, and a.
gates OF hell"
Our constitution provides for the absolute
divorce OF church and state. giving cyudi oppor-
tuRitiss and rights 10 all churches dHi granting
special fdrors 20 none. Tho papa system de-
mdHdS, upholdS and insists upon ne union of
church and state in al lands uherC The Roman
Catholics are sufficiently strong 70 compel su.i
union, while in Protestant lands the subjects ci
the pope are constantly attacking the prHrp'.
Of separation Of church and state, as for example
in this country where in city, state and nation
they are fighting persistenty and with increasing
determination to secure appropriations Of public
funds for their sectaTian institutions.
These are but typical illustrations showing
how the subjects of the pspal sovereign in Amer
ics, are Systematically warning against the
ORGANIC LAW Of our lard in furtherance a.
the teachings Of the pope, while denying that they
owe and show first allegiance to the sovereign on
the Tiber.
The struggle we are facing Is me struggle
France faced a few years ago when she bravely
freed herself from pspal political domination.
II is the conflict that has been steadily wsged in
all liberal democratic lands between those who
hold that the people are the supreme and rightful
source Of governmental authority, and those who
stand for the theory Of the divine rights of pope
and princes. 1t is the old conflict between
autocrscy and popular soyereignty-ths struggle
between democracy and despotsm.