Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1916-11-22
WATSON ON ROME DEFYINC Law.
Scathing Arraignment Of Rome's Enmiy Of
Democracy, Free Institution and Rights.

LII GIlG J0uerSODlan 1QI NOV
ember 9th, Hon Thomas E. Wat
son thus points out the essential
ly reasonable and lawless spiri
of the Roman hierarchy. Mr.
Watson is not only an able lawyer
and statesman; he is one of the
best informed historical authors
in America. His word therefore
in reference to the treasOnable
present attitude of the faithful
sons of the Veazy law, is worthy
of the serious consideration o5
every true American:
Some years ago, when the
French republic annulled the
concordat which Napoleon had
signed with Pope Plus VII, and
enacted, instead, law which
separated church and state, com.
pelling ttle monasteries and con
vents to take out state licenses
and discontinuing the tea million
dollar annual subsidy which the
State paid to the Roman church,
the rage of the American Ro-
manists was almost equal to that
of the Italians, the Spaniards,
and the Ultramontane French.
Cardinal Gibbons shot off his
gun, as usual, and Bishop Kelley
of Savannah was equally vehe-
ment.
With truculent inoolence
which was wholly unprovoked,
Kelley declared that, if ever the
State, in this country, aaopted
any legislation which the .soman
church considered an int"inge-
ment on its rights, thos laws
wonld be defed and resis I'd.
In other words. the l-oman
church, which is foreign, n its
constitution, it's code and gov
ernment, will decide, for itself,
what part of our Legislation it
will obey.
It will acquire domicile i'll this
country, will grab as mucL prop
erty as it possibly can, vii, enjoy
exemptions from taxation as an
American church, will claim for
its votaries the fullest exercise
of American privileges, and will
exert it's utmost efforts to control
our law making and our = g>vern-
mental policies; but it will re
main foreign, exclusive, and sup
erior, to the extent Of l,5fusing
to obey such laws as the Italian
pope adjudges detrimental as his
interests.
Thus, one church-the only
one which is ruled by >oreign
laws and a foreign head will be
partly American, and partly En-
ropean; partly subject 10 our
laws and partly exempr from
them; and we must allow this
one church to expand, i'4orench
itself, and become Irresistible
although it is the church II exist
ence-or that ever did exist
which has a monarchiaI code ct
laws, a monarchial poli+ 3al Or
ganization, a monarchial head, a
narchial governments. and d
monarchial polity, in wh ch the
laymen has no voice, no vote, nc
representation, ne poWet, and nc
method of protest againa> wrongs
inflicted upon him by the hier-
archy.
Can we conserve our republic
an form Of government, if d
foreign and monarchial ecclesi-
sastical group of organizations
partly public, but mostly secret
partly religious, but mostly com
mercial and political-ls permit
ted to establish within ure terri
tory it's peculiar institutions ane
neutrality-suspicious., no. subjec
to our laws?
Can we maintain and pe"petuat'
our democratic princii IS, ou:
civil and religious liberties if W.
permitan ecclesiastical D1nlarch5
to grow, unchecked amo"g us;
foreign monarchy who's iaws ar
antagonistic to ours?
Our system of govcrnmen
makes for individual liberty
just as the Protestant religion
makes for republican forms O
government.
No person can be held in cap
tivity by a private institution
unless such confnement be con