The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1916-04-29

last week We gave the story OF
the papal riot in HAverhill, Mas,
illustrating 20 boldly and oonyinc-
ingly the dominating spirit Of the
Roman church in her age-longI
ceaseless war on freedom Of re-
ligious discussion. IL was an i'm
pressive object lesson, showing far
more eloquently than words the re-
suit Of parochial school education,
Roman Catholic training and the
evil influence Of secret oath-bound
societies which are seeking to sub
stitute the papal system Of govern
ment for the broad, tolerant and
noble freedom Of our Protestant de-
mOcncy.
II was a typical, and not an ex-
ceptional illustration, being merely
one Of scores Of exhibitions Of Ro-
man Catholic religious prejudice,
intolerance and hatred OF our fed
eral constitution that have marked
the successive steps in Rome's cam
paign 10 make America dominantly
Roman Catholic.
These exhibitions Of criminal law
lessness have become so alarmingly
frequent since the organization Of
the Knights Of Columbus, that un-
less promptly checked, we shall soon
have a nationwide scandal not un-
like the reign Of terror and defiance
Of the constitution and state laws
which marked the tragic days when
that other oath-bound secret body,
the Molly Msguires, placed an in
delible stain upon the escutcheon Of
Pennsylvania.
This week we wish 10 show how
in bold and pleasing contrast, Amer
lean Protestant democracy answers
intolerant Romo.
But before doing this we wish Il
revert to one incident Of the papa
riot.
On that wild night when Hsver
hill was taken over by the Knight,
Of Columbus and other "props o.
the hierarchy" the mob, not con
tent with trampling the constitution
underfoot, destroying municipa
property, wrecking homes Of Prot
estants and making criminal as
saults on law abiding citizens, il
retaliation for not being permitted
to lynch DR.. Leyden, these true son
of the church Of the InquisitioI
committed an act supremely inter
esting to psychologists, as showing
how unerringly a mob reflects tn
dominant spirit Of the institution
il represents.
Psychology Of the Roman Mob
To the students Of history an
psychology, alike, few things ar
more suggestively instructive tina
the action Of a mob as rejecting tn
master thought of the power benin
it.
Here reason, policy and all hypc
critical pretense are thrown to tn
winds and amid the storm Of primI
passion is Seen in naked sincerit,
the dominant thought Of the con
posite mass in action. Here il an,
where is to be found the real spir
of the organization or inspirin
body to which these units give all,
glance.
Hence, how significant to Il
student Of history, how sinister
the friends Of free democracy, an
yet how natural, we might say no
inevitable, was the intolerance an
hatred Of our constitutional gusrai
tees of freedom Of speech and a
sembly evinced BY that mob ,
knights Of the hierarchy.
Its first idea was to defy the col
stitution and the municipality
Haverhill by preventing freedom
speech and assembly. Next
sought to lynch the man who dsr'
TO criticize Rome and show no,
while our public schools made I,
tolerance and hospitality, the p
rochial schools and Roman Cathol
training made for intolerance, bi