The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1916-08-31

The three Irish cardinals vehemently de-
clared that the Pope's heart was set upon the
utmost freedom of religion, for everybody,
everywhere
That reads we'll, and was so intended. The
noble sentiment was loudly proclaimed at
about the same time that Archbishop Prem
dergast's paper, The Catholic Standard and
1'anaes, was setting up an editorial on Peru.
Let us peruse a part of it; and as we do so,
let us remember the Catholic demand made
on the President in regard to Mexico:
The Rev Lyman Abbott is as busy as old Nep-
tunes smiths helper, getting ammunition for the
anti-Catholic press supplied by the Rev Homer c..
Stuntz Of Philippine proselytizing fame. The
cent action of the President of Peru, in refusing
to sign bill altering the Constitution of the
country in favor Of proselytizing missionaries
(like Stuntz) caused excitement in Lima.
The language of Dr. Abbott is hardly a whit less
rancOrous in it's reference to the matter than the
envenomed bile that froths the pages of 'The
Menace" and the other sheets whose trade is the
production of sectarian rabies among men and
women BY the terms of the Constitution Of the
Republic of Peru, the Catholic Church is the only
one recognized by law. This fact would seem to
DR.. Abbott that justifes the use of abusive
eplthets and Violent denunciatiOn of the Church,
the priesthood, and the Government that upheld
it. But as the Government of the United States
recognizes Peru sovereign State 1T never at
tempted to interfere with it's religious regulations
for tho reason that to do so would be to admit
that one sovereign Republic has d right to meddle
with the internal concerns Of another-in other
words, to destroy it's claim to sovereignty, and
therefore stutify It's own claim to sovereign in
dependence when it enacted law that Congress
shall pass no law for the establishment of religion
Or interfering with the free exercise thereof
In Peru, the parliament passed an amend
ment to the Constitution, allowing freedom of
worship to all. There was riot, led by
priest, and this priest snatched the amend
ment from the hands of the President of the
Senate, tore it in pieces, and trampled it upon
the floor
The President of Peru refused to sanction
the amendment, fearing, no doubt, that the
priests would have him killed.
But Catholic Archbishop Prendergast, de-
tends religious intolerance in Peru, and
rightly says that our Government cannot in
tervene
AS to Mepico, however, its different Arch
bishop Prendergast roars as loudly as any of
the prelates gathered in Madison Square Gar
den demanding that our Government dictate
to Carranza on the internal religious status,
of has Independent, soverei on State.
Could any fact show more cOnclusively
what these Roman priests mean by 'religious
iberty?"
Where they are in the majority, they refuse
to grant it, because it is against their creed;
where ere are in the ma ority, we must tolerate
them, because it is against our creed not to
do it.
What they want in Mexico-and had, until
recently-is the same as what they have got
and keep in Peru, namely, the p0arer to pe1se-
cute other religions.
''Tolerant?" The Roman church ''toler-
ant?"
How long has it been since Ex-Vice- Presi-
dent Fairbanks caused immense scandal and
uproar in popish circles, because, after visit
ing the Italian Pope, he visjted the local bretA-