The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-23

wards the holy father. raust take
into consideration for utterly impraC-
ticable and absurd as it Is in our eyes,
II seems 10 haunt the MINDS of many
outside the church, suppose. II Is
said, the pope were To issue COM
mands In purely civil matters. should
not Catholics he bound to yield to
him obedience? The pope will take
no such act, we know. even though
IT is not part of the Catholic faith
that he is infallible in the exercise
of his authority: but were he 10 do
so. he would stand self CONDEMNED. q
transgressor of the law he himself
promuleates. He would he offending
not only against civil society, but
against God, and violating an authort
~ as truly from God as his own. Any
Catholic WHO clearly recognized this
would not he bound to obey the
pope, or rather his conscience would
bind him absolutely to diSobey, be
cause with Catholics conscience IS the
supreme law which under no circum-
stances can We ever lawfully disobey.'
There were no Catholics among the
Tories" he said. There were no trait
ors among the Catholics. The story Of
the part played by Catholics since the
birth Of our republic is too long to
relate here, and nay tongue too weak
to attempt it."
Senator Ransdell discussed the Eu-
ropean war and pointed to the loyalty
Of the Catholics of the several nations
involved therein 10 their nations He
quoted from messages and letters from
the leaders al the church and from
military authorities Of the several ma
tons giving testimony To the pa
triotlSm of Catholics
United People Behtnd Wilson
Here, ~ America. in spite Of our
splendid isolation. the bloody spectre
II war. she speaker Bvorrcd. hovers
omiHously on she horizon For thirty
long. soultrylng months. the great
president Of a great nation. Woodrow
Wilson. strove with all the power OF
his being TO prevent our country from
being drawn into the melstrom Of blood
which had ensulfed nearly all Europe. /
With infinite patience consummate ,
.set. and u3atchleSs moral courage, he
+. eld the ship Of state true to its course. .
Time and time again his calm and dc .
sbsrate Judgment. his disregard ~ .
short GIFTED adverse criticism. and his
-rus inslsteUce on American rights
sverteB Is conflict.
Az last. however thu crisis could
1ot hp avoided. Germany. repudtHtiug
in one breath the established rules ol
international law and her solemn
pledges TO the United states given less
Than "a wear ago. declared her intention
If Vas}ng unrestricted submarine war
fare, In consequence Of this ruthless
declaration. president Wilson. fully /
of his Guty 10 the bundred
iHHi4or American citizens severed
'-e..''c relations with Germany.
He spoke as the chosen representati 'r .
3i }9J and of me, and Of all our fel- .
low citizens; as the responsible head
II Az indignant and powerful nation,
As tho living voice of an aroused
America.
Behind him stands 4 united people.
Political sectional and religious differ .
ences have been swept aside, The
Catholic and the Protestant. the Jew .
and the Gentle, as well AS those who z
profess no faith. are standing shoulder +
to shoulder. Second TO none in their .
LOYALTY to country. the Catholic clergy +
from their pulpits throughout the land
have laid down ehrist's Law of pa
triotlsm."