The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-09-28

IL We laid down our arms before
bigotry and Injustice, and by so doing
disgraced the shield of Americanism,
ever vowed to justice and to yalor.
Do we, however, demand special
privileges, not accorded to other citi-
| zens of America? No-never-no more
than we would allow to others special
privileges not accorded to ourselves
less even than we would allow such
privileges to others. If the members
of church, or of religious or semi
religious organization of any kind,
arise in America, calling for special
privileges, be the shame of un-Ameri-
canism their portion. Such conten-
| ton never will be the disgrace of Cath
olicism. The common law of the land
Catholics propose for themselves: it
| is what they propose for others.
Catholic fellow-citizens. claim your
rights--the rights given by the Consti-
tuition of the land, the American spirit
of fair-play, the laws of American citi-
zenship. But. in doing this, be on
your guard, lest, even in slightest
L
too ready to take offense. Be sure,
before you act, that reason and Justice
| are with you. Act always in calmness,
| certain always that, upon proper pre-
| sentation of your case, sooner or later
America will deal rightly with you.
Remember that your complaint is not
with the American people, but with
| individuals, or small classes of men,
| who, whatever their nominal Ameri-
canism, are beyond its sweetest
whisperings, below it's rapturous eleva-
| ton of thought and sentiment Of the
| American people this must be said
| | say it from my heart in full knowl-
| edge-a people more deeply pene-
| trated with the sense of civic and
political justice, more generous in
| concession of rights, where rights be-
long, more respectful of their every
brother, their every fellow-citizen, is
not in existence on the broad surface
of the globe. This my tribute to the
American people, the verdict, my fifty
years of private and public commin-
CLING compel me to pronounce.
Catholics Not influenced in Politics
by Ecclesiastical Authority.
In choosing his candidate the Cath
Ole voter is the freest of the free. 1t
is calumny, that we deeply resent,
to say that in civic and political mat
tiers Catholic voters are under the in
fiuence of the Church. Priests and
bishops do not dictate the politics of
| Catholics: If they strove to do so,
their interference would be promptly
repulsed. 1t is of public knowledge
that the Catholic vote is distributed
among the several political parties of
4 the country To speak of myself, pri-
vately and publicly as a citizen give
my allegiance to particular political
| party. Do / dare preach from my
pulpit the tenets of that party to the
discredit of another do dare allow
that, if needed at all by others, my
choice of a ballot should or could
receive other attention than that due
to its civic and political merit? AS a
matter of fact legions OF Catholic
voters in America believe me hope
/ lessly wrong in politics. As a citizen
may regret that my political influence
i is not wider: as al Catholic, am
glad of the independence of the citi-
zenship of Americas n41
j There is in America no Catholic
political party: none should there be.
AS matter of course, were special
issue raised, in which rights of Cath
olics were menaced, the conscience OF
Catholics were impelled to defend
i those rights, on the ground of Ameri
can fair-play itself. That-and moth
ing more
Catholics in Days Of War;
y | have told of the American Catho
lie in time of peace: shall | tell OF
him in time of war? Here / prefer
no argument: I relate a historic oc
j currence. 1t was at Gettysburg, fifty
years ago, the second day of July
1863. The command is hurried to the
Irish Brigade to check the onrush OF
|. General Andersons Confederates
The Chaplain, Rev. William Corby
leaps to the top of a large boulder
stone: The Cathode Church. he
! shouts, refuses Christian burial tC
, the soldier who turns his back to the
{ foe or deserts his fiag''-adding thai
he is ready to impart sacramento alb
} solution to those who in their heart
i make a sincere act of sorrow for sin
j All are on their knees. General Han
cock in his saddle removes his hat:
the dissolution is given: the charge ii
made: the Confederates fee back
, wards.
, Gettysburg is but one of hundred
instances my tongue could easily
name. Somehow, Catholicism and
|. Americanism commingle graciousl!
,, their intertwinings, when the honor
of the star-spangleda banner is il
peril.
Conclusion.
j | repeat my profession of faith
, my religious faith, Catholicism: my
civil and political faith, Americanism
) Some twenty years ago, on {
J memorable occasion, an illustriou!
! prelate, at the time the official repre-
j sentative of Pope Leo XIII, said tt
, the Catholics of America: The Cos
mol Of Christ IN ono hand tho Coucfi