Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-03-13
Catholics and Patriotism.

Ediloi INcU wee COuTloI.
Catholics and Patriotism.
Editor Keowee Courier: In yester-
days issue of your esteemed paper
you published an article under the
heading Zone Dissenting Voice" Me-
thinks see your condemnation of its
sentiments in your choice Of head
ing! This writer from Westminster
doesn't like the United States and
she doesn't like the Catholic religion;
the United States is "the very worst
hole that ever was known" and the
catholic religion Is "Romanisnl."
The description OF the one is Just
scription of the other.
She accuses the government Of
leVying many unjust taxes and treat
ing its citizens unjustly and cruelty.
She condemns and attempts to ridi-
cule the sacrifices in money and food
that the patrioticand loyal American
people have made, are making and
will continue even more abundantly
to make, to show their appreciation
OF and love for "our boys" who are
making for us the supreme sacrifice
or their lives. She breaches patriot
ism with sacrifice left out. Sacrifices
for noble cause become in her eyes
merely personal inconveniences, and
she wants her readers to blame our
President and not the German Kaiser
for them: I'VE should not blame the
Kaiser for what the u. S. Govern
ment does"
With such an exhibition OF your
writer's patriotism" before me, I
was not surprised at her display Of
feeling towards the Catholic church.
Naturally. any one who could, in a
crisis such as now confronts our
country, criticize our government,
from the President down, and praise
the German Kaiser and refuse to
help our soldiers who have given up
not only little bread and meat, but
their lives that we may live-natu-
rally, say, such person must criti-
cize and condemn Catholics also, for
the simple reason that their patriot
ism IS so genuine and practical that
the President and our country could
hardly. do without it. A reliable esti-
mate states that one-third Of the men
in the army and navy to-day are
Catholics, although only one-sixth of
the total population OF the country
are Of that religion. In proportion to
the total population, therefore, we
Catholics have furnished double our
share. And, Mr.. Editor, in every
other crisis Of our country's history
Catholics have done their share, fully
and generously, and never yet has
there been a Benedict Arnold in their
ranks. OF course, your writer was
not acquainted with these simple but
eloquent facts.
But why should worry about this
writer's opinion of Catholics and the
Catholic church--a writer who thinks
the United States is the very worst
hole that ever was known: who
thinks the Kaiser should not be
blamed; who thinks it is patriotic to
condemn our President in this terri.
bic time OF war? 1t is hardly neces-
sary for me to say that what she
thinks does not worry ne: but sup
pose, by her written and spoken
word, for, as YOU know, Mr.. Editor,
there have been great women who
have influenced the destinies of the
orld)-suppose she stirs up discord,
let us say, in the army, and starts
the soldiers fighting amongst them
selves until all are slaughtered and
not one left for the final drive on
Berlin think Of the Kaiser's glee
and satisfaction! ask YOU, Mr..
Editor, should not that worry us!
Your writer says, "The Christian
religion is in danger" | wish to add
one more Dissenting voice" to yours.
Mr.. Editor. Even If she has no con-
fidence in our country and President,
surely she ought to have faith in the
promises Of our Saviour, Jesus
Christ The Founder OF the Chris
tian religion solemnly promised that
the Coates OF hell should not prevail
against His church,; He promised
that He himself would be always with
His church. SO your correspondent
should calm her fears; the Christian
religion Is not In the slightest dan-
ger and never will be as long as the
Catholic church Is in the world, and
this church will be In the. world for
all time, even to the very end, be-
cause that promise is in her charter,
given her nineteen hundred years
ago by her Divine Founder, when He
sCnt her out to conquer the world
for Him. know your writer doesn't
like this idea OF world conquest"
However,, she must blame Christ for
being so ambitious, and not the
church, which Is merely carrying out
His command, "Go teach all nations,
teaching them to observe all things
/ have commanded you, and, behold,
I q. g., Jesus Christ) am with you all
n n ooAn - k1,o ox,l 4 = ,