The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1919-07-12

.Qlpl0maJlc intrigue IN 0erDla, ana
many more who believe it; and
they cannot believe that the Jesuit
controlled court at the vatican is
averse to war when war may be
utilized to its aggrandizement.
If Rome, which prides itself up
on never changing, is so intent on
securing freedom Of conscience at
this time, how is it that history re-
veals Rome as the most persistent,
cruel, and deadly opponent Of such
freedomY The history of martyr
dom answers the Salt Lake sage
beyond need of further contro-
versy. To say that popery, either
ancient or modern, is a champion
of freedom Of conscience, is ridic-
ulous.
That the pope "would not be
worthy to occupy the exalted posi-
ton that he holds if he were not a
man of peace" is an opinion that
has little bearing on the case, The
exalted" position the reigning
pope holds has been occupied by
men of every kind and quality,
from the average in moral attri-
butes down to the most degraded
criminals Of history. But a pope S
unworthiness has little to do with
the effect of his acts. His power
and ability to antagonize civiliza-
tion does not vary with his worth
mess or unworthiness. The mis-
chief Of popery is like the mischief
of kings. People in a democracy
do not care to distinguish between
worthy kings and unworthy ones
they have learned by experience to
desire no kings Of any kind, and
such may well be their attitude to-
ward those other autocrats called
popes.
Another gratuitous assumption
is that the senator has brought
shame on self, senate and nation
by dragging religious prejudice in.
to the debate on the league of ma.
tions. 1t is our opinion, and we
verify believe the opinion Of
others, that the senator has earned
the admiration of most good citi.
zens by the courage with which he
dared speak of something which
the average public official fears tc
mention.
Rather should the Salt Lakt
Tribune realize the shame it has
brought upon itself by such a veal
and ungrounded attack upon 8
man who has merely done his duty
as he saw it. The Tribune tiradt
resembles the ranting of Rome''
editors so closely as to almost war
rant the conclusion that a papis
wrote it. Partisans may cry sham,
and shrek about it when they havt
no sense Of shame, but it is only al
evidence Of weakness.
And Catholics have been in
suited because a public official call,
attention to the excessive inhuenc,
exercised by their popes. Usu
ally they are rather chesty in tn
face Of such reminders, for the,
are usually proud of it and rejoic,
that their pope stands in the plac,
of God Almighty as supreme au
thority on earth and as king O
kings without responsibility saw
to deity. The insult seems to Ii
in the fact that the revelation in
terferes with the political opera
tions Of both popes and papists.
The Salt Lake scribe's conclu
. sion, that what the senator ha
said will find no support, is tn
wild climax Of an irresponsibl
, harangue. The people from Mis-
souri, and elsewhere will show him
, The facts are supported by re
: corded history; and American ac
ton consistent with those facts
already far enough advanced fo
all to see who are not wilfull,
: blind.
, Instead of the Illinois senate
; apologizing to Cardinal Gibbon
, and reSigning, it would consor
2 more with the welfare Of the ma
ton were Gibbons to apologize fo
l the turbulence he has caused i
{ this country by frantic demand
l for forcible Intervention in Mexic
. and declaration of hostility towar
l other nations with which th
, United States is at peace.
| Advice is cheap, and that offere
by the Salt Lake scribbler is of e1
: ceedingly low value. He Nigh
e proftably seek some Of the articl
: before trying to dispense it to
: reading public which knows NOR
Of popery than one so biased ma