The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-11-25
WHAT AILS THE NATIONS

and all religions are represented in
of our forefathers, and their proud am
bition was to make E pluribus unum.'
Our far-seeing statesmen from Wash
ington to Lincoln, and from Lincoln
to Roosevelt, warned the people that
racial and religious intolerance alone
would prevent a happy union of all
races and creeds; and their judgment
was correct.
Some Un.American Movements.
There exists today tendency for
organizations, which have no govern
mental connection as such, to sponsor
movements patriotic in theory, but
utterly un-American in fact, not only
because they shatter the unity and
harmony, upon which peace and
friendly cooperation depend, but also
because they purpose to have Consti-
tutional, yes, even inalienable rights,
which are guaranteed to all citizens,
denied to certain groups towards
which they entertain prejudices. See
how they sin against the Constitution
of the United States, which begins
with this thesis: We the people of
the United States, in order to form a
more perfect union, establish Justice,
insure tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves, and posterity, do
ordain and establish this Constitution
for the United States of America
Therefore, even to lend encourage
ment to those who would sever the
more perfect union and disturb do
nestle tranquility is the antithesis Of
Americanism, and open rebellion
against the attitude of the Fathers OF
this great republic. To scheme for
disunion in secret, to create new or
CARNATIONS for the purpose of divid-
ing people locally or nationally on re-
ligious or racial grounds, is as despica-
BILE as it is reasonable.
Justification for religious or politi-
cal persecution is sought in the as
sumption that Catholics, for instance,
owe allegiance to a foreign ruler, and
canism is questionable; and in the
further assumption that they conduct
a school system of their own, and
that therefore, their members are not
cooperating for an undivided citizen
ny. These assumptions are erroneous,
and therefore the conclusion is unwar-
ranted. The allegiance demanded Of
governments is that which people owe
to Caesar; the allegiance demanded Of
! the Church is that which they owe to
God. Christ Himself prescribes both,
and every form of religion recognizes
| the distinction between civil and spir-
itual allegiance. Every Catholic
| would resent, as much as his Protes-
| tant neighbor, any interference with
the United States government on the
! part OF Rome, or any interference
with his own politics.
Professional Patriots.
BE not deceived by professional pa
triots of the 100 per cent type, for
| there is much truth in the adage that
| patriotism is the last refuge of the
scoundrel.' Be not deceived by the
self-styled Guardians of Liberty, for
there is much truth in the lament, oh.
Liberty, what crimes have been COM
mitted in thy name!
| "Our Declaration of independence Is
| founded on mans natural Bill OF
Rights Our country's constitution. IL
1 scrupulously observed, will unite into
one vast choir the congeries Of race
and religious groups to sing as with
one voice, My country, tits of Thee,
sweet land of liberty, of thee sing
Let harmony, and not discord be
our watchword; and where harmony
is now broken, let it be mended by
face to face friendly conferences be-
tween the dissonant elements, with
all the cards on the table. No other
way is effectual."