The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-10-25
What Washington
Thought About
Au1ericam Catholics

All Americans worthy OF the name,
revere the memory Of Georges Washing
ton, the father Of his country" They
regard the great commander Of the
Revolution not only as a great general,
bus as a great patriot, and above all
wise counsellor. All our leaders in all
parties. frequently refer to his advice and
point to the wise nlaxims he gave for
the guidance of the nation. Here Is
what George Washington said in his sd-
dress to the Catholics of the United States
on March Il, 1890 (Guilday's Life and
Times Of Archbishop Carroll" p. 266). Il
hope ever to see America among the fore
most nations in example OF Justice and
HberaIty. And I presume that your fel-
low citizens VIII not forget the patriotic
part which you took in the accomplish
mant of their Revolution and this establish
mtut Of their government, or the i'm
portant ass stance which they received
from a nation in which the Roman Catho-
hc faith is prOfessed."
His Views on Bigotry
On Nov. 3. 1878 in an order issued pro-
hibiting some non-Cathohcs of Boston
from burning the Pope IN efigy, Gen.
Washington said IA the commander in
chief has been apprised OF a design formed
for the Observance of that ridiculous and
childish custom of burning the effigy of
the Pope he can not help expressing his
surprise that there should be officers and
men in his army 80 devoid Of common
sense as not to see the improperly OF
such a step. 1t is so nlonstrOus as not
to be suffered or excused; indeed instead
OF Offering the most remote insult it Is
our duty 10 address public thanks to our
Catholic brethren IS to them we are in
debted Tor success over the common
enemy in Canada" And see Washing
tons high tribute to the unselfsh patriot
ism and fidelity OF his aides, (Sparke's
writings, volume s. pp 36S-7O) evil
deuCcs his supreme confidence in those
Catholics at perilous times when many
friends were false.
The chief Of those aides was COL.
JOHN FITZGERALD of Alexandrfa, Va.
tSee DR.. Richard H. Clarke's book Tho
Father OF His Country
Here could be given long list OF tho
Catholic patriots who were foremost in
the great struggle OF the Revolution.
COMMODORE JOHN BARRY, Father
Of the American Navy" to whom a
monument stands at Washington. was a
GEN STEPHEN MoYLAN. the great
cavalry commander of the Revolution.
was a Catholic.
CAPT. JEREMIAH o'BRTEN who won
the first naval victory at Machias off the
more Cooper described that battle as the
Lexington OF the seas"
The wealthiest signer Of the Declara-
ton OF OF In, vas CHARLES
Catholic leader in his time
A newspaper page might be devoted 10
nrinting in small type the names of the
Catholics who figured prominently In the
liberation of the American colonies
Representation in the Government
Today
The President of the United States and
his secretary and the ten members of the
Cabinet are Professionals.
Ninety-six senator's are Protestants,
two Mormons and only FIVE Catholics.
Representatives. 3S9 members Of Con-
gross are Professionals. : are Jews. is q
Mormon and only IS are Catholics
Number of Catholics in the nation. 20
per cent; in the Cabinet. o: in the Senate,
3 l 5 per cent: in the House. So per cent.
And yet there Is widespread propaganda
among our fellow citizens to make it ap-
pear that Catholics are running the
government" occupying most of the Of
fees and that the Catholic Church is in
There are 90 Catholic churches in In
dianapolis and Marion county. The Cos
pei of Christ is preached in these
churches every day and Sunday. They
are open all the time. No Catholic clergy
man ever speaks on political questions
from the pulpit. For further particulars
call of write
THE CATHOLIC INFORMATION
BUREAU.
S02-S04 FIDELITY TRUST BLDG,
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
4 Phone LGncoln 1857.