The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-10-16


deratons such the safeguarding of property and
ones economic opportunities But however that NAV he
submit that there nothing in the conduct of Ame,,
AN Catholics nothing adequate in the conduct Of
Catholics under any flag which to base such grave
and horrible insinuation
The Klan seeks turn the hands of the clock back
wa s in attempt fan the flames of religious and
aca hatred the gain therefrom is to be as
barren the program is dangerous Persecution has
practically AS method it is monstrousv
futile Persecution intenses rather than dssinaas
faith stifens loyalty. Church history has
indeed given us the that the blood of the mar
tyrs the the church 1t may be doubted whether
there is way to promote cause than to perse-
cute it. have doubt at all that the Kan persec,
ton of the Catholic church, far it is really efec
tive, will prove to be potent stimulus Catholic
oyaty and zeal But persecution method is highly
dangerous 1t tends to drive its objects and
steathy action If group really constitutes menace
certainly much be preferred that the menace he
an open than whose ramifcatons and Sc.
ope atons nobody quite Take the case
of the negro. Whatever has been the of the near
has least ted with revolutionary conspra
| tors anarchists. Buffeted grossly Disseminated
against his black body frequently made torch to light
festal night he has wavered in his loyalty to
the flag. But ladies and gentlemen does it reason
able that this program on indefinitely and the
worm turn? 1t to to be as sure as anv
future contingency be that if the Kan move
ment with its slogan of permanent negro subservencv
does not rather quickly subsde dsafecton treason
will be generated in this black host What price
dicel
What is the purport of all this? Here is the truth
which, believe not be successfully challenged The
Kan method is irrational monstrous, and than
effective 1t is also undemocratc 1t seeks array sew
million people in this country against thirty
two Million people against every three Our body
polite is democracy Anything which tends to knit it
together is wholesome fo- union there is strength
Anything which tends divide and disrupt it pern
cious house divided against itself permanently
stand The Klan is setting itself the task of arrayng
Protestant against Catholic white against
be- against foreign bern. In doing, submit op-
rates to the serious detriment of civic unity
which the perpeuity and strength of
stitutions heavily rests.
The Klan's program is, moreover negation of the
Constitution of the United States and of the state of Col
9rado In Article vi of the Federal Constitution it is
said that mo religious test shall be required
qualification to office public tust under the Unit
ed States. And the First Amendment, which Revo
uonary fcrebears were interested to adopt declared:
Congress shall make law respecting establishment
Of religion prohibiting the free exercise thereof In
Article IL of the Colorado Constitution reads: THAT
the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession
and worship without discrimination, shall forever here
after be guaranteed; and person shall be denied any
civil or political right privilege capacity on account
of his opinions concerning religion" The Kan aims to
make the Protestant church the church of
In so doing it revers to principle which good Ameri
cans early and late have deliberately and consistently
repudiated James Bryce in his authoritve work, the
American Commonwealth remarks taat of all the diff
ferences between the Old and the New per-
haps the most salient is that the United States has abb
utey nothing to do with ecclesiastical questions That
this whole chapter of debate strife which has
riously vexed European states has remained unopened
here he regarded of infinite advantage this nation
Yet the klan against the letter spirit constitu-
llona provision and against the history. in
s'ss on opening this baeful chapter submit that the
han IN so doing is chargeabe with grave wrong; and
declare that organization which outs the Constitution
ri these United States of this Colorado de-
erve5 the sympathy much the support good
Americans
Professor j. M Mecklin of Dartmouth former
cache OF mine has recently published book entitled:
me hu hluX klan, Study of the American Mind
H. MecKllh made most extensive Investigation To my
OWN conclusions 1T is gratifying be able add the
e'Riii Oh ms authority whose these; 1.-THE
MORN opinion of the best element in every community
MAT Vhe han has never he'd any justification for
u eN,stence 1T has fourhed bv creating false issues,
mates and prejudices by exploiting mis-
"ioeu oyalties; it cannot point single great
'ucoVe movement which it has set on foot"