The Indianapolis times., 1926-11-16
SOMETHING FOR US TO
KEEP OUT OF
BY n. d. Cochran

The flood of propaganda let loose in this country
on both sides of the controversy between state and
church in Mexico indicates studied purpose tnu~
ence public opinion in the United States affairs OF
a friendly neighboring state which of our
business.
1t is reasonable to assume that pressure WIN be
brought to bear upon Government induce 1t TO
poke an unwelsome into Mexcos domestic affairs
Otherwise the propaganda would without purpose.
Unless one is familiar with the history of Mexico
running back several centuries the present situation
will be difficult to understand and there always
danger in jumping to conclusions too bttle tnfor-
nation.
So far the people of this country Irave had
to deal with any such situation asf the people of
Mexico are now wrestling with We have had estab-
shed religion since the formation of the Government;
and the trainers of Constitution did all they could
to prevent union of church and state Only in recent
has there been any tendency IN that direction,
and that through the growing political power of the
Methodist church-mainU through the AntiSaloon
League.
There has never been any real danger of political
supremacy of the Catholic Church, notwithstanding
the fear of which Is responsible for the many anti
Catholic movements, such the Know Nothngs, the
A. p AS, the Guardians of Liberty and the Ku-I<ux
Kan In Mexico, however, with early Spanish
Catholicism was at various time the established re-
igion And the conflict between church and state for
centuries has been between the Catholic church hier-
archy and people who and always have been pre-
donnantly Catholic religion In this country
Protestants predomfnate
it isn't easy either lay Protestants or Cath
ocs to understand the Mexican situation unless they
familiar with the long fight between church and
state in that country The argument of
tants and Catholics is influenced by partisan prejudice
The fight by the Knights of Columbus in this country
has beer aggressive, and against the Mexican govern
ment- At recent convention in Philadelphia they
made demands" upon the American Government that
injured the of the church in that country
in the minds of people who without prejudice No
church is in Position to demand interference any
manner with the domestic affairs of friendly gov
ernment by the Government Of the United States,
where of the foundation principles absolute sepa
ration of Church State
Nor is anything to be gained by any church Cath
ole Protestant, by trying to elnbroil people
in the Mexican controversy We will be better off,
and the Mexcans will be better off, if mind our
business and let the Mexican people mind theirs
Thus far President Coolidge has kept his head,
Notwithstanding all the pressure that evidently has
been brought to bear him. Any church, Protestant
or Catholic, that attempts to drive Government
into the Mexican mess will make trouble for itself
We will have hands full enough keeping the
Methodist Board of Temperance Prohibition and Pub
lie Morals from running our Government without
botherng heads whether the Catholic church
in Mexico will the state the state viii run
the church.
My advice to both American Protestants and
Catholics is to mind their spiritual business and
great respect for all religions.