Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-19
BY JAMES A. REED,

Senator from MISSOURI.
! From a speech delivered yesterda.
| in the Senate.l
/ Mr. President, there is not going
to be any war with Mexico unless
Mexico forces that war by violating
| the rights of the United States o.
America. / do not believe that any
man connected with the administra
ton has the slightest notion of engag
ing in a war because of the religious
differences in Mexico.
We NAV regret these differences
we may look upon them with horror
but | undertake to say that we VIII
not violate any principle OF tnterna
tionaI law in order to make war upon
Mexico. Nevertheless. firm policy
with Mexico is necessary. On entirely
different grounds trouble may arise
but Calvin Coolidge is not going to
march an army into Mexico because
of a controversy about religion, and
Congress would very likely balk the
attempt should it be made.
A LamentabIe Condition.
There is in Mexico undoubtedly a
condition, a lamentable condition
there is unquestionably brutal mis-
treatment not only of the Catholic
church, but, I think, of all other
churches that have established them
selves there; but that is a question
for Mexico. 1t is not for us.
think that is the sentiment in the
hearts of the great Catholic popula
ton of this country. as it is Of the
non-Catholic population. There may
be here and there a Catholic who
takes an extreme view, as | believe
if any Protestant denomination found
the brethren of its faith being perse
cuted there would also be some OF
them who would take an extreme
view.
These things are natural; but If
they exist In sporadic instances nc
general indictment of the Catholic
church is thereby justified; no attempt
should be made to arouse prejudice
against these good citizens. There
has been much of that kind of appeal
made in the last few years. 1t is a
shameful appeal, by whomsoever
made or wherever made. 1t is not a
new thing 1t has broken out peri
odically throughout the entire story
of our national life; yet, sir, here Is
my answer:
One Common Stream.
Catholics signed the Declaration
OF independence along Win AIONCS
tants. Catholic and Protestant, Jew
and gentle. marshaled under the ban
ners of George Washington. Catholic
and Protestant Jew and gentle died
on every field of the Revolution.
Catholic and Protestant, Jew and
gentle manned the ships Of 1912
fought throughout the war, touched
elbows behind the cotton bales at New
Orleans, and mingled their blood in
one common stream that victory
might glorify American arms.
Catholic and Protestant, Jew and
gentle bore our flag across the plains
of Mexico and planted it i'll glory
above the castles of the MonteZumas.
Catholic and Protestant, Jew and
gentle in the fratricidal war of 1861
rallied to the standard of the South
and rallied to the banner of the North,
according to sectional lines that divi-
ded them. and with equal gallantry
and courage laid down their lives upon
the CORY fields of that awful struggle.
United in Conflict.
And, sir, when the war with Spain
came. Catholic and Protestant. Jew
and gentle rushed to the colors and
charged to death amidst a storm of
Spanish bullets. On all these CORY
fields the Protestant nurse and the