The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-02-14
REILLY TELLS
AUDIENCE OF
MEXICO TODAY
DenOunceS Gales Government
as Military Despotism'-
Calls II BOlshevistic

The future of Christian civiliza-
ton in Central and South America
depends upon the attitude taken by
the people of the United States
toward the military dcspotism now
ruling Mexico, Michael K. Reilly de-
clared Sunday afternoon in u lecture
at the City Auditorium.
Mr.. Reilly was speaking under the
auspices Of the Knights of Columbus
IN that organizations campaign
against the spread Of bolshevism in
the American continents.
The Gales government" he de-
clared, "secks the destruction and
oblitcration Of all ideas Of God, and
all ideas of the sacredness of prop
erty and contract rights. It's central
idea is the idea which dominated the
bo!shevists Of Russia. and the move
ment is inspired by the same school
OF thought as that which today holds
Russia in it's grip.
Gales is too wise to come out in
sort Of thing turned the world
against the Russian Bolshcvism. He
has not seriously molcsted Amer
lean or other foreign Protcstants.
but, as Sydney Sutherland, the son
of a Methodist Mexican missionary,
writing in Liberty, says, "If he wins
this fight against the Catholic
Church, he will turn ruthlessly on
the other creeds and destroy thcm,"
Mr.. Reilly declared.
Church and State
Mr.. Reilly vigorously denounced
those who say that the Gales govern
ment is "Only attempting to separate
church and state" 1.-The fact Of
the matter is" he asserted, "undcr
the so-called constitution Of Mexi-
co. the regulation of the churches
is taken entirely out Of the hands
of church authorities and vested en-
tlrely with the government, even in
the minutest detail.
Church and state have been sepa-
rated in Mexico for Is years. If
the people of Mexico have religious
freedom today, then the world will
have to coin new word for religious
tyranny" he said.
"The constitution Of Mexico, which
is said not to interfere with or perse-
cute religion, and which is said to
be simply separating church and
state, and which is said to provide
only for the separation Of church
and state. not only shuts out and
forbids foreign born priests and
ministers from exercising their call
ing in Mexico, but it also prevents
the different churches from cducat-
ing Mexican born priests and minis
tiers.
Patterned After Russia
"The Mexican constitution, which
is said not to interfere with rcli-
gious liberties, makes it crime for
a father to suggest that his SON be-
come minister or a priest. No
clergyman may offer prayer 1T
the grave of deceased parishioner
without being subject to the law.
"The fact of the matter is, the
present Mexican government is al
most an exact duplicate Of the present
Russian government. Human rights
and property rights are not con-
sidered.
"Mexico is ruled today by revolu-
tlonlsts who are sworn enemies of
the older order of all established in
situations and they arc doing their
best to make Mexico second Rus
STA.
Clever Propaganda
"The Catholic church in Mexico
was obliged to cease functioning, so
to speak, last August. This step was
made necessary on the grounds of
f-preservation. BY submitting to
the laws of Mexico, the church would
have lost its independence and be-
come a state church of Mexico, a
schismatic church, because the
church would have been ruled entire
ly by the Mexican government.
I'VE do not want war with Mex
leo. Nobody wants our country to
60 to war with Mexico because of
the destruction in Mexico by the
government of the religious and civil
liberties Of the people of that coun-
try. There is force far moro pow
erful in the world today than any
military force. That force is the
great power of American public opin-
ion. All that we hope to do in this
Knights of Columbus campaign is to
acquaint the people of the United
States--Catholic and nom Catholic
with the real conditions in Mexico.
When the people Of the United States
know the truth about Mexico, bolshc.
vism on the American continent will
be doomed"