Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-09-14
Religious Enemies
OF Smith Rebuked
DR.. Henry Van Dyke De-
nounces Those Who Invoke
Anti Catholic Prejudice
SAYS PLOT IS AFooT


ton OF religious liberty is the most
important one in the present political
campaign. DIR. Henry Van Dyke, edu.
Gator. author and Presbyterian clergy.
man, Of Princeton, N. j.. recently at.
tackled what he termed widespread
cabal" to prevent the election of Gov
ernor Smith because he is a Catholic.
The denunciation Of the overt full
limitations and covert whisperings" Of
those who are Invoking anti-Catholic
prejudice for the defeat of the Gov.
ernor was expressed by DIR. Van Dyke
In letter from his summer home at
Seal Harbor Maine, to William
Church Osborn. New York State di-
rector of finance for the Democratic
National Committee
AT the present time there is on
foot in these United States a wide.
spread csbal to keep one of the candi.
dates for the Presidency from election
because he is q member of the Cath
Ollie Church" DR.. Van Dyke wrote.
THE other candidate has handsomely
dIsavOwed any personal share In the
sentiments or arguments which char
arterize this cabal. This is much to
his credit.
But unfortunately he cannot, or at
least ne does not. restrain and check
the pernicious activity Of his sup.
porters. who are convinced that the
end of victory for their party justi-
fees any means which they employ
to secure 1t Hence. II their candi.
date should be elected, he would owe
his election In part to the religious
prejudice and anti Catholic enmity
which the cabslists have stirred up
and marshaled to the polls. THIS
would be a misfortune for him and
calamity for our country as the home
and citadel Of religious liberty.
"The mere prospect Of such calam
ity ought to move the hearts Of true
Americans and honest Christians with
dismay. and awaken their minds to
serious thought and earnest action in
defense of that real freedom of con
science which ls the hard-won crown.
ing glory Of America and the dearest
jewel of Christianity"
Evidence of the existence Of a pow
erful anti-Catholic cabal Is too clear
DIR. Van Dyke believes, to be ignored
except by those who are asleep or
voluntarily initiating the opossum. ="
Proof, he wrote Mr.. Osborn, comes
In many ways, now In the bold voci
ferations Of a bowling bigot. now In
the gentle murmurs OF mild congrega
tional ministers who merely suggest
that 1t Is not improper to let your
ecclesiastical prejudices control your
vote"
Instead OF endangering the prin
ciple of separation between church
and state or threatening American
freedom, DR.. Van Dyke continued. the
election of q Catholic to the Presi
dency would prove the reality OF that
freedom by emphasizing the firmness
OF such separation.
Il am convinced" he wrote, that
most OF our citizens, men and women
do not comprehend the ferceness and
subtlety with which that freedom Ii
now being attacked by the great cabal
Let me illustrate 1t by a small, con
crete. pernicious piece OF which
have found floating around In this
quiet little village on the sea coast
OF Maine
ut Is a pamphlet, well printed on
expensive paper. bearing the title
Americas Two Unwritten Laws The
name OF the author Is modestly with
held. but he signs his production with
the initials Il. A. (which may posi-
bly, mean Evidently Absurd, and he
Is careful to give an address at which
be procured for distribution. Thus his
production betrays all the earmaySs
OF cabalism. II Is anonymous. 1t pre-.
tends to be respectable and 1t begs
support for its propaganda,
1.-THE second 'unwritten law which
Evidently Absurd lays down for
America Is this: No Catholic shall
be Presi dent of the United States
who framed this law for a cOun
try which expressly declares In Its
Constitution that emo such law shall
be MADE? Who dares to put II into
words and proclaim II in a country
which stands expressly for religious
liberty and to whose nag millions OF
people have been drawn by the nobil.
ity OF that pledge?
This Is notification with a ven
geance II Affects not a mere matter
OF physical habits and diet. but
national principle Of peace and union.
II prociaIms II jehad, ID religious war
In the heart OF America.
Freedom OF conscience Is the great
est thing at stake In this campaign.
Hundreds OF thousands OF voters fail
to realize It. Interested In other mat
tiers they ignore this vital cause. Both
OF the Presidential candidates In this
election are men OF integrity and
ability
Our choice between them should
be made ON a conscientious conviction
OF their respective equipment for the
difficult task But II one OF them
should be excluded from the Presi:
dency by votes cast against him on
the ground that he Is Catholic IL
would dishnnOr the pledged faith OF
America and cast away her most
precious heritage"