The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-09
Local Priest Reviews
 Situation In Spain
 Tn Public Statement
Quotes Eminent Non-Catholic Sources in Supporting Statements Made Concerning General Franco,
 Real Motive Behind Spanish War

 ant pastor of St. Thomas church in a public letter to the Waterbury Democrat and the Waterbury Amer ican last week took issue with an editorial appearing in the American on 8 Spanish war situation and the controversy resulting in the United States.
 Rev. Alison J. Smith of Water vile replied to Father Donnellys statement and professed being "irri- tated" by some of the published claims. Father Donnelly's answer to Rev. MT, Smith was issued today in letter addressed to the Waterbury American, a copy of which was giv- en by request to The Democrat to supplement Father Donnelly's re- marks, which originally appeared in this paper. Today's letter scores the so-called American friends of the "Reds", alias the LoyaIists of Spain. It reads as follows:
 The Editor,
 The Waterbury American,
 Waterbury, Conn.
 Dear Sir:
 A week ago had occasion to address letter to the Editor of the Waterbury American object ing to the offensive tone of an ed- itorial that concerned Catholics and the Catholic Church. I did not then. nor do now, intend to engage in any personal controver- sy in the columns of the Water bury American. |.
 However a MT. Alison J. Smith in a letter dated February 1st. claims to have been "irritated" by sev- eral of the statements I made in this letter to the Editor of the Waterbury American. May then, again abusing your directions to be brief and concise" address these thoughts to MT. Alison J. Smith. Before starting may I ex- press this observation: MT. Smith after propagating some of the lies about Spain states; we have a right to know"l May express the opinion that 1t is not only his right to know, but also his duty. MT. Smith states in a quotation. the source of which he does not expose, that Franco has stated that he is fighting against 'de- mocracy, liberalism and Free masonary'". It is @ most interest ing quotation. It must have most interesting source. It seems the color of the Daily Worker, or per- haps only the omniscient Dorothy Thompson.
 Masked Enemies
 Our American people should note well who are the friends of democracy" and who are its enemies. Too often its friends are masked enemies. The foundation of democracy is expressed beauti- fully in that most important statement of the Declaration of Independence, "that all men are created equal, that they are en- dowed by their Creator with cer- tain unalienable rights. Without God there can be no respect for the rights of man; there is no limit to authority but the limit of its power. President Roosevelt, in his recent address on the State of the Nation, put the roots of democracy in religion;" three institutions indispensable to Amer jeans. the first is religion; 1t is the source of the other two-de- mocracy and international good faith" He also made this very correct statement. Where religion has been attacked, the attack has come from sources opposed to de- mocracy." This statement we may apply very effectively to the De mocracy" of the Communists of Spain. Has religion been attacked in Spain2 and by whom? The President has said that it has come from forces opposed to de- mocracy". But are not these the Red friends of our American ctACA1oo OA 0CtioNkaSy
 Dean Inge, whom am sure you will grant has no love for the Catholics of Spain, stated in London dispatch in the New York Times (March 25, 1938): "The Spanish Government forces are fighting under Red, not the Spanish flag"
 Essentially Communistic
 Edward Knoblaugh, a non- Catholic correspondent of the United Press states, in his book Correspondent in Spain." that the Government of Red Spain is essentially Communistic and more radical than present day Russian Communism. He quotes Liston Oak. an American who for merly headed the American sec- tion of the Loyalist propaganda service, as having said when he arrived in New York: T left Va- lencia because there was no longer any semblance of democracy there. If the Government wins, a Communist dictatorship will be established"
 Irwin Laughlin, the non-C -Catho- lie, American Ambassador to Spain from 1929-1933 and 30 years in the American diplomatic ser- vice tells us that the influx of Reds started in Spain in 1881 when the King abdicated and the Republic was established. He says Alcala Zamora the first president. exercised some influence at first but it did not last long and he was submerged by the Com munist current and swept away"
 He also stated, speaking in Cov- enant-Fir Presbyterian Church, Washington, D. O.. that: The Nationalist uprising was not movement against established government-good or bad--but an instinctive reaction of self-preser- vation of people who were bent on .N. Aa-