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Ignoring the Peril

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 7, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 45.

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Ignoring the Peril

By Editor

In order to be independent it is not necessary to wabble, but that is just what the Independent (New York) appears to us to do. At times it seems to recognize, and to speak plainly concerning, the Roman peril, but it neutralizes all such utterances by yielding the whole ground when the real issue is clearly faced. In its issue of June 6, 1912, the Independent gave aid and comfort to the Roman Catholic campaigners for the capture of America in an editorial of some length, the general tone of which is indicated by this extract:—
“Questions come to us from a few subscribers like this: ‘Is Roman Catholicism a menace to the United States?’
“It appears to us that one does not need to sit up nights to worry about the menace of Roman Catholicism. Indeed, that church is worrying a good deal more about the menace of Protestantism.”
It seems to us that one who writes thus must deliberately shut his eyes to some most convincing facts, and utterly fail to perceive the teaching of history upon this question.
The organization known as the Guardians of Liberty receives attention in the Independent of July 11, 1912. We quote:—
“The name of it indicates its purpose; but what is the danger to liberty which it will fight? Passing by the general statements in its constitution about the purpose to promote loyalty to the principles of our free government, we seem to find its more definite aim suggested in its ‘Declaration of Principles,’ in which we find the following paragraphs:—
“‘It is our belief that every citizen should hold sacred his civil duties and responsibilities, and it is our desire and purpose that every office of the nation, State, and municipality, shall be held by men of ability, integrity, and true patriotism. We hold that no citizen is atrue patriot who owns superior temporal allegiance to any power above that of his obligation to the principles of the Constitution of the United States.
“‘As the fathers established, so are we resolved to maintain, the complete separation of church and state.
“‘We deny the right of any political or ecclesiastical organization to manipulate or control the sovereign citizenship of our people, or to dispose of their rights and privileges for political office or power, and we are determined that every citizen shall exercise his civil rights and privileges unmolested, answerable only to his conscience and to his God.
“‘We unite to protect and preserve the free institutions of our country, especially our public educational system, against any foreign or menacing influence, and we particularly protest against the diversion of any public funds or lands to any religious purpose whatever.’”
“It is perfectly clear that this organization is directed against what it regards as the one danger to American liberty, namely, the Roman Catholic Church. That is the only body which is popularly charged with owning ‘superior temporal allegiance to any power above that’ due to his country; the only one said to be opposed to ‘complete separation of church and state;’ the only one said to menace our undenominational public-school system, and to be seeking the support of public funds for ecclesiastical purposes. . . .
“This new organization has this Section 14 in its ‘Declaration of Principles.’—
“‘It shall be the duty of all members to support candidates for political office who are good and true men, earnest patriots and loyal to the principles of the order.’
“‘That can mean nothing else than never vote for a Catholic. . . .
“‘We hold that such an organization is a menace to our political peace. It greatly magnifies the danger it sees. It is proscriptive and un-American.’”
What just complaint can the Independent make against the principles of the Guardians of Liberty? Why should a statement of these principles be regarded as an attack upon the Roman Catholic Church unless the Roman Catholic Church is guilty of acting contrary to these principles?
We have no desire to quibble over this matter. We have no doubt that the organizers of the Guardians of Liberty had the Roman Catholic Church very distinctly in mind when they formulated their declaration of principles, and clearly recognized that these principles were being violated by the Roman hierarchy. The situation demanded a reassertion of these principles.
We have no connection with the Guardians of Liberty, but we make common cause with any who advocate the complete separation of church and state in this country and oppose the encroachments of ecclesiasticism.
It is interesting to note that Roman Catholic journals are now quoting with hearty approval and much satisfaction these later editorials, although they have heretofore roundly abused the Independent for some former utterances.