The progress of the United States Government Romeward is attracting the marked attention of politicians. The great parties are evidently becoming jealous of each other concerning the Catholic vote. In the past, say up to ten years ago, the Catholics were in the main identified with the Democratic Party. During Mr. Cleveland’s two administrations, the only Democratic administrations since 1861, there was sharp criticism by his political opponents because of public favors shown to Catholics; and Mr. Harrison’s defeat for re-election was popularly accredited to the Catholic vote, because during his first administration some of the favors lavished upon the Catholic Church by the former incumbent were withdrawn. After this defeat and Mr. Cleveland had served another term, there came a turn in affairs of this character. We have had nearly eight years of Republican rule, and so highly satisfactory has it been to Rome that it is now claimed that the Catholic vote can be mainly counted for the Republican candidate. Indeed it is claimed that Mr. Bryan’s defeat was in no small degree due to Catholic strategy. Be that as it may, however, it is Catholic authority that predicts a strong Catholic support for Mr. Roosevelt. The old Boston Pilot and some other Catholic papers of less prominence are out for the President’s re-election; and a Catholic contributor to the Hartford Courant says:— There are evidences throughout the country of an influx into the Republican party from the ranks of Catholic democrats. During the past half-century, Catholics have been solidly allied to democracy. Fifty years ago, at the birth of the republican party, Catholics were forced into the democratic ranks by the attitude and doctrines of republicanism. Times have changed, and so has the Republican Party. Catholics have interests which affect the welfare of our republic. When these interests are maintained according to the dictates of strict justice, Catholics appreciate the fairness and impartiality which recognizes their claims and grants them. They ask no favors, but demand their rights. The spirit which has actuated the executive of our government, in conditions which affected the interests of millions of Catholics has been fair and just. The justice dealt out by the Republican Government is appreciated, and will turn the tide next November. The next election will mark an era in American politics. The old boundaries will be swept away and a marked division will obtain in the Democratic ranks, which our fathers never foresaw. Republics may be ungrateful, but the Catholic body is not. The times and political parties change, it is the papal boast that “Rome never changes.” That parties do materially change is shown by a casual reading of campaign platforms during the past quarter of a century, or even for a less time. That Rome does not change in dominant principle is shown by her persistent efforts to regain her old-time prestige as manipulator of earthly governments. Therefore whatever party bids fair to do the most to further her influence in the national policy will get her support, directly or indirectly. But some leading Democrats are apparently uneasy about the prospect of losing Catholic support, and are disposed to debate the question as to which party has done or will likely do most for “the church” in the event of success at the polls. The Springfield Republican (Democratic in politics) takes issue with the Catholic writer hereinbefore quoted, and attempts to show that the Democratic Party has done as much to further Catholic interests in the United States as the Republican Party has done. An appeal is made to Catholic gratitude in the following earnest strain:— Undoubtedly Roman Catholics in this country were pleased to see Governor Taft of the Philippines go to Rome for conferences with the Vatican concerning the friars’ lands, and undoubtedly the whole Roman Catholic body has been glad to see the settlement by which the friars are being paid several millions of dollars by our government. But it is difficult to see what rational ground there is for an abandonment of their old party by Catholic Democrats on religious grounds. The Democracy never persecuted them nor injured them; and the Democratic Party has never opposed the financial settlement with the Philippine friars. True, President Roosevelt has appointed Roman Catholics to office, but so did Grover Cleveland. So would any president, Republican or Democrat. If Mr. Roosevelt made William Michael Byrne United States district attorney of New York, Mr. Cleveland made Patrick A. Collins United States consul-general at London, and placed Mr. White of Louisiana on the Supreme Court of the United States. Where does the balance of “gratitude” come in, if one party should not share it as much as the other? Such a controversy over the Catholic vote is destined to place Rome in a position to make demands from either or both parties, and to give her the coveted prestige of the balance of power, which is just the position for which she is aiming. Rome cares nothing for parties as such; she aims to be on the winning side, in local or general elections. Her politics is church politics; her religion is political religion; her aim is church control of both the politics and the religion of the masses.