A DEEPER PURPOSE THAN APPEARS.
In view of the avowed purpose of the federation of Catholic societies of America, and in view of the demands which that federation proposes to make for the recognition of the political rights of Catholics, and, further, in view of the implied charge, in those demands, that Catholics are now deprived of their political rights, we quote the words of Archbishop Ireland printed in the Catholic Mirror of February 8:— I would render this tribute to my American non-Catholic fellow-citizens that they are fair minded, that they are honorable in their dealings, that they are neighborly, and the prejudice of the past has almost totally disappeared—certainly has totally disappeared in public life. We have had a few years ago a Catholic in the Cabinet; we have two Catholics on the Supreme Bench to-day; and so throughout all the great public life our Catholics are represented. It remains with themselves. I say that of my country, it remains with the Catholics themselves to conquer position and honor. If all this is true, and we can see every day that it is true, what is it that the federation expects to accomplish? Already, according to the archbishop, the rights of Catholics are respected, and they are receiving their share of the public patronage. What purpose, then, has the federation in view? Evidently to carry through a great movement, by a great, united effort, when the time shall be ripe for the consummation of the plan. Protestantism and republicanism are forsaking their fundamental principles; there is a weakening in the opposition to the papal principle, as indicated by the archbishop’s remarks in the first paragraph quoted; and the opportunity of an age lies before the forces of that power. Rome’s leaders see the drift, and are preparing to make the most of it. They are not deprived of their rights, civil or religious, are not deprived of their share of public patronage or political prestige, as the archbishop admits. The purpose of the federation is deeper and broader than that; it may be more far-reaching in its results than even the immediate leaders of the movement now realize. By its influence and through its efforts the remaining republican and Protestant principles of this government are to be eliminated until the way is opened for the work which this nation is to do in helping to heal that “deadly wound” which the papacy received more than one hundred years ago. The bugles of political and religious apostasy have sounded the retreat, and the heavy tread of the backward march is heard from shore to shore. To hasten that retreat, and to reap the harvest of spoils which that retreat makes possible, is the purpose of this federation of Catholic societies. The time is coming when “all the world” will do homage to that power, worship at its feet (Rev. 13:8-18), except those only whose names are “written in the book of life.” This federation is one of the great forces that will bring that about; but it is not the only force, the only power, that is working to that end. Apostate Protestantism is one of its staunchest allies.