THE PURPOSE OF THE FEDERATION.
The American Federation of Catholic Societies has established permanent headquarters at Cincinnati, Ohio, where the national executive committee will have its office and conduct its work. The purpose of this organization is to influence legislation in behalf of Catholic claims and demands, to bring to bear upon legislators, both State and national, the combined influence of the Catholic population. It has been so stated by the founders of the organization, tho not in so many words. In this way, from one central office, the whole weight of Catholicism in this country can be thrown for or against any measure which they may demand or denounce. With Protestantism forsaking its principles, and practically apologizing for the very things against which its founders protested, it is not difficult to see the tremendous possibilities before the Catholic Federation. The things which it demands of the legislators will be granted, and continue to be granted, until every Protestant and republican principle has been plucked out of the government. This is no dream. Those principles are already being plucked up at a rate that must astonish even the ones who do the plucking. The establishment of the American Government was a revolt against the papal idea as well as against the monarchial idea. The great trend now is back again toward those very ideas. The principles upon which that government was founded are jeered out of court, and are openly attacked on every hand. The Declaration of Independence is now labeled “the old Philadelphia lie;” and the people do not protest. The principle of the separation of Church and State is being fought more insidiously if less openly; and thus is the ground cleared for the rapid and effective work of the federated Catholic societies. America was instrumental in giving to the papal power its “deadly wound.” When that wound has been “healed,” as it will be, it will be found that America has been a powerful influence in the healing. And Catholic federation and an allied apostate Protestantism will be the right and left arms of the influence that brings it about.