THE PURPOSE OF THE FEDERATION.
By S.
MANY are wondering what is the purpose of the federation of the Catholic societies of America, what they expect to accomplish by welding themselves into one compact whole. In the light of a remark made not long ago by Archbishop Ireland, it is not difficult to see what the purpose is. He said: "Throughout all the great public life [of this country] 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." There is nothing that that body desires so much as position and honor. It was true of Babylon of old; it is equally true of spiritual Babylon. Position and honor, authority even over the kings of the earth—that is what is desired by the hierarchy of Rome. Every day brings new evidence that what the archbishop spoke concerning Catholics in public life is true. What more, then, does the federation expect to accomplish? Already, the archbishop declared in the same article, the rights of Catholics are respected, and they are receiving their share of the public patronage. Evidently, then, the purpose of the federation of the Catholic societies is to carry through some great scheme when the time shall be ripe. Protestantism and republicanism are forsaking their fundamental principles; there is among them a weakening in the opposition to the papal principles; and the opportunities of an age lie before the forces of that power. Rome's leaders see the drift, and are preparing to make the most of it. The purpose of the federation is deeper and broader than merely to secure equality of rights and a just share of the public patronage; it may be more far-reaching in its results than even the leaders in that movement now anticipate. By its influence and through its efforts the remaining republican and protestant principles of this government are to be eliminated until the way is open for the work which this nation is to do in helping to heal that deadly wound which the Papacy received more than a century ago. The bugles of religious and political apostasy have sounded a 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 the federation of the 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 stanchest allies.