Life, 1915-03-04 · page 8 of 48
Life — March 4, 1915 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical article attacks Governor Walsh of Massachusetts for expressing concern about anti-Catholic sentiment, comparing such worries unfavorably to historical Know-Nothing prejudice. The author argues Walsh should instead target Methodists and other Protestant groups. The accompanying cartoons illustrate the satire: one depicts an official questioning someone about census data (suggesting bureaucratic scrutiny), while another shows a man losing control while on a diet (metaphorically representing loss of restraint). The piece mocks Walsh's calls for Catholic advocacy, sarcastically suggesting he should "organize to beat a bill" combating anti-Catholic prejudice. The satire implies that anti-Catholic sentiment is justified or at least not worth addressing, positioning Catholicism as a threat comparable to other American institutions the author lists dismissively.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
356 Anti- Catholic Worries OVERNOR WALSH, of Massachu- setts, is quoted as saying that there is more intense feeling against Catholics than ever before. There was quite a bit of it in the Know-Nothing days, when the Ursuline Convent was burned within sight of the Boston Statehouse, but that was longer ago no doubt than Governor Walsh remembers And is there so much now? Does Gov- ernor Walsh notice it in Massachusetts? Have the miscreant Yankees been burning convents again? One wonders that Cardinal O'Connell, a resolute man and the most powerful Massachusetts eccle- siastic since Cotton Mather, permits such sentiments to ebulliate. Never mind, Governor. All the anti- feelings are violent just now. These are exceptionally emotional times. Whom do we hear of every day as foes of liberty and happiness? Who but Militarism, Business and the Church, and for second choice, the Colleges, the Saloon and the Home! Everybody's getting it nowadays, Governor, and if your blessed Church is alive enough to invite a crack on the sconce, it ought to he proud of its vitality. Our poor world is just a shooting-gallery. You put down your money and select your weapon and pop at the banker, the Cardinal, the Kaiser, the President, the Prohibitionist, the anarchist—any one you choose—and if you hit your mark you get a prize. If you think the Catholics are getting it too hot, Governor, don’t complain, but get after the Methodists. Was there ever such a meddlesome lot as the Metho- WHEN A MAN IS ON A DIET and Absent-minded Official: Good MORNING, MADAM. 1 AM THE S-TAKFR—ER—AH—WHAT IS YOUR POPULATION ? dists, or folks so bound to regulate their fellows with irk- some reformatory laws? Are they not the enemies of happiness, freedom and American institutions? Sure! And the Baptists. Some of the Baptists are too rich, don’t you think, Governor? Yes? Well, wake the Baptists up a little. And the Lutherans! Why, the Prussians are all Lutherans. When you get an anti-Catholic welt, Governor, don’t run to court with it and wail about it at a public dinner; just pass it along. That is brotherly love in religion. It shows you recognize yourself as a sinful man and don’t think yourself better than your neighbors, And a favor of you, Governor Walsh. The paper quotes you as saying the Catholics should organize to combat the i. holic prejudice. Please organize to beat a Dill of which one reads as tinder discussion in a House committee, to stiffen the law that empowers the Postmaster-General comichooks.cdom