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Show A CATHOLIC POLITICAL PARTY. Archbishop Bourne (Archbishop of Westminster) Westmin-ster) does not approve of the idea of a Catholic party in British polities, on which point, speaking recently at the annual conference of the Catholic Young Men's Societies of Great Britain, he said: "As to the idea of the formation of a distinct Catholic party, like the centre party of Germany, the realization of such a dream is a long way off, and there is no need for it, inasmuch as there is no such persecution in this county as existed in Germany to create it; and apart from that there are difficulties almost insuperable, for in many instances in-stances separation from party is impracticable, seeing how tradition, conviction and temperament combined to associate men with one party or other. There are but few questions on Avhich Catholics must be absolutely united, and apart from these questions action must necessarily vary, and looking look-ing at the men in public life to-day it is plain that a man can be a Conservative, a Unionist, a Liberal, a Radical, or a Nationalist, and at the same time be a most excellent Catholic. The Catholic may unite himself with any one of the great political parties according to his conviction so long as he never in public or in private life, concealed, still less abandoned, his Catholic principles. It is for the good of Catholics and the good of the nation at large that Catholics should be Avell represented in all political parties." No doubt the reasons here set forth Avould apply equally Avell to the idea of a Catholic political party in the United States if any such might ever be contemplated. |