The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-05-23

BISHOP HUGHES FAMOUS PASTORAL LETTER
on THE
Philadelphia Riots and their Causes.
Addressed to the Honorable James Harper,
Mayor Of New-YOrk.
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY
CHAPrrn TX
The Bishop thinks of becoming Political .7gator and 's
solses TO reform The Public Schools
Since my arrival in New York, my public and private
life has been devoted sedulously to the duties OF my sta
ton. One OF the first things that struck dtplora
BILE circumstance in the condition Of my flock was the
ignorance and 10 which the children oil Catholic and
enigrant parents exposed had the simplicity to
believe that in endeavorg to elevate the to virtue and
usefulness through the means of education should be
at once rendering service to them, and dschargng
duty to my country the latter OF which, especially, would
appreciated by good of all creeds intended to
take such might be for this purpose
my return from Europe, IN the year LAO, without
however having exchanged as far az recollect, epn
ions with any on tina, subject. But ! found on my
return that it had been nicent 10 attract the attention
the public authorities and had become public topic II
the annual message of the Governor othis State found
ALSO that like other topics Of that date IL was Instant
turned into political question, by the people who
had not though most nierestedthe discernment 10 un
derstand the patriotism and humanity by which Il had
been dictated Meetings had been held on the subect in
temperate language had been used disorder, almost
amounting to violence, had characterized those meetings
and for these resolved to attend them in
expressly for the purpose OF keeping out unfortunate
CLASS OIL pOtlCa VINO "
traffic in their simplicity In these meetings held IRON
time to time the question discussedthe imperfect
education afforded by our own charity schoolsthe vast
numbers that could not be received al them and would
be to the schools of the Public School Society Oh
account Of the strong Caholc tendencies which shey
manifested through the medium OF objectionable books
prejudiced teachers, and seciarian Influences
CHArlEnX.
The Bishop like So Paul is permitted 10 speak for hfmse
but the Common c, unot su6dued-hs Bishop se'
into q pleasant h,mor and Jokes u little
This was followed by respectful petition to the Com
Council vi the CITY Be ore that Council was per
mltted to state The grievance Complained oil
took place growing out OF circumstances against The
petition, and inelly rejected by almost a mani
nous vote This the portion u the people who consider
cd themselves aggrieved in the matter had anticipated
But this before submitting the case 10 the
Legislature OF the State In due time however, petitions
were forwarded, signed by a large number OF citizens
both Catholics and Professionals, Eatves as well a 10
regner The prayer OF this petition was received avor
ably, because it seemed to be hut reasonable and just
ball to remedy the evil drawn up, think by the
pernendent o. schools and, ii not mistaken, passed
the House Of Representatives II at the close OF tht
session and lost the other House OF the fitness Of iii
provisions TO remedy the evil am altogether unable tt
speak But 1t was believed by ALL that the Legislature
could understand the nature OF the grievance
and the necessity Tor remedy would not ia 10 remove
the one and provide Tor the other. Accordingly tht
question, notw landing the many folds Of TISrepre
sanitation and prejudice which its numerous opponents
endeavorcd to involve it, was making much progress
the public mind Meetings continued to be- held iron
time 10 time, with open doors aud tree admisssnProtsht
part attended them all expressly for the purpose
seeing that politics shoald not be introduced
CRATER XI.
The Bishop much against hi, u'l becomes Politito
.qgitator and haJ nen,d to cry "peeeouil'
Matters thus progressedhe advocates Of the measure
being divided, according to their productions be~ eel
party and another But the opponents vi the measure
in the mean time, numerous and Jealous as they were
had been idle Int had presented the question to thu
public in every false light that ingenuity could devise
be Dy reference whole their CdIum
MES, that time about Union Of Church and STATE
&c. which hove been retuted and forgotten Just Previ
Gus to tho election when as appears, parties had mad
their nominations for the Legislature the opponents
education Except with infringement OF conscience,
called upon the voters OF both parties to send
Albany unless such should give pledge before cleo
on to refuse the OF the petitioners For this fac
refer editorials Of that date Of the Commercial Adver
tser and the Journal OF Commerce. among other papers
the CITY This plan aeted upon ana 10
extent which left the petitioners alternative but to
for pledged their lace TO refuse what they regarded
simple justice Hence in spite OF all my efforts to pre-
vent it, the question forced itself in political form tn
attention OF the people, who claimed one thing-namey
education without another thingnamey, the violation
OF their conscience but which the Commercial Advsr
tiser and its allies would not allow to be separated Thu
very last meeting Of the friends Of education previous
the election, the moment when this orthy strata
gem came under public attention number of individu
the to ascertain that certain candidates had
fused sign the pledges and were ready TO 90 to Alba,
free to vote Tor the prayer OF the petitioners or against
their sense oil justice towards their constituent
might dictate. Others had already given their prvms
against it, These persons then suggested that names
without any hopes OF election but simply to exercise III
right OF voting should be substituted to make up tn
deficiency claimed it as my rght-iregarded it as m,
duty that occasion to urge those who were friendly
large portion Of the neglected children OF New York
to vote for who had prcuiged their cause, in tn
hope oil being elected and who had bound himself to re
fuse them the protection Of the laws whatever might b
the justice of their My argument was ihis-urget
with all the limited powers OF reasoning that possessed
that they deserved the injustice and degradation OF which
they complained ifhey voted for judges publicly PLEDGE
beio phand IN pasg ~
speech Of some twenty minutes, must have developed
this argument and presented in every variety OF form
capable Of making understood, and pointing out thu
liberal attitude of those who, not being pledge
in favor of either SIDE left free, TO 10 impartial JUS
tce in the premises If this political speech, ther
have made one political speech in my lie There wer
high minded well educated, and honorable Profession
gentlemen present, and to whom appeal with confdenc.
hat-twisted or turned, by perverse ingenuity as i
might be- speech amounted TO the principle just sit
lown-to the development Of it and nothing more.
CHAPTER XII.
Relates how Of Bsnnens Reporters, uho mus need
thrust themselves Everywhere, happened 10 hear the Bi
shops Speech and report 1.-THE Bishop gets sarose,
Eys his hand at The "io1 s-betD "
But there reporter Of Benefits there, who ad'
such speech as he thought proper-which was aitor
ards have reason to believe fitted up for the pur
pose of producing OF BENEFITS tremendous excite
meDts," and making 1.-The Herald always the first and mos
enterprising paper in New York" Having taken this
porhavng studded it with the gems Of his ribali
ry, and made some half column OF editorial comments
10 all that mock gravity OF which Bennett Is capable the
Herald of the morning became the hasi, and fountain
of all the vituperaton calumny and sander which have
been hesped Bishop Hughes" throughout the United
States, from that day until 'ni From the Herald the
report copied into the Commercial Advertiser of that
sfternoonbe editor, col. stone taking special
snhgtur the word morning prnt' instead Of Ben
netts Herald lest his views OF the question might
be niurously affected by the character OF his authority
II that authority were known. Then followed the CON
aries and columns OF abuse which filled the other pa
peers aud throughout the country each Editor adding
(par icusry while the delusion asted his editorial
for the benefit OF his readers must, however do sevp
raj Of the city papers the justice to say that either
honest better informed TIM their colleagues of the
they understood the question and declined 10 take
any part in the hhc and cry that Indignantly
cd about It. II Is equally due 10 truth to say also tina,
ot they their rptrea