Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-06-24
Robbery OF Catholic Churches.

Robbery of Catholic Churches
The Journal is still aborng to bring forth humbugs
the subject of what it calls the suggestion of the
Washington Union to rob the churches of Mexico
Its articles only rife in treasonous spirit but
abound in fell disposition to fan the flames Of reli-
gious strife in the hope that they may be directed
against the government Of this country Never have
we had such pathetic displays from that paper favor
of the Catholics before should we hav them now
but for the hope entertained by the editor that he can
make little capital for his party, and at the same
time give little more said and comfort" to the
'PoOr Mexcans," his sympathies for whom have been
increased by the late manifesto of the priests of Poos
The editor of the Journal first asserts that the Pre-
sident is 10 be held responsible for all the editorial
articles of the Washington Union, and further that
those editorials shave ever been regarded as having
received executive sanction previous their pu6ca
tion.' Now this is so exceedingly silly, that we
can't suppose the editor of the Journal believes it
himself. He knows that the editor of the Union has
repeatedly and scornully denied similar assertions or
inferences and he must suppose that Catholics are
much bigger fools than other people to believe them
The Journal then quotes from the % Democrat
which it calls the leading Locofoco paper in Western
Virginia." the following
Seize the silver and gold Catholic Churches
Of Mexico indemnity for the expenses of the war
There is than enough theret is by conquest
Where is, il doing part OF the human family God
any service, and it would be return,
Of these treasures the money which their acts have forced
our government TO exPend"
This the Journal says response to, and en-
dorsement of, the Unions suggestion But it gives
date and other evidence to sustain its assertion
We might just truly say, perhaps that the paper is
edited by Presbyterian and published by Methodist
We saw the same paragraph made the pretext for an
unjust attack on the President in Cincinnati paper
several weeks ago we think before the publication
of the Unions article.
The Journal also says, that when the Union Z" took
ground in favor of robbng the churches of Mexico
its echoes meaning, suppose, democratic papers,
all over the country endorsed the suggestion" and
further repeats that ''the Louisville Democrat and
other prominent LOcofoco papers, espoused the project
with avidity.'' This is wlfully untrue. No evidence
is gven nor can any be given for it. With the sim
gle exception of the little paragraph from the obscure
paper, which we have copied above, the Journal is
unable to give the slightest evidence of the truth of
Its round assertions. Thanks to the Franklin DEM
ocrai' we are furnished with an extract from wing
paper in this State boldly advocating the actual rob-
berry of the Mexican churches. long before the Uni
during the war, under certain restrictions and for
certain purposes. The " Indiana American" WELL
known, if not "leading" wing paper, published at
Brookville, of the date of October 80, 1916, more
than six months in advance of the Union, used the
unequivocal language here quoted, relative TO the
Mexcans and their church property:
"Let up their substance page their towns and
consume and eon6scate their property Let possess their
SOIL and let the track Of their county field
Of desoatioD. This is what they will feel We have all
the time entertained different opinion in this matter from
many of friends. In war, believe in plumber,
Ito the victos belong the spOis We do not believe is
more unchrSiaa 10 mob and piEldge church time OF
a its rich treasures than there in shooting and
derng the members of that church. The great kers for
private rights in time Of will preach about The
christian spirit Of rObbing naOneg
idols and the time advocate taking lands
stealing their territory War is unholy aud devsh
unsanctied world decides that il necessary; then they
claim that their money and treasure IS too holy TO be touched
by unhoy hands Of the wsrroI but their lives their liberty
and lands are mere matters oil commerce. aud can be taken
and used by christian na'on al war WIN ihem We do
not receive things this We believe in warning upon
their lives, property their fine churches, their mnes their
money their idols, aud their territory. In fighting
do not believe any such thing If il is
right to black mans eye, il is right bite his II il
is right to kill and take his farm it is right to take his
subject but is responsible for il but ourselves "l-
diana american Oct. 80 IS46.
Where the Journals Catholic sympathies
when this bold proposition to rob the Mexican church
made by wing editor! Echo answers,
where! The Journal was ga dumb dog, which could
not BARK 1t had not a single word to say against
the sacriligious proposition" then and for aught
that appears to the contrary, it regarded this wing
proposition to make the fine Mexican churches,
and to pillage their revenues with much sang roid
as regarded the burning of the Catholic churches Of
Philadelphia by the wing 50 nativsts.'
In all this matter the Journal is guilty of its usual
hypocrisy and disregard for truth 1t msrepresents
the Union," and it bellies the administration The
proof Of this will be found in the following extracts
with which the Journal must have been conyersant
before preparing its late article.
The first suggestion of the "Unon," and thai
which the Journal abors to distort, made the
Ilth of May, and was as follows:
eItis not as a religious body but engine Of State
that the Catholics Mexico look upon with hostile eye
IL for their political purposeso retain their
possessions which mpoverish the naton-to sustain the
own hierarchy which lords il the peopeto preserve
their power which weighs down the Of the community
into the slough Of Ignorance and saveTy-that they thus
soIieitous and active. is zeal for the Of
for the welfare OF souls-which inspires
and animates the Catholics of Mexico
Ia this aspect Of the case. IL may become matter o.
grave consideration, the church continues oppose peace
and furnish fuel Of whether the immense
of the church in Mexico shall be left Observation-Disclosures
they shall be suffered remain the disposal Of The enemy
and be applied 10 sustain the war against uswhethe
Justice and policy do not equally dictate that they should
least be seauestefed during the continuance OF the
legitimate Of cutting off the enemy's supplies"
As a matter of course, the Mexican WING paper
INSTANTLY seized upon this suggestion, and distorted
to the utmost for the purpose Of aiding their friends
10 Mexico, and bringing our government into disre