Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-10-27
Tho Ellsworth outrage.

81 character had been committed On a Roman
Catholic Priest, at Ellsworth. The aecoun,
in briefs as follows A RevercndMr Bsps,
or Bangor, visited Ellsworth. aud took lodp.
ines al the house Of one Mr.. Kent. IN IN,
night, which Was dark and rainy. he wa.
sought by some thirty Young men Of Els,
worh, who came In the house of Mr.. Kent
surrounded IL, and on search ionnd Mr. Baps,
in the cellar. lie was taken into the street
stripped ofalI his clothing, except In, p,n,a.
looms, aud then rode upon rail until the rail
vas broken. lie could not recognize his tor,
mentors, and the Sheriff having arrived and
supposing Mr.. Bapsl dead, went in search oil
him, while the mob took him to ship ward
stripped him entirely aud proceeded 10 tar and
feather him When this had been done. hs
was allowed TO fnd refuge in the house whence
he was taken Daring these scenes Mr..
Bnpsi los, a gold watch, aud some fifty dol.
lars in cash.
Such IL substantially the story of this man.
wrongs and cruel treatment. What the mo.
tive was for such an outrage We have no, We,
learned. What Mr.. Bapsi had done to ren.
der himself so obnoxious TO the people of that
place we are equally in the dark. II is ~.
mored however. that at a regularly organized
town meeting IN Ellsworth, It was voted that
the expenses OF certain Law suit should ne
paid by the town, and likewise. that II NJ.
BaPsi came 'Oio that town again. he should
be compelled 10 leave by violence
This outage. owing to certain preludiccs
in the public mind, aud especially to certain
party and political question, now IN agitation
- seized upon az oge Of a very extraordinary
character. We grant that 1t ia extraordinary.
outrageous. Unlawful, cruel aud wrong. NO
man in his s,ber senses can justify such an
act or under any and the most agpra, sted cir.
cums,ances can he offer any adequate apollo.
losy for such outrageous personal violence.
For any man TO assume the position Of the
legal tribunals, and attempt to punish 10 any
case, Is highly dangerous, 'ubycrsiyc Of the
true interests Of society bu, how much more
dangerous is II when a mob or conspiracy.
lor any cause attempt the same thing. Such
conduct canno, he justified. Its without pa.
llation-wlhoul reason or excuse
Bu, ireNcusable as It may be. all at
iemrts 10 magnify the present ouIburst Of
passion and violence into a heinous crime. he.
yond PARALLEL should be viewed With contcmpt
and Indignation. Conduct of similar char.
sclcr has been witnessed at divers times aud
places II has o0cn been rrac,iccd IN rs va.
rious forms in social or civil outbreaks or
bursts n passion, and In many cases in this,
or much worse forms b, religion. intolerance.
IN CONFEDERATION of this slcl vc mlchtcIlc the
reader Ia the case Of Gallleo-iu the frrs OF
Smiihfeld-lo the horrors NJ Robcspcrs.
Danron. and MnuI-,o the Inqui,i,ion-lo
tho Gunpnwjer plol-lo tho burnotg Of the
USulIno Con,cni-sud 10 4 host Of minor
personal outrages.
The attempt To make political capital out oi
transactions OF this character, and to regard 1
thing ofihIs nature as an act justified OF de.
Tended by any religious class of the eo,nmuui.
~, s reraInly too small business for men oil
COMMON intelligence. Tia, such an attempt
is made i, fact too obviou, to be overlook.
ed. Their attempt. a., m,do when men
charge such actions TO lha Prnleslants OF the
community, or to any social or political orga,
nlatlon have 4 tendency to uphold such ou,.
raccs-if they have hy word or deed given
encouragement To them. and d, now IN ans
way counicnau-c them, We siv, let the high.
ct dlsplelsnrc Of m insuled people be visit
ed rpon their doctrines, principles and policy
Do, ifneithcr the Pmie'tants nor any polti.
cal organization approve OF such conduc, As
they in fac, do not, the base ai,emp: to make
them responsible for It, should be viewed as
the offspring OF prejudice and hypocrisy.
# ha, become quite fashionable Of late in
certain quarters to charge every such outrage
as the me To which We have referred, n the
Krow Noihing, whelhe' they are guilty
of them or not, VIC do not know II they are
We hope they will receive their Just reward
80 society or organization, whether political
or religion, can or ought 10 be tolerated in
this country which upholds such ouirages,
It would seem, however, much more randid
and charitable, much more in accordance with
true American policy as well a, religious to,
lcra,ion to view tho principles Of this organ,
iraiion in the light ia which their own pub,
lishej organs present them, rather than in the
light Of assumption and prejudice. The or.
gan Of tina, association says I've do moi
oppose the Catholic religion, hut We oppose
its followers, because they attempt to ineor'
pora,s il into the political dement's Of the coun.
try. We oppose il tooth and naIl-not as a
religion. but as II ia trelcherous mine oi
political capital" According 10 this there is
no effort on their part Ia wage war on tho
Catholic relirion-on foreigners in general in
their proper place, or on the eonscienceS oil
men, but they firmly oppose the designs and
efforts Of religious sect, managed by For
eigners, when it attempts to gain by intrigue
or otherwise the aseendency 10 the policy and
politics Of the country. While, therefore,
there is nothing in their principles. arguments
or declarations. which can warrant these fash
ionable charges and inuendoes Illuminated
against an American association, il is certain.