Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-10-26
From the Bangor Mercury.
Shocking Outrage at Ellsworth
Munster Of the Gospel Tdrred and FeatAered


A Minister Of the Gospel Tdrred and Feathered
BY despatch from Ellsworth, for which
we are indebted to the polteness Of j. S.
BEDLow, Esq, of the Maine Telegraph, we
learn that the Rev. JOHN BAPsT, the Catholic
Pastor in this city was, on Saturday night,
the 18th inst, TARRED AND FEATH-
Erred, AND RIDDEN ON A RAIL, in
| Ellsworth, that home of rowdIes and rufians.
| Mr.. Bapst was on a visit to Ellsworth, when
the outrage was committed.
He was formerly pastor there, and was
there engaged in a controversy about the
/ School question.
The only thing the ruffians say for them
selves in extenuation is that they had previous
/ " threatened TO tar and feather Mr.. Bapst if
he came to Ellsworth again.
He has been Pastor of the Catholic popula-
ton in this city few months. We under
stand he was born and educated in Italy.
Since he has been here he has done much
good among the Catholic population, and has
brought about many useful reforms, winning
commentator on all hands
We have not terms strong enough to ex-
press the Indignation uttered BY all classes in
this city on hearing of this dastardly outrage.
The shameless towards who have done it
| should receive the highest penalties of the Of
fence, and the town of Ellsworth should be
made to respond in damages for this foul
wrong to visitor who could not be protected
within her gates.
Ellsworth has long been noted for the low,
rowdy, vulgar proceedings of portion of its
population. If the respectable men there can
not stop such proceedings, let them abandon
the town, and leave it prey to the vile ruff
fans who inhabit it. They can then be pro-
ceeded against as drawer pirates are, and
brought by force from without to suffer the
penalties of their misdeeds.
A precious set Of scapegraces, who fear
neither God nor man, and who entertain no
respect for any religion, have set themselves
up as public teachers, inhaming the multitude
against the Catholics. and the above disgrace
tul proceedings are in perfect consonance with
the proscriptiye doctrines they preach. 1t is
the legitimate result of the outrageous war
fare now waged upon class Of religionists
who are entitled by the laws of free country
to worship God according to the dictates Of
conscience. Why, an advocate of know-noth-
ism in New York city, @ The True Ameri-
can" excuses the Ellsworth outrage as follows !:
We are as much opposed as any man can
be to the employment of brute force in cases
OF political or religious difference, still there
are points beyond which human patience can
not brook endurance, and we firmly believe
that the Jesuit father of Ellsworth has over
stepped this rubicOn of moderation There
are moral and political crimes for which the
statute law proscribes no adequate punishment,
and, in the instance of such infractions upon
popular decency, 6ehOUes the pOpulaee at
large 10 charge themselves lUHh cogni1dnCe of
redress for their commission.
The Jesuits mast be erpelIed from this refanJ-
Hc, as spies and t1aitorS legally, if it be posi-
bic to encompass the desired end, but forcibly
IF other means fail.
What are we coming to ! 1t may be we'll
asked g Who is safe!' The Bangor Wing
says truly, that such outrages as this array
themselves not merely against Mr. Bapst, or
the church of which he is a priest, but against
the laws Of the land, and all the pledges of
civilized society, and the securities of our
Constitution, and the whole spirit and aim of
our system of government. The Bangor Jour
nal says -
"The INDIGNATION expressed here by all
classes Of omit citizens is greater than we have
known to exist here for a long time. 1t sur
passes belief almost, and makes us shudder,
when such outrages are perpetrated in our
own State, TO think what may not be possible
from the fury of the fanaticism Of the day.
The Journal adds =
Notwithstanding the indignities suffered by
Mr.. Bapst. he was able to appear in the desk
on Sunday and preach to the Catholic congre-
CATION. He was however on Sunday evening
further threatened with death if he did not
leave town. The Irish population, incensed
and exasperated, assembled together, armed
themselves with hatchets, pitchforks and such
weapons as they could command, took Mr..
Bapst into their custody and were determined
to protect him TO the death. Upon this, Mr.
Jarvis, one of the most worthy citizens of the
town, obtained permission of Mr. Bapst's
friends to take him into his own house, guar
anteelng him protection, if it cost him his life.
On Monday morning he repaired to the
Chapel, celebrated mass, and with his carriage
proceeded home to this city.
Mr.. Bapst is a man Of small stature, of frail
constitution. He however bore the outrages
through which he has gone with a great de-
gree of calmness. He recognized several of
the ruffians about him, who were not dis
guised, and those in the house whence he was
taken knew quite number of them, so that
unless they make their escape they may be
brought to justice.