New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-11-11
Excitement In Jersey City Speech Of John
Mitchell

Excitement In Jersey City Speech Of John
Mitchell.
The following are the particulars of ths re-
cent difficulty in Jersey City between the
Church and an Irish military company, the
Republican Guards, who in consequence OF 1t
had been denounced from the altar by the
Catholic priest of Jersey City. The company
were about to have ball to which John Nit
chel, and other persons obnoxious to the Church
we're invited hence the denunciation. But the
malediction of the priest only had the effect to
give the ball greater eclat, and the festival was
largely attended, and brilliant beyond all an
ticipation The substance of the denunciation
was stated at meeting Of the company on the
evening previous to the ball, by Lieut. somers,
as follows:
The Reverend individual asserted that he had
attended number of Irish females on RandalPs
Island and Blackwells Island, who were af
fected with certain disease, the origin of
which they attributed to their habit Of fire.
quenting balls. He (the preacher) asserted
that no woman would 60 to a ball but for the
qualification Of an animal passion, and to be
prostituted; that ne young men went to balls
hut for the purpose of seduoing the young girls
who freauented them that Mitchell, Meagher,
and the person called Col. Doheny, were Irish
Radicals, Free Masons, Carbonari, etc, their
object being to prosecute the Church; that
Mitchell and the Citizen were the greatest enc
mics our Holy Father, the Pope, had; that
Irish military organizations in this country
were illegal, their object being to create re-
bellion in Ireland and implicate this country in
awar with England; that Young lrelander
could not be q Christian, and was consequently
exoommunicated from the Church, and could
not receive the Sacrament; and lastly, that no
power but that of the Church ever could, or
would, iberate ireland.
After this offensive language had been stated,
the following preamble and resolutions were
offered and adopted unanimously:
Whereas 1t has been represented to us, authority
that admits of no question or doubt that the Rev Messs
James Kelly and Messenger made this company, and its
anniversary ball. to be held tomorrow night the sub
ect the bitteres denuncation Sunday as before
the congregation st. Peters Church, and in language
indecent for repeon sandered this company and its
guests be it. therefore,
Resoled That repadiate any and every attempt on
the part of those cergymen to interfere with civil
rights and duties citizens and soldiers unconstitu
tional, uncatholic aud unchristian
Andrew Kelly then offered the following, the
adoption Of which was seconded by james Cum
ningham, and also unanimously agreed to:
Rcsoea That the allegation made about the objects Of
Irish military balls in the presence Of females by those SO
called Christian minister's foul libel the character
Of both sexes Of the Irish
Still another WAS then presented by VIM Ben
nett, the adoption seconded by VIM. Bener, to
which the Grenadiers also agreed:
Resopea That while we cheerluy bow to the spiritual
guidance of our clergymen, we civil and military
duties to the Republic and to the State Of New Jersey
with which shalt allow cergymen under any
pretence to interfere.
On Tuesday night at the supper in connec-
ton with the ball, John Mitchell, was called out,
and made a strong speech, in the course of
which he said:
aFor my part Father Kelly, you welcome to call
me Republican-even Red Republican And now, gem
temen of the Republican Grenadier Guards. Whist
say2 This not debating society Hard Shell Con-
vention but bali; and sensible of the inoongruty
nay tine bad taste of addressing festive company
such grave topics these Instead of the dancing and
rev proper the OCCASION to have high discourse
of Church and State Instead Of Irritation to be
occupied with civil and religious liberty Yet bear with
| me- The occasion Is somewhat peculiar. came here
only because was bdden but also because
hidden pnrposely n1est and to brave the thun-
ders of the Jersey Vatican. Ieame to whether was
to be received alien and an enemy by those who
my friends and comradesto whether Irish
girls would sudder at my approach and turn away their
eyes if not only Red Republican, but Red In
diana Camanche Apache eannihal with the brand OF
Cain upon my brow Yes have come to take my stand
among you, Of us, gentlemen, would have
side BY side in 48 il fortune had blessed with
chance of meeting enemies in open BATTLE and
of may yet stand side by side upon Irish ground ],
Heaven BIS kind to and the blessed Gzar his duty
to be severed because there is Pope at Rome
Think what would have become of the great American
nl,xttn fhAt rnat fall
think what kind of chance the American eoonists would
have had free themselves from the iusoen dominion OF
their eneniesthsir enemies enemies the enemies
the human raceif the Catholics OF MARYLAND ia those
days had denounced Thomas Jefferson becaue he
infde and Red Republican, las he was and had refused
to follow Washington, because he loved not the Pope Of
Rome!
After ALL this is absurd affair cannot help sur
missing that if the Bishops had not gone off to Rome this
jealous priest would not have broken out in such fash
ion Archbishop Philo Verltas now is prudent prelate
and though he loves me not, does not make open
upon me with all his spiritual arms, Bishop Pho knows
well that persecution is the seed of the Church
altar denuneiatons might ucty to the Citizen This
is very free country il is stiffnecked generation
Bishops might If they liked, make out index of pro
hibted writings such Rome has the happiness to
joy for her guidance but the selfwilled people would
read those prohibited writings neyerfhless the yery
newsboys would cry them openly in the streets and what
is worse the District Attorney Of New Jersey would not
prosecute for the offense like the Dominican Promo
SILL the Bishops and Priests have this resource-they
denounce obstinate Republican men and frghten
weak Shall 1t indeed BIZ said that among all the
liberties OF the great Republic, not the least dear
them Is the liberty of cursing? Shall 1t be said the
Church has become an American citizen,
a-And her profit ont
is, she knows how to curse -
Be it So. Iwoud not have them restrained Maledic-
dictons break bones and their intolerance can do
harm here, thank God ~
"once upon time, in u.s. the clergy of tho Cath
oc Church could endure the thought OF a Republic
what has changed the face Of affairs since them Now
it appears the very word is horror them Yes you
gentlemen, the Neagher Republican Grenadiers you
have invited to your entertainment the Republican
tlemen whose name you assume. You have invited me
the ultra Republican Editor Of the Citizen and hencs
the Consideration St Peters, the name of Mea-
CHER Father Kelly tutas up eyes with horror when
hears of the Citizen, crosses himself on the forehead
but at the formidable syilabes Republican,, he says
| PATE, and are and beats his breast
| Why, why IL this Has Mr. Meagher or have ever
doctrne any point discipline Of the Catholic Church
or Of any other church? No, but there is Pope at
Rome, that Pope IL deapotc temporal prince; and he
in firm league with the other espotie princes her
etics schismates mufselmans and all to maintain tho
great principle of knghp against the inevitable Democ
raey of Western Europe Not with the spirtp
keys (which seeks to take from him. he must needs
keep the keys of the nquisition dungeons (Which will as
on the Rock Of Peter, he must aso hold as collateral
security, the mole Of Hadrian3
------z------z------
Mr. Heno, clerk of the steamer New Latona,
has ofyr thanks FIR ,iyap FL uorS