Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-09-15
Temperance and Catholic priess.
hood. , ....

In the prolonged and ardous strug-
gle for the suppression of intemprr-
ance and of the liquor traffic. wheth-
er by moral or legal suasion, we have
hoped TO have the powerful aid Of the
Catholic clergy. but W, have been dis
appointed. Not that we expected or
desired them to come into any organi-
zalion outside of their ecclesiastical
system. or 10 identify themselves with
any party;-but it has seemed not too
much that their influence should be
openly and steadily cxeried in favor
OF acause which is not only that Of
public order and ity, but OF good
morals and religion. We have looked
to see them uIiering some decided and
iorciDle condemnation Of that trade in
ardent liquors, whose horrible conse-
quences no part Of the clergy can have
better opportunities nf appreciat,ng
than themselves. We have hoped
that they might be led TO use the au-
ihority they have, especially among
the Irish. for an end so benefcenl and
so necessary. Particularly now that
so much odium is excited agains that
class of our population on accou 4 of
their political subserviency unl in
temperate habits. itwould seem that
the Catholic priesthood ought to spare
no elfoat that could tend to put their
flocks, or at least so numerous diyi-
sion of them. in another aspect before
the community a: large. an f,..s
This hope does not seem likely 10
be gratiiied. We hear of no move
ment among the Catholic hierarchy
for the suppression of this deadly and
crlme-generating traffic. and yet
there seems to be great occasion for
an effort OF the sort. We published
the other day statistical paper show
ing that a Areat majority Of the muir
ders committed in this State are by
lrishmen, and those Irishmen drunk.
But why were they drunk, when there
is an Archbishop and priesthood with
such powers Of moral and spiritual
control among their focks? Why is
there not reform? Why is there
not total abstinence association in
place of every rum-hole kept by an
Irish Catholic?
These are not sectarion or untimely
questions. They touch the vital roots
OF society. 1t is fact that we have
a great amountof crime among u.s.
It's fact, that the highest crime
mxrder increases. II is a fact. that
murders are due ninety per cent to
drunkenness, II is fact, that OF the
drunken murderers, large proportion
are lrlshmen. Ii is fact, that these
drunken numbering Irishmen arc near
ly all Catholics. But leaving the
drunken murderers out of the aues-
iion. a majority Of the rum-scllers who
make that class drunk are Of the same
origin. Go through the Democratic
streets IL you doubt il; look at the
signs above the holes; when mot
nj Dutch" they arc sure to be Irish
-unmistakablv so. Go to the bars
of the rum.holes. look at the animals
benin! them dealing out the liquid
poison. ani look at the animals swill-
ing it, and they are all Irish, Irish
drunken and Irish militant.
These are all facts. But certainly
it the Catholic priesthood chose, there
could be reform. That the evil re-
mains aud Increases is one of the eau
ses for the movement OF hostility TO
Catholicism now 50 active and potent
in the community. IL is not merely
antagonism to certain religious opin-
ions. but 10 drunkenness, and tocrime
thence procecdin :. with which. us we
have explained above. those opinions
have become very widely identified
by n portion of the publicly J.
Tribune.