Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-05-22
MONDAY, MAY 81, 1855.
The Church Milftant.-War Of Words.-Archbishop
t Hughes Senator Brooks.

The Church Militant.-War Of Words.-Archbishop
r. Hughes vs.. Senator Brooks.
Brooks, it will be rccolected, in a speech made
in the Senate, stated as evidence Of the immense
power welded by the Catholic hierarchy in tn
country, (fudgeD that Archbishop Hughes owned
property in New York, to the value Of something
less than 81, 100000 whereat the church dignita-
ry denying, challenges proof, and offers, if Sena-
tor Brooks is successful in investing him with
that handsome fortune, to found public Libra
ry in New York with an endowment of $2,000,0OO
Brooks to the charges produces title deed to estate
valued at SO 100000. Hughes explains: ''It is the
property of God" Brooks retorts: s'But the title
is in you in fee simple, under your absolute con-
troll and disposal" Archbishop admits that the
title is to all intcnts and purposes in him, but it
is the custom of the Church, and winds up with
the following ecclesiastical parody of 'my uncle
Toby:
ssMr. Erastus Brooks has exhibited himself in
the light of a man who has no regard for veraci
ty, and who u.s. therefore, utterly unworthy of no.
tice. l take him. consequently, with covered
hands to the nearest open sash OF window, and
send him forth with the single mental observa-
ton, eco hence, wretched and vile insect-the
world has space for you as well as for me-"
TO which Brooks responds:
sBut, good Archbishop, am not to be so dis
missed. You commenced the war and intend
to end it. If the insect has stung you, and you
have been unable either to heal the wOunI, or
have the sting extracted, it is your fault, not
mine. There is something to me even more lu-
dicrous than wicked if possible, in the bitterness
and boldness of your denials of the truth, and
the frequency of your personalities. Early in
life was taught that in controversies and inter-
course among men, no gentleman ever insults an
other and nobody else can. You forced me into
this controversy, by reiterated charges of false
hood. You endeavorcd to hold me up to contempt
bv satire and ridicule, and finding that your ours
es upon me, like chickens, have come home to
rcost upon yourself, and that your satire and rid
icu!e have rebounded to the point from whence
they started, you now, "with covered hands, -
would threw the insect into the strect-that is, if
he would let you. shall buzz under your win
dow during my own good time, and may be, find
ingress again within your Grace's quarters
This malicious Senator proceeds to add items
from the records. proving the conveyance by deed
to the said John Hughes of property amounting
as he, Brooks, AYERS, to the value of $5,OO0,0OO.
Whereupon Brooks demands the endowment of
So, 900, bet by the Bishop.
The Bishop wanting time to consider, asks o
''suspension of judgment for ten days."
Our individual comment on the above is, First,
that John Hughes would have done better to
confess the truth in the first instance, and, Sec
ondly, that it is no more Of Brooks business
whether John Hughes owns S4.000.000, or $l0.-
600, O00 than whether we, (Snooks, own one shirt
or a dozen, or whether they're Irish linen only
bleached cotton.