The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-09-27
The Political Power of the Gath.
Ollie Priesthood in hamilton %.


The Political Power Of the Cath.
Ollie Priesthood in Hamilton 90.
The Enquirer Of this city, and the pa.
Pers OF the party generally, have much
TO say against the American movement.
because Of its proscriptive character, its
interference with religious freedom, and
its war upon Catholicism. The Ameri-
can movement, as we understand it, new.
er attempted or intended to pursue a
proscripdVe policy. Theparty did, how.
ever. intend to inaugurate healthy
American feeling and nationality. Itwas
only when the Church interGered wish
the liberty Of the citizen, and attempted
TO coerce men 10 vote as directed by the
priests, that the American party stepped
in to protest against an influence so dan.
gerous to Republican liberty. That .
priesly influence has been exerted to "a.
vor the election Of fpartisans in this coun.
ty, we have the e.idence of Major F.
johnson, who is now running upon the
Democratic ticket as candidate for the
Legislature.
1t is well known that Mr.. Johnson be-.
longed to the Know Nothing party. We
are informed by gentlemen who cannot
be mistaken, that Mr.. Johnson took at
least two degrees, although be said at
Carthage. ifhe was reported correctly
and he has not questioned the accuracy
Of the reports-that he only took one de-.
gree. He also admitted that lie had civ.
en- the information TO Mr.. Robinson, The
editor of the Enquirer, upon which the
attacks upon the American party, which
appeared in thst paper last fall or spring,
were founded.
We have the testimony OF many gen.
tlemen of the highest respectability, who
were members Of the Council TO which
Mr.. Johnson belonged, that be was very
active and Jealous member Of the Order.
He was one Of the chief speakers witbip
the Council-that his denunciations of
the Treasury Eaters, and bis exposirions
of the corrupting influence of the Cath.
olic priesthood upon our elections, were
so strong aud pointed, that be repeated
his speech in number of the Councils.
Among other things, Mr.. johnson gave
some of bis own personal experiences
when he was an active member Of the
Democratic party in this county. He
told the following story: "a few years
ago, few weeks previous to an election,
he was one Of a committee to wait upon
Bishop Purcell, and confer with him as
TO the aid be could give the Democratic
ticket, in the event that certain men would
pledge themselves TO carry out certain
measures, in which it was known the Bish-
op felt great interest The Bishop re-
piled that he could control Blk THOUSAND
TWO HUNDRED yoTEsIE HAMILTON COUNTY.
The committee were amazed that one man
should have the command OF such an
amount of political influence, and they
asked the Bishop if be were certain that he
could control the votes of SO large mum.
Der of men. The Bishop took from his
pocket key, and went to a desk in the
room, opened drawer, and took there.
from book, in which we're the names of
persons written. There said the Bish.
op. holding up the book, within this
book are written the names of six thou.
sand two hundred voters of Hamilton
county, and those votes ! can commsnd.'
The committee we're satisfied, and re-
tired"
We do not mean to affirm that we have
quoted the exact words Of Mr.. johnson,
but we do mean 10 affirm that the state
ment which they contain is. in form and
substance, the sans as that made by Mr..
Johnson in the Know Nothing Councils.
and for making which We have the au-
thority Of several unimpeachable witness
es. Mr.. Johnson, we are satisfied, will
not attempt to deny the general correct-
ness of our statement. If he does deny
it, we shall bring forward our witnesses
TO substantiste the truth of what we here
assert.
It's grave question for consideration,
il the story told by Mr. Johnson is correct,
and we do not mean to impeach, in the
least degree, his veracity. 1t is matter
which the people OF Hamilton county have
a deep interest in knowing. If Bishop
Purcell keeps tally book of all the Cath
Olic voters in this county, and says that
he can control the votes Of six thousand
two hundred men, it is a formidable pow
er, and one which may well alarm, the
honest voters of the county. Mr.. Johu-
son. as we understand the matter, did
not make his statement upon hearssy tes-
.imony, but upon what he saw. He was
here in the Bishop rcom-he heard the
leclaration--he saw the book.
Presuming the statement to be true,
because Mr.. johnson sis an honorable
man," we ask our neighbor of the En-
luirer what he thinks of it. Can he
blame men for feeling alarmed at the
power of the Catholic Priesthood, and
heir influence upon our elections, when
The head Of church in this city informs
A committee Of the Democratic party that
he holds in bis hands over six thousand
Totes in this city alone? We here leave
he case for the present, and pause for q
-eply.-Cin. Gas.
SEvERE.-The Ohillicothe Metropolis.
in independent paper, characteriSss his
Excellency Wilson Shannon, Governor of
Kansas, as poor craven hearted wretch,
IN infamous dog. and disgrace to his ma