The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-10-03
Is Fremont q Catholici the Question
Settled.

NOT For Party, But ron TsurH.-li
not our business T. enter into the strife Of
Politics. That is not our vocation, and we
have.relisoosly abs,aiueJ from such con-
tests. Nor shall we depart front this line
District pToprie,y.-Bui we are sometimes
appealed 10 for Information IS To matters OF
fici by readers who imagine thai we may
have special means OF knowing the truth
In such a case we are willing to tell what
we know not fot the sake Of party. but oil
truth. This we NAV do without sacrifcsins
our neutral and Independent character.-
n We can help to correct an error OF TO di..
abuse the public mind Of false impression,
wo are DONG a service to right-minded men
OF all parties We do not urge our readers
% vote enc way OF the other, bu, we do wish
them to vote ia,elligenily.
II il well known that one OF the candi
dates ior the Presidency has been charged
with being Roman Catholic. To this
story we never gave the slightest import
ancs, considering IL as one of those bald
falsehood, which were fabricated foe par
" purpose. anil which would drop inlo OBJ
vivion and he dispised as soon as !. had
served lis object. Bu, as the ori,inalors Of
no story cling 10 !, with great periinacy.
ihinkin: il verw effective weapon TO ex.
cite Udium and prcijudic,. some good men
have thought il worth while TO set The mat
ter nj once and forever at rest. Clergyman
of,his city have teen applied 10 by men,
bers oftheir churches, and by letters fIom
abroad. TO make personal inquiry. since tho
public would have entire confidence 10
their statement, knowing that they were
no, likely 10 be- deceived themselves, and
that they could have no motive to mistake
tho fact.
Thus appealed to, a number Of clergy
men, though very reluctant TO DO anything
which could bring their names before The
public IN connection with any political ques-
lion, callei on Colonel fremont for tho pur-
pose OF a frank conversation in regard to
his religious profession and belief. This
they did--no, Tor their own personal sais-
faction, for net one Of them had doubt
abou, the ma,ier-but simply thai they
might be- able to satisfy others By an assur-
ance iorom bis own lips. Among those
who went were the Rev. DE- De Win Of
the Dutch Reformed Church; Professors
Henry B. Smith and Il. ID. Hitchcock Of the
Union Theological Seminary the Rev. Da-
yId q; Coc, Secretary Of the Home Mission
nry Society and one OF the editors Of this
paper. They were received with great cor
dialily, and Colonel Fremon, responded
very frankly and chesriuIly To their inquir-
les.
When j. was remarked tina, some Of our
good people were disturbed about hi, relig.
ion, he replied, smiling. hat he was glad
that hts opponents were willing TO admit, at
least, that he had snme religious feelings
that he was not wholly Indifferent to Chris.
,inniiy. One OF the ministers imputed III
the account OF his early religious education
and Of his joining the Episcopal Church, rs
gwen in Blgelow's +" Life Of Frcmoni," was
couect' lis replied tia, j, wa and add.
ed, In few words, tina, he hal been born
and educated IL the Episcopal Church
that he hail been confirmed n member
n thought Of lcavin: il.
When allusion was made to the persis
tent assertions that hs was Catholic, he
replied tia, he GULL no, imagine how such
n story took its rise, Tor. that, in fact, he
hal hardly been inside Catholic church
more than half a dozen times in his lite,
and then upon Of public interest ar curiosi-
".
All this was said vely quietly, and with
no apparent desire To- ob,ruie his religion,
or 10 make capital on, OF il, hut 10 state the
simple fact OF his religious cdnca,ioG and
belief, No one sould listen 10 This frank,
Yet modes, statement. without feeling that
], was perfectly Ingenious and that, with
no bgo,ty toward others, he was sincerely
AMI unaiT,c'edly attached 10 The religion in
which he hal heen educated by rious
moiher.-N Y. Erdagciia.