Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1856-10-17
~ GMONY,> ssONOM.

We have often asserted, and now
reiterste the assertion. tina, the ques
ton OF candidates religious belief.
~&nnot and ought no, 10 be righiiulv
made, = test or qualification for Of
Zee. That man j. n Baptist, a Con
iregatlonaiist, All Episcopsian, or n
Nholic, who becomes Il candidate iol
office, IL n matter vi Indifference 10 the
Democratic Party. who hold, and IA,
long 1t the Constitution lasts and the
rights Of man are recognised, will con
time To hold that an, enqulr, into his
religion ought mol u BE- made. II
he is sound patriot aud .ta,e,mau.
las moral character uninpcachahle
ani honor unirtilcd, and possesses
hlnes- tor the exalted station 1T ser, an,
u a tree people. he Is Icc,nrd fully
qualified by the Democracy i"r official
honors.
John 4. fr,mon, may hc rath,h,
OF u Protestant, aud NAV have abau
doued one religious sect for another.
aud this alone will never he subject
Of comment bv the Democratic news
papers aud orators. But when il i
asserted b, Fremont. leading Journals
aud special ad,iser-, that he ne,c, was
q Catholic, simpl, Tor the purpose If
making himself more acceptable 10 t. e
Know Nothing pro,criptionist>, and
gaining their votes. We then deem it
right aud proper IL inquire INTO The
truth OF his assertions, 10 ascertain. il
possible, whether he has not been
guilty vi the gro,..st tal>ehood merely
tor political capital Ills former. Or
present confession 81 religion would
otherwise Toe n subject ni indifference.
Nov. ii becomes "A matter of the era
vest Importance Ills vcra,it, i 1T
tackled, his honor nmpra-hel aud an
less the charges preferred aya,u>, HIM
are proven to be- false. he i, unworth,
Of the sntfraee> Of Il people Jealous oI
their National Honor. Frem ont nov
,onfessedly Is a Protestant it his rcccn,
Protestations, and the assertions of Tia,
Independent aud New York Time.
and Tribune can make hun such, al
though We profess To- some incr.lulit,
about his being yer, deeply ,incturrl
with any religion Al all.
Henr, Ward Becshcr raised Ia, is
sue bv asserting that Fremont wa -.
good n Protestant rs John Knox" AND
that he never WAS "A Roman Cathohc
The editor OF the "Freeman's Journal
Mr. McMas,ers, takes up the gaun,l.,
and says
But John {. Fremont dare not, owe,
his own name, deny tact that | "a,
have sworn Ia by twenty distinc, ali
dsvlts Of highly respectable people
priests aud lay. Catholic and Protc,
tant, viz: that for wears he profes Sc,
himaef Catholic, and denied eve
having any other belief in any o,he
religion"
Scores OF persons who have had N,
Interview with Fremont, and particu
larry questioned him as 10 whether h,
ever was Roman Catholic have vii,
ten letters TO the New York y sper,
announcing that Fremont denied ha,
ing ever hal any connection with tina
church. Here. then. is an issue OF We
racity, which il becomes necessary 10
Fremont to explain away, or be brand
81 with the name Of falsifer. Th
Charleston ''Courier" says:
I'VE have the testimony Of hi
mother that he was Catholic, and o,
shis0d additional evidence we sgsir
aeeess that proposition. We therefor,
authorize Nj, Wright, and oil other
who may feel interested, to asser, tina
Fremont is Catholic, and that tn,
Charleston Mercury will prove it If any
Issue is rendered. which can be worth.
W and dsoisively met"
With these two challenges before
Fremont after bis continual dssials o
ever having been . Roman Catholic, t.
private individuals, We consider him ,
snsak to remain SILENT and not unde,
his own hand, q ~ honorable way
pas b rsst this dispute which his owl
Aisads have originated. Hs DAB,
Sos % IT. He hss lost hk honor ash,
~ tor Know Nothing vote. and ~.
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