Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-12-24
BEDFORD, Pa.
THE MORTARi BFFAIR.

relation TO tho abduction Of the Jewish child
bIortara. lie says that sslhe old Know-Nothng
hatred of Catholics still turks IN the hearts Of
the Opposition leaders, their loud professions
to the contrary notwithstanding The fellow,
Meyers, who pcnued this was Know Nothing
and helped to start Know Nothing Councils iu
Somerset County, and after doing 80 for con-
s,derofion, sold himself to the Locofocos-he
can, for small amount, be bought and sold any
time. He says that those men who opposed
the Catholic Test iu the Know Nothing party,
are now enlisted with the Democratic party =
Beef Heels can't be one of these for he gave as
cause they admitted Catholic delegates from
Louisiana, to the Convention which nominated
Fillmore But this was all bosh. He left
them affer the secret money agent ras in Sonaer-
sst This is the fellow who now wishes to be
considered as particular friend of the Cath
olics. Catholics would you trust dirty, sneak
ing looking deg like him in anything
Our article was mere statement of facts,
which ale now agitating the whole christian
world. and We believe the enlightened Catholics
in this country oppose and ccndemn the Pope's
decision Several Catholic nations, France,
Austria and Spain, have requested the Papal
Government to deliver him up, but the request
is refused. The facts of the case we will
again briefly state
a Jew named Mortara was residing in Bo-
logna in 1852, when bis son, a chill twelve
months old, was taken Ill, but, as the doctor
ceItifcs, was not in any danger. The servant,
Ia Catholic,l fourteen years Of oge, was advised
By the grocer to hsptize the child; she obsery-
ell to him that it was not right to DO so; but
there was no harm in it: only in case Of the
child dying, she would BY 50 doiGg, secure him
a place in Paradise, aud he taught her how to
do. Not any more was known about ii.
Last year another of the children was taken
iii, the girl was advised by woman ueighbor
to baptize him, but she refused, although she
had the opportunity of SO doing, the child be-
ing often entrusted TO her care, and therefore
he died as Jew. BY means of a woman who
had found out the facts, the priest was inform
ed of the secret baptism. The servant was
immediately summoned before the Inquisition
AMI sworn not to say anything about it, and
most particularly to her master and mistress.
In the middle of the night the Bishop sent
the guards to take the boy from bis parents
arms, the child crying bitterly fer his mama
The mother tainted, the father swooDed, and
amid the screams and terror of all the neigh
bors. they went away with the child, who was
sent to Rome, at tho Culecumeni, where he
still is. At first it was objected to the poor
father to see bis child, but afterwards this was
allowed in the presence of the rector,
Again aud again the father has claimed the
child, but the Pope wished to consider the case,
and has finally decided that he cannot be given
up TO his parents He decides that because of
the ceremony secretly performed by an iguor-
ant servant girl. the minions Of his power have
right TO kidnap the child, and tear it forever
from its natural guardians. Such acts are per-
petrated in the sacred nama of religion. A
few thousand fathers rendered thus desperate
would soon dispose Of such tyrant, if the
French usurper would call off his dogs of war.
a day of reckoning will surely come. A petit
tion has been addressed by number of Jews
in this country, to the President, asking him to
take some action in the case, but Secretary
Cass replies that the transaction took place in
an independent State, and does not affect citi-
zen of the United States. lie therefore refuses
to request the Pope to deliver him up.