The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1859-07-21
Archbishop Parccil ana the Repub-
iicaM Party.


On the OCCASION of the lsyioy of The ner .o,-
ner stone OF the new Catholic Ius,tnt,. in Gin
clnnau' n few days ago, Archbishop Purcsll
took occasion to say in his remarks, that the
Anuitor VINO would tax the Archbishop's private
residence adjoining the Cathedral "is no man
ana fhe party which sustaias him m,,st fallr,.
Inc reporters say that this uttersnce was re-.
celved with "iurious" aud tremendous an.
plOuse.r W
IL appears, then, that the Archbishop ml
tnose faithful subjects wau SO venem intly nm.
plauded The above sentiment, consider that 10
TAX the private residences OF the catholic clergy
Is an unparGonaoIe sin in those who provide aud
enforce the tax and a Republican oAich aud
Tue Nepubltcdn party are singled out as The sps-
clal OBJECTS of Vengeance. Now, il there be
any'hng wrong III our present system OF taxa
uou' 'ne blmocauo party, which, during tie
past Two years, has had the legislative power TO
amend or correct the system, is equally respon.
sln'e with the Republican party for such wrong,
ocsnSe having she power To correct it, failed TO
exercise IT, As for the officials no rxecu e the
'aW' tuey are not IN any way responsible for the
character OF the law. 1t is simply their duty To
ooey ITS provisions. Hence il appears to us
lnSt all thus fierce indignation against the Re-
puolcans is entirely uncalled tor.
III another article we shall show still rntthpy
from the official records that the legislation TO
which the Archbishop so violently objects that
''e law itSet aud most OF the amendments
'nere'o, including the revision OF last winter.
were Tue work OF successive Democratic lcaisla-
lures. Moreover, the law was executed az
surely by Democratic Auditors of State, as ia
nas peon BY our Republican Auditor, but there
was thcn no wholesome Remuneration, as now
IL is very singular that the Archbishop should
have overlooked these all-impor,ant facts, which
put an entirely different face upon the matter.
But even if the sole responsibility of the law
rested upon the Republican party, there is moth
lug IN 1t To which Roman Catholic cergymen.
any more than Protestant cergymen, have u
r'Sht TO object. II Archbishop Plrcell's prvate
residence is to be exempted from taxation, why
not exempt those OF his subordinates throughout
thn State, and thusa of our Protestant bishops
aud clergy generally? The laws of the Stats
can make no distinction between the clergy of
different churches or denominations 1t they
weEe TO attempt this, there would be au end 10
feiglqus equality and impartial legislation and
as irotesmntism predOmnates, Ronanism
would De likely to be the greatest sufferer bY
such change Of policy.
The Archbishop attack upon The Republican
party Tor tie above reasons, is illogical as il
Is Vioent 4; ana the character and occasion Of
the attack are such that it would be an insul,
TO his Intelligence to suppose that it hat, bceu
induced solely by so ntmsy a pretext as that
Wnich Is made its ostensible cause. In this
view the threat OF the preate is one Of no
trli'lg significance or importance. Men Of
such shrewdness experience and high ecccsias.
uca' position do not lightly utter threats of this
Character. They weigh their words, aud pro-
nounce them only after the purpose they avow
has been deliberately formed. Therefore, when
Archbishop Purcell denounces Auditor Wright
Tor an honest Interpretation of existing law, and
procIalns that "he party Which sustains him
must jaH," his words are not mere prophecy.
but threat. The form Of expression is authofi-
tative and is addressed to tic adhersnts of his
church asa declaration from u high spirtuai
source, directing them how to vote, The as
sembla5e present evidently 50 received it; and
It Will doubtless be SO accepted by the majority
OF the Church III the Stale
Sincerely as we believe the majority of our
clt'zenS are opposed to prescription of any re-
l'So"s sect, this attempt Of the head of a great
ana powerful ecclesiastical organization TO con-
sgQl us members ~ their political action, and
through them to control the politics of the State,
Is deserving of the serious attention o f all friends
Of civil and religious liberty. Against any aud
AL such attempts, come from whatever quarter
they may, Il is their duty to oppose their united
aud determined reSstence.--0. S. Journal.