Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-07-29
From the New York Independent July 20
Free Suffrage a Religious Safeguard


The New York Observer has DONE and is
doing. an excellent work by showing the danger
TO our institutions from the presence OF so large
a body OF Catholics in this country. Bound to-
gether by the tie OF u common faith that allow .
political and religious beadship in foreign po-
tentate, all secrets developed through the con
fessional, without mental culture, they consti-
tu,e unit to be worked by one string in the
hands of the priestly body. It has been the
misfortune of the Irish Catholics to have been
united, not only against Prolcstantism bu,
against all those ideas OF freedom and equality
that should be the birthright of every American
citizen. They have, to man, been in favor OF
slavery they arc now united, to man, 10 their
denial of suffrage to the blacks.
The danger Is growing one. The Catholic
" orld informs Va that in leUo the Catholics
were lOO,O 900 in population of six and halt
millions, or one sixty fifth of the whole: in 1880
they were 100000 in thirteen millions, one
twenty ninth OF the whole; while in 1860 they
we're 4. 400 900 in 81 900, 000 or one seventh OF
the total population. This population will con
tinue to grow, for Canada is pouring her legions
into this country faster than ever before, while
the termination of the war throws the whole
South and the magnificent West open to foreign
immigration. The magnitude of the danger Can
not be oyerestimated. But the Observer only
tells US of the danger; it points out no mode OF
escape. lt lifts up a voice of warning; il does
not tell how to avoid the evil. We propose to
show a complete means of obviating the danger
There are in the United States large body oil
men, their numbers increasing as We move
southwark, who are as ignorant and as uneduca-
ted as the Irish Catholics. But they have no
common religious faith nor does the confessional
put them and their secrets in the power of any
man or any priesthood. There are four millions
n her hat har
OF Catholics; all LEX, all loyal, and nearly all
Protestant. Like tie Irish, they reason through
their feelings; unlike he Irish, they show great
desire and aptitude Tor intellectual improvement.
Without any free school system whatever. their
children are counted in free schools by tens OF
thousands. While ia Washington, Norfolk
Richmond, Nesberu, wherever Northern philan.
thropy Is willing to teach, thousands ot adult
blacks. laboring by day, ctudy by night. They
are unlike the Catholic Irish. IN being doeIle,
afectonate and gentle. Their love OF music,
their wiling Obedience. their religious aspira
tons are valuable characteristics ln persistence
OF labor. Tor stern and rugged work. the Irish
are superior; for the more beautiful qualities OF
humanity, the blacks. But the Christian espe
caly notes the fact that the Irish are all Catho-
lie, all hostile TO the BIole all hsters OF Protes
tantisn. while the blacks desire 10 read the Word
OF God, are nearly all Protestant, and all follow
srs OF Hin who came 70 lie, the oppressed 50
free
These two classes are the supplement- OF each
other Each IS rich 10 the qualities lacking In
the other To one the franchise is granted
from bis birth. or after temporary residence
The other must rise from poverty to be worth
$3.50 before be eau vote 10 New York. In States
West and South OF New York be cannot vote a,
all. Now. Ii il is desirable 10 meet the positive
Catholic elemen, 10 politics or religion by one
equally positive in another direction, ve have
but to elothe the black with the same political
power we have already given the white. True
the black 10 uncnltvstsd aud Ignorant; but so i,
the Irish. la all our political debates on this
question. Ne remember OF no argument sgaiasr q
black voter that Is not equally adverse 10 Al
Irish one And the black voter has thesc sd