The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-08
pFTER,S PENCE.

uyhav tho rnaQninconb rope Leo n Whubeu
money 10 build the Church OF 81 Peter, at
ao-oe ne. in the innocence Of his heart, resorted
=. = yoethod which, though never popular, had
soo, nsed with effect before. When we mention
1Tonlr Tetzel and his drum, the method is indi
.ated with sufficient distinctness. The multl-
aude of the people fell into line obediently, and
SUelled handsomely the building fund for the
uake OF getting their sins proportionably re-
mitted. But, unfortunately for T;so, enc Martin
Luther had his soul stirred within him, and
raised counter camor so indignant and so
strorg that the influx OF money considerably
alaclrened, and very different sort Of influx set
An towards the Holy See Owing TO that method
of "raisng the wind" the Church OF St Peter
hecane about the most expensive edifce that
aver was put mp. Besides the gold and silver it
cost. the owners had to pay for it sundry rich
municipalities, goodly kingdom or two, the
crowns Of several potentates. imperial ducal
princely, and other the temporal allegiance Of
some manly nations and the spiritual alle-
glance of a good many hundred thousand Of
loyal subjects who thenceforth. instead OF seek
inc salvation in the Church, thought their
ohanoe OF salvation improved the further away
from the Church they got.
THAT experiment is hardly worth repeating.
But 1t takes great deal OF experience to beget
Surprlsed as aggrieved that American pOliu-
clans are willing to try 1t again. That they are
For several years IL has been the custom of the
party in power in New York to bestow pecu-
MARY and other favors on the Roman Catholics.
The sums thus given out of the public treasury,
which the peoples earnings fill, were for long
time 700 ins,gnncant % r 10 Pa0VSae GOn9nI. baI 9L1
mense. 1t is true that appropriations have been
made to other sectartan organizations. The
Episcopalians have had some hing; the Jews
have had trifie; miscellaneous evangelical
bodies have picked up q few crumbs. But all
this together is SO small that it only throws out
into bolder relief the patronage bestowed on
the Catholics Twenty years ago the Com
Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum two entire
blocks of ground on Fifth avenue, between
Fifty-hrst and Fifty; second streets ior ninety
on one Of these lots stands the asylum; on the
other is rising the cathedral which may be as
disastrous to the Church as st. Peters itself
was. Twenty years ago that land was COM
paratvely cheap; it is now worth not less than
chnrch Un received e 'o for "charitabie'' objects
S45.674l4 This year 1t has already received
$SOOOO ana 1 Will SoH 0e IoT Ene
hui, ding to accommodate Roman Catholic
fair has for several weeks oostructed travel on
our most beautiful and most frequented public
The money is all given ostensibly and ex-
siderations of benevolence do not suggest the
appropriations is perfectly clear from the fact
that Protestant Institutions of charity, though
numerous and needy, get nothing, and must
either live as they can or die. Nobody is
SIMPLE enougn 10 % Peese est lnaS @ cHn %
should Protestants be so generous TO a faith
they profess to fear? 1t is no caumny to say
that these grants of money and land are simply
brlbes 10 secure the Irish vote in the city OF
New York. Now, the Irish vote is very i'm
portant matter Again and again 1t has de-
cided very momentous elections. 1t is drilled,
organized, massed, and can be thrown with re-
time siS it has been emu used to defeat Republican lean
candidates and causes; to battle attempts at
municipal reform; to sustain municipal cor
ruptions, and 10 carrySthe measures OF sham
Democracy against the Intelligence and moral
sense of the community. The Republicans
would naturally like TO get these heavy bat
talions on their side. They are mercenaries
who are ready to transfer allegiance for spoils,
and would be quite as willing to change for
Christian as for Turk If the Christian would
fhe Irish vote is worth great deal for party
purposes. Two or three hundred thousand dol
lars year well Invested in Catholic securities
is moderate price to pay for II. miilon OF
dollars would not be dear If that were all. The
people did not grudge the money for the
splendid temple which was to make their city
the wonder OF the world once more, and draw
pilgrims from all parts of the earth to Rome.
1t was something besides the gold and silver
that made them pause The Irish vote may be
worth much brick and mortar and the choicest
corner lots, but is IL worth the indignation of
the people. which is certain to be reused sooner
or later by the gross misuse of their property
and by the burden of illegal taxation? Is IL
worth the direct violation of our principle. that
all forms OF religion shall stand on footing OF
perfect equality, shall be supported by volun.
tary contribute ons alone, and shall be entirely
independent of the patronage of the State? Is
II worth the open scandal brought upon repub-
lican institutions by the scarcely disguised
introduction of bribery into politics? Is
1t worth the permanent Decentralization of
an immense class of citizens who are
made to feel that not their intelligence but their
stupidity is the thing desired, their custom, not
their consciences, their vice, in a word, aud not
their virtue ? is 1T worth the encouragement
given to the lowest order of the population to
think themselves of supreme value as an ele-
ment of power in the city? Isit worth the con-
sequence OF hlnglng gratuitous insult in the
lace Of all the Protestant sects Is IL worth the
risk Of provoking an anti Cctholic excitement
among the "eYangelicalp bodies that would
bring reproach on the whole cause OF religion
rouse the sectarian spirit to frenzy, and lead to
scenes of violence that would disgrace our civil
liZatlon? Religion Is dangerous weapon to
uGe for political purposes and II history fur
nishes any grounds for prophecy, IL is safe to
predict that The party using it In this country
will pay, at least, terrible price for it's folly.
We regard this question as a political one
solely. We have no prejudices against the
homlsn Church, and bear IL no i'll will. AS q
lorm OF government and of faith, we appreciate
Tvs Value IN communities where the Celtic race
1s Iounu IN large numbers. We would give Ii
Ialr play, and should be exceedingly sorry "a
see the old bitterness against IL revfyIng in the
puplc mlhu, Bnl at the same time we are
jealous OF our institutions and rather than
have thelr character Compounded nv ILLEGAL oT
nlshon'eis1 PSrthcCceS' PSt' we must take the risk OF
10 lay at rest for ever. Frankly we adIty ~
Roman Catholics to ask no further fa1,n vs. WY i
we advise the demagogues to grant none IL to ~
Irish vote is so precious, even TO the ~ eS
party, let try TO secure II by meas,ra. ~ ~
will elevate the irish and not debanch ma ona
II II cannot be thus obtained, let us trv to M IA
along without it by increased efforts OF our o1
intelligence.
"An Right"-But n Hard Life.