Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-10-24
@bIo Statesman.
The FeofIEcnl Test Oath of Missouri
and the Test Oath GOvernment
of Ireland.

| The RofiTcaI Test Oath of M issouri
and the Test Oath Government
of Ireland.
''The treaty of Limerick was signed Oc-
tober g. 1891, and (says SYDNEY SMITH diff
among the Catholics" 1t promised them
such privileges in the exercise of their re-
ligion as they did enjoy in the time of
CHARLES III, and the King promised them
further security. But, October o. 1871,
the English Parliament excluded Catho-
lies from the Irish House of Lords and
Commons by test oath. In 1895 they were
prohibited from educating or being guar
dian to their own children. In 1904 any
son who would turn Protestant was made
owner of his fathers estate. A Catholic
was forbidden to marry Catholic or hold
any Office or vote. In 1903 Catholic was
prohibited to hold an annuity for life, or
keep school, or sit on jury. And by
the same act rewards were offered for the
discovery of any popish priest.
SYDNEY SMITH says: This code oflaws
reflects indelible disgrace upon the English
character; and explains but too clearly
the cause of that hatred in which the Eng
lish name has been so long held in ireland.
1t would require centuries to efface the
impression"
This is the way in which honest and in
telligent minds in England now view the
Irish test oath government set up by Par
lament after the surrender at Limerick.
But what, asks that able sheet, the St.
Louis Republican, has been the test oath
government of Missouri? What has been
the policy of the Radical leaders in Mis-
souri,? They have copied this infamous
Irish code. They have fixed the same dis
grace upon Missouri which blackene1 the
name of England. They not only disfran-
chised voters, but they filled the public
jails with Catholic priests and Protestant
ministers and young girls who committed
no crime but teaching school. They have
made government more essentially and
thoroughly corrupt than any ever known
in North America. The test oath policy in
Ireland had the effect to taint the public
heart and conscience to the core. 1t offered
it's daily rewards for hypocrisy and per-
jury and the rewards were eagerly swal-
lowed. The system is true to itself. 1t is
in Missouri just what it was in Ireland.
And the men whe thus imprison men for
preaching the doctrines of the Prince of
Peace, because they will not take the ac-
cursed test oath-who imprison young
women for daring to teach a school with
out first polluting their lips with this in
sane oath. with hypocritical cant cry, with
General GRANT, Let us have Peace!'
One of the ablest pulpit orators of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in that State
an Ohioan by birth-who, during the
whole war, remained as true as the dial
to the sun in favor of the Union and against
Secession, informed US that, because he re-
fused to take the oath, which his conscience
would not acknowledge that the dominant
or any other party had right to force
upon him, every time he preached to his
congregation he was liable to heavy fine
and long imprisonment. The ministers
who so far sunk their manhood as to take
the oath before they could preach the Cos
tempt by the people. and thus lost their
influence.
1t is but fair to state that Radcalism in
Missouri has committed greater outrages
than in any other State of the Union, and
yet not single paper, in support OF GRANT,
has published single word in condemna-
ton of its test oath, copied from the bloody
code of England in her conquered prov
ince' of Ireland.