The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-17
For the Register.
Bishop wheIan on the New York
nEnfR.

For the Register
Bishop wheIan on the New York
Riots. OIL.
The union among Catholics, no mat
ter what the form of government or the
birthplace or the language, has been OF
late very significantly demonstrated IN
the worldwide protest against the oecu-
patton of Rome. But this harmony IN
sustaining right, gives no just ground
for imputing to Catholics as body, the
crime or errors of some of the perhaps
merely nominal members Of the Church.
This was made very clear today by the
sermon Of the Catholic Bishop at the
Cathedral, of which send You sum
mary.
The Bishop began by contrasting the
reioicings Of a few days back,
throughout the breadth Of the land,
with the gloom Of to-day, as the
imagination pictured 10 itself the result
of the New York riots-as the mind
adverted to rebels against human laws,
suddenly and without preparation sum
moned before the bar o! divine justice.
Not merely criminals, said the Bishop,
against the order OF society, but against
the God of order. Not merely charge
able with disturbing the public leace,
but branded as conspirators, assassins and
murderers. Guilty participants ofevery
murder then and there committed and
in every injury done. Responsible not
only morally but pecuniarily to the
families OF those among the military
and police who fell in the discharge OF
their duty. No pretext would avail to
extenuate the fault for they were Fore
warned on Sunday last, from every
Catholic pulpit of the city, and by order
of the Archbishop in language the very
strongest.
Some Of the observations OF Arch
bishop McCloskey, of New York, were
read from the Tablet, to show how de-
cided had been the condemnation pro-
nouuced against the contemplated riot,
how earnest the appeal to all good
Catholics to keep aloot from the excite
ment. And yet more aggravated was
the crime, said Bishop Whelan,
from the respectful manner in which
the Catholic demonstration Of love and
reverence for Pins TX. had so lately
everywhere been met. But let none
charge the guilt of Wednesday last to
the Catholic body. The opposition to
the laws on the part of the rioters was
against every principle held by the
Church, and the condemnation OF the
Church authorities was clear and out
spoken in advance. The rioters tram
pied on the laws Of the Church and the
warnings Of their pastors, just as they
defed the civil authority OF the city and
State. They have grievously wronged
US, as the crime OF the disobedlent
guilty son brings confusion TO the brow
of a noble parent, proportiOned TO his
own elevated nature. But let us pity
and pardon the dead. Pray God to
forgive them. They were blind led 10y
the blind For what, continued the
Bishop, led these men to measure
strength with the public authorities
What rendered Intellectual the voice OF
their pastors? Some of their organized
societies, which proclaimed another law
opposed to the teaching Of the Church,
Wanting their liberalism, their indie
pendence OF pastoral control. by
these means were the dupes led
to venture their lives so rashly
against the whole power O. the State,
and many, alas have paid the penalty.
And will you lind among the dead the
leaders in the work Of resistance the
men whose defamation excited their
followers to the shameful deeds Which
followed? Generally these reserve
themselves for other exhibitions OF
proves in words, leaving to their poor
dupes the heavy penalty OF resistance to
law, blows and fines, wounds, lmprIson'
ment, and it NAV he death. Hence the
Bishop inferred the danger at least OF
all such associations as cast of the
guidance and laws laid down 10y the
Church of God He adverted to the
recent serious disorders attended 10y
murders most inexcusablc among the
miners Of Pennsylvania. lie recon-
mended to his flock most earnestly 10
shun all such associations. testfylng as
his experience that the evils resulting
from all such are invariably far in
excess Of those Ills which they intend
to remedy The sermon of the Bishop
could scarcely have condemned in
stronger language the misdeeds OIL
Wednesday in New York, and it was
evidently part of his design to caution
his flock against the dangers lurking in
almost all combinations even for self
defense, where the limits OF right are SC
easily overstepped. And on the other
hand the Bishops flock seemed quite
satisfied that he had triumphalIy re
PEELED from them as Catholics the in,
situation rather than the expressed
charge of completely with the faction Of
mieled Irish in New York, who defed
at once the authority o. Church and
State.
WHEELING, July l6, ISL.