Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-05-10


II the question before us be as to the
efficacy of the restraints of Romanism on
one hand or of those of Professionalism on
the other, in restraining immortality and
vice, let it be tested by a comparison of
Roman Catholic Austria with Protestant
Prussia-two countries inhabited by the
same race, speaking the same language,
and situated in adjoining districts, taking
the ten most populous cities of Austria
and the ten most populous cities of Prussia.
The result in Roman Catholic Austria is
EORrY-FINE per cent and in Protestant
Prussia SIXTEEN per cent. These results
must be left to speak for themselves.
Father Finnegan asks for facts drawn
from more reliable sources than those
before given. l know not how to find
more reliable sources These tables are
taken from the actual government returns.
can give nothing more reliable.
What the value of the Fathers figures
may be l do not know. Those that touch
the relative influence of the two forms of
teaching are private and to me unknown
authorities. That they are false or fdLLd-
cious l have not doubt, since they are in
consistent with other statistics which are
not private, but public and authoritative.
With regard to the Fathers logic, which
he gives us in Latin formula, L have on
ly to suggest that he be little more care
full with his Latin NEXT ime.
AS TO the question of alteration of the
Virgin / am sure 1 have nothing new that
| wish to say. L leave him to the execu-
tioner-Lexicon. Go not care to go be-
yond that.
The Fathers strong language about
moral courage, base calumny" repeat
ed, want OF honesty" &C., may go
for what it is worth. 1t does not hurt
me. But when he says, with considerable
disrespect: How honest to compare the
southern portion of Europe with countries
90 Al. l.
simplicity to ask why lie il not honest
Are not these southern countries the home
of Priests, religious orders +" converts, and
nunneries? In Naples and Sicily there
were a few years ago no less than l6, ass
monks and 1900 nuns, besides the vast
number of Priests, all teachers OF the peo-
pie according to the Roman Catholic sys-
tenn, and yet there has been the largest
proportion of crime in the world. Where
there is the improperly Of comparing their
country with those of Protestant people
further north a?
One other point must beg TO notice.
said, in a connection that / am sure war
ranted the statement OF what is undoubt-
| eddy true, that the Church whose agent
| talked Of liberty, had stained every page
of history with arbitrary prescription" |
| was tempted to use stronger language, and
would have been justified in doing so by
the facts of history, but used the milder
! terms TO avoid even the semSlance OF ex-
travagance or partizan spirit. The Father
| calls this " a most foul assertion and asks
! for facts.
The Father closes his communication
with this dreadful warning to the Opposer
of his church claims and aggression at
might be well TO remember that 'whosOev-
/ er falls on this stone shall be broken - III
it was not that the almost blasphemous
msapplication Of our Blessed Lords word
! n
self-complacent assumption of the writer
would provoke smile, and should dis
miss it with a good-natured-pish.
ONE OF VERY MANY.