The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1872-03-31
0'connor and Queen Victoria.

Once again are the evil effects of the
impure, sensational and soul. destroying
literature Of the day, so much patronized
by the young, clearly and unmistakably
manifested to the world. A short time ago
We took occasion to comment upon the
terrible influence exercised by these publi-
cation, as shown in the case of young
woman in Kentucky, who murdered her
mother in most -cold-blooded and brutal
manner, and also in that of mere child of
thirteen, who, when repremanded by his
father for some misdemeanor, drew pistol
and, striking tragic attitude, fred, the
bail striking the old gentleman ia the upper
lip and passing out through his cheek; while
the youth coolly returning the pistol to his
pocket, in the heroic style of the dime
novel exclaimed, "Hold your jaw, old sap
head, and don't meddle with me-" Ac-
cording to the following extract, from the
Cork Examiner, young CConnor's insanity
results from the constant reading of those
highly sensational papers against which the
Church has again and again raised her
| voice:
The true character of the recent outrage
upon the Queen is shown by the paper
found in the possession of the prisoner.
The first part Of the document is an absurd
travesty Of Royal pardon for the Fenian
declare, That Notwithstanding the fact of
my agreeing to the above conditions only
through fear of my life, will not attempt
to depart from dny of them on that account,
nor upon any other reason, cause, or pre-
text whatever will depart, or attempt to
- 81 r
listen to any advice which my ministers
may wish to give towards causing me to
depart from my word, or towards the vio-
lation Of anything above stated, but shall
adhere strictly to everything. So help me
God" The second part of the preposterous
document runs as follows: Whereas, a
person named Arthur O'Connor, residing
at 4 Church Row, Houndsditch, in the city
of London, having committed an outrage
against my Royal persop, has surrendered
himself into niy hands, he, the said Arthpr
O'Cuunor, being perfectly willing to suffer
for such offence. Now l, the said Victoria,
Queen of Great Britain and I,eland, do
solemnly pledge my Royal word to the effect
that if the said Arthnr O'Connor ehall be
just and fair trial, he, the said Arthur
OConnor, shall not be strangled like a
common felon, but shall receive the death
which is due to him "a Christian, Re-
publicAl, and as Que WHO has never done
harm to any luru.:E hei:ic. That is to say,
he shall be shot, aud after death his body
shall he delivered to his friends, to be
bulied wheresoevcr they may choose" II
is stated that the prisoner has been in the
habit of reading Reynolds Newspaper aDt
other publications of the same character
and it is not difficult to perceive that Tho
ridiculous travesty of heroism and self
) sacrifice expressed in the passage we have
quoted was inspired by tue teachings o
those sensational publications with whicl
he fed his diseased imagination. Th'
) ipfiamed many youthful mind with al
ardent desire for the brilliant career of
housebreaker, and it is apparent that til
, editors of the distinctively British journal
patronized by young OConnor have sue
ceeded in producing this wretched travest
of a regicide.