Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-09-17
AssArLED FOR HIS RELIGIOUS BELLE

AssAnED FOR HIS RELIGIOUS BELIEF
All that the Administration organs have
10 say or can say against the Liberal Dem
ocra,ic candidate for Governor Of New y ork'
Hon. Fraucis KEENAN,, is that be i, a catholic.
They would have the people believe this to
be . me that should be punished by p0-
h,ioal prescription. This is all they can say
against one Of the pureS, men ever born on
New York soil-G man who has no superior
for legal ability in this country, and whose
equals are only such men as Charles O'Cou
or, Sanford f. Church, Caleb Gushing and
Rsvsrdy johnson. The GRANTEES, in at
lacking him, thus urge q mans religious
views as AZ argumeni agSins, his holding
any office Of trust within the gift ofths pso-
pie. BE is admitted 10 be honest, able, and
incorruptbIs, bat he eussrssiuS \ religious
belief contrary to the Purissnic creed Of the
party 10 power, aud on this ground alone.
because there IL no oshsr, he is GssaiIsd aud
pronounced IN worthy Of public confidence.
The attack will react against the party max
ing i,-but if it was to be made At al it
could come from no more fitting source
than the party which supports Gran, and
Wilson. Mr.. Wilson, their candidate for
Vice President, and liable, il elected, to
come TO the Presidential chair, in case oi
Grants death, was Know Nothing. He
was required, before being admitted to the
Lodge.room," to answer ak questions.
The lasI one Of 1hsse was as follows:
Are you villing to use your inausnee and vote
only for nstivs-born AusrioAn oitiEeui for all
odioos Of honor and trust 10 the Eft Of the pso-
pie, 20 the exclusion Of all Foreigners, and aliens
and Roman Catholics in particular, for local
Stats, or General Government, exclusive Of all
party predileetions1
When be was ushersd iuto the place Of
meeting, be took avery comprehensive oath,
the essential parts Of which we print.
I, ofmy owu rree wlll and accord, and in the
presence Of AintShty God, my right hand rest
ing on His Sacred Word and my iefs hand raised
toward Heaven IN toksn Of my sincerity, d. So.-
EMMY and sincerely promise and declare that
will not vote or give my inhuenc" for
auy mau for any oAice In the gift Of the people,
except he be an Amsrioan. born oitIen Ia favor
Of American born ruling America, nor II be be
Roman Catholic. All the foregoing Obli-
cation do Solemnly promise and declare, to the
best Of my ability, 10 sustain, under the no lees
psuAlty thas e fearful spprehsn'ion Of my be
ing an outsast from my God, aud universally
dsspissd by my fello~-msu. As wilful traitor
and psrjursr TO God my Maker and the land that
gave me birth. So help me God and keep me
ateadfnst.
$50 help me God and keep me stead
fast, said Henry Wilson, as he took this
oath. It is even more offensive than would
appear from this copy, which is, in fAcs, a
translation. In the original, which Mr..
Wilson helped to dsviIe and which he after
ward took, the word foreigner is repre-
scented as "Lions and Bears, and "RomSn
Catholics" always figure as Snakes" An
other part Of this same ritual speaks Of tue
'pss,ilsntial breath and Shiny tracks Of
Tour foe These "Lions and Bears and
"snAkss," with their presidential breath
and shiny tracks" are now asked to vote for
the man who helped 10 iaiIen these insult
log spihsts upon them; who vas at the
head Of the Massachusetts State Ledge in
1853 and who led the delegation Of that
State 10 the Grand Council Of the X. Ms
in Philadelphia, June, is55,-A Council
which met TO insure the election Of a Presi.
idens who should put tho policy Of proscrip-
ton into effect throughout the Union. The
oath which Mr.. Wilson took is juat as bind
Jog upon him nov a. then, and will be TO
the day Of his death. Il is perfectly consis-
tent for such leaders Of the GrAut party as
Wilson TO object to Mr.. Keraan because be
Is a catholic b We do not think their OBJ
isclion will iniure him.