The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-20
For the Register.
Miss O'GOrnaa's Attack on the
Catholics---Au Appeal for Fair
naalIn~

CathoIics---an Appeal for Fair
! Dealing.
Some thoughts suggested By tie recent lee,
turc, a9freSSeato TO fair minded ladies and
honest men.
|. Speaking in general is it fair or
honorable TO accept against persons Of
fair farHe the accusations Of vasrant
deiamer, OF one whose bread is earned
bv such defamation? whose receipts
are in proportion with what is uttered
ofthe sensational and Infamous What
would be thought OF q juryman weak
enough 10 he influenced by such
witness, OF verdict based on such
testimony? What would one think il
ones own interests or character had
been assaiIei by such? Be then fair to
others.
>. In this particular case, according
to the published report, the accuser
tells us that she was six wears in a
convent, saw frequent acts Of lewdness
by nuns and priests-caught the supe.
rior in n criminal act She spoke Of
infants born and disappcaring-of a
child poisoned What are we to think
OF a witness who appears, by her own
acknowledgment, with this accumulated
weight OF guilt on her own head.
Habitual lewdness, infamies, murders,
connived at by silence. But, it may
be SAID, she could not tell-she was
enclosed behind bars-she would
not have been credited-she was
unprotected, &c. | appeal TO
every lady AM gentleman who has
acquaintance with our converts, to al.
most every one who has gone even as a
casual visitor, whether any yirtuous
woman could not on such occasions have
made known her unfortunate position
among such vile companions. This
lecturer was teaching numbers OF
children, any one Of whom could have
taken letter to the office to notify her
relatives. Bnt let the public reflect
that Edith OGorman never was the
inmate OF a nunnery II she so pre-
tends, it would be but necessary TO
inquire where? 10 obtain evidence
OF the imposture She was with
the Sisters orCharity, whose duties re-
semble those Of the Sisters st. Joseph
among ourselves They are not what
Catholics call cloistered religious! or
Nuns. They are seen on the streets
frequently going to and from their
schools, visiting the sick, attending TO
the business OF the community. What
sane man would doubt the ability OF
these to leave a community with which
they were dissatisfied? Every man
would stand up as their defender
Every house would afford shelter.
The civil authorities would protect
And the moment her testimony OF the
infames detailed by Edith OGorman
were given, the law would take charge
of the guilty, and for Catholics, they
would he the loudc4t in denouncing the
hvpocritca. Her lectures and the lee.
lures published as hers are in striking
contrast and well worth a little study.
When all these things are weighed
by honest minds the value Of Edith
O'Gorma, = testimony becomes small
indeed. But what is 10 lie thought Of
this efIrontery of a woman who testiies
that there were good persons living in
such a state. Could not such have
been summoned 10 sustain her testimony
against the wickci2 Or was she alone
fortunate or unfortunate enough ito be
about when the iniamics were per
petrated? ?
3. On this last inquiry depends
another, which the lawyers must
answer. Is not one, cOgnizaHt OF re-
peated acts OF murder, amenable as
pqrticcps crimiai5' And If in explsna.
ton it i. said there was insufficient eyl.
deuce on which 10 rest an accusation
at law, or even institute an inquiry, il
there enough (weighing the whole tes-
timony) even 10 tarnish the fair fame
OF any Catholics understand well
the motives and the value Of
the accusa'ioGs thus made against
those OF whose bright virtues
they feel indeed proud, Tor they
knoc than. Catholic voices by the
million, and everywhere, are raised in
their defense; and If the testimony OF
snch as Edith o German aesc7ibtS herseB
10 be, impresses any one. we fnd comfort
in the wisdom Of the old proyerb:
Zone is very apt to judge ones neigh
Dor by ones SELF This explains in q
measure the readiness to attend such
lectures. There are even people who
thouzhtlessly enough maintain the i'm
possibility OF continued confluence,
arousing suspicion in regard to their
own purity. Suck an idea Of human
nature seems IN truth to have been
expressed n the lecture and u very
suggestive.
Religion and its ministers are
mixed up with this attack on the Cath.
olic church and its institutions. and its
cherished members. How like the
attack on the poor defenceless servant
girls, falsely charging them with base
ness and with crime, and imperiling
their very means OF subsistence. Read.
ers will not fail to note the condolences.
What departure from the beautiful
requirements OF charity as detailed BY
st. Paul 10 his Ist Epist. TO the Cor,
18th chap, without which, he says, all
else is nothing. Charity is kind .
thinke,h no evil rejoiceth not in
iniauity." What is to be thought Of q
system or sect needing such support as
that which has given occasion TO these
reflections. The words OF more than
one Of the ministry sufficiently attest
the purpose Of the Escaped Nuns lee