Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-09-25

For Experimentation D. GREER.
H.. 2. HAYNES
" JAMES NJ HARRIS
s. q. CANNON.
JOHN OTERTON.
JOSEPH BARBLERE.
For F0ater-L ". ELDRTDGE.
BIGOTRY OF THE GRANT ORGANs
The administration organs through
out the country are manifesting a spirit
Of religious bigotry every whit as in
tense and ~intolerant rs their blind ana
irrational prejudice againt the South.
The Journal Of Civilization embOdies
this spirit in the most Objectionable
forms-in forms which become distaste-
full to the crude ~sensibiIities of its most
enthusiastic admirers, and disgust even
the worst religious bigots. For a time it
was thought that among the h~alf-culti-
waited and badly informed literary sup
porters Of Grant the Journal Of GvEisa-
ton stood happily alone in this hide
hound religious intolerance. 1t was an
amiable mistake. That prejudice is
equally difEused over the whole subsi-
died and gangrened journalistic system
ofthegovernment. Throughout the great,
enlightened and liberal State Of New
York it is now pouring forth volumes Of
leprous ichOr, devil distilled and pois-
onous as hydrophobic froth. Francis P.
Herman, Of Utica, has been nominated
for Governor Of that State. He is a
man equally remarkable for his liberal,
progressive views, for his elOquence and
his political sagacity, an eminent citi-
zen, and an exemplary Christian, nOta-
Idly a good man, Of lofty character
and unquestiOned worth, as well
fitted as any in the State
for the honor conferred by
two conventiOns-the nomination
for Governor. A man with a pure record
and unsuIlied fame, than whom a better
could not have been selected to guide
the destinies Of his State. His nominal
ton appears to have given satisfaction
10 every well meaning person in New
York. from Buffalo TO Manhattan. 1t
was thought, and confidently hoped,
that nothing could be urged against him
10y any party. The people Of two con-
ventions-the Liberal Republicans and
the Democrats, looked forward to a very
pleasant campaign, which could not
fail to result in a glorious triumph, a
campaign that would be free from all
bitterness and party hate, free from
PARTY strife, save of a generous and
manly character. 1t was a generous
oversight in them not TO havetaken the
religious question into consideration.
The journal Of Civilization and It's host
Of satellites, 'like half formed insects on
the banks Of the Niie," were ready to
pounce on this new victim with terrible
avidity. Hi fresh blood and wholesome
flesh were sweet 10 their palates. He
was a Catholic. That Of course was
an objectionable crime and an I'M
social vice. They pouIced upon him at
once with an astonishing vigOT and a
voraciOus APPETITE. The New York Times
led the attack, the lesser p~aTtisans fol-
lowed. The yelping, bowling, scream
ing, croaking and buzzing that was
heard ali over the State in a few days
was terrific. If the Holy Father had
planted his slippered foot in the midst
of the Oneida community or under the /:
nose Of Beecher, the horror would not /:
have been so great. A Catholic gentle 8
mar for Governor Of New York. :
~Intolerable, Impossible! The Times :
said he must necessarily be a bigot. The e
stupid administration papers said he had $
sworn allegiance tc the Pope, and that Z
he was disloyal 10 the government. t
They cried out that the State would be y
Telegated back to the congenial dark
hess and superstition in which the
Church loved TO dwell. They said he q
could have No sympathies or feelings in {
common with Americans; that he was a
a narrow-minded religious fanatic; that :
ne was coppery in politics, and in faith; t
that he was worse than a Buddhist, or q q
Chinese, a Mormon, or a Malay-in a s
word, that he was a Catholic, and there Il
fore unfit to be honOred with the high V
and proud Office Of Governor of New b
York. The whole administration press q
Of the State joined in the cry. If he had p
beena thicklipped natives of TimbuctOO, '
a naked BorneOse savage, or a ~dirt-eater t.
from the banks Of the OrinOco, those O
would have expressed their salts Ii
at the choice. But being a Catho- n
lie Of great culture, refined tastes and Il
high social standing rendered him, in q
their jaundiced sight, worse than the a
gilest character on earth. And Yet they il
to be liberal, progressive, freedom p
loving, and the champions Of equal rights f
for all! When and where has a Catholic n
made any religious distinction when 81
,asting his vote? Throughout the whole o
States, and under all circum-
stances, he has been voting with
he people, sometimes this way and q
sometimes that, for men Of every II
denomination and of no al
denomination at all, irrespective Of reli- Sc
,ioUs tests or qualifications. Ninety a
line out Of every hundred OF his votes it
ire cast for men who do not belong to q
MS creed. He goes to the ballot-bOx at W
lmost every e%lectionand votes for Pres "
,yterians, MethOdists, Baptists, Spirit b'
E~piscopaiians, Free Thinkers, ci
'wedenborgians, Quakers, and for men m
Tho never go to church, and we hear no h'
-ord from him about religion. For ci
early a century he has been voting and pE
with parties in this government, te
nd he was never known to attempt to N
Iake a Catholic party or a Catholic 70
sue. He is as national as any man, 10
nd as thoroughly American as the adj ".
erents Of any other religious denOmi- ST
alton. he is like the rest of US, en- N
aged in the same pursuits, moved by o
re same causes and feelings, rs deeply II
lterested in the final success of Repub- ha
government; and, in fact the pr
iost intensely democratic Of men.
here is no national question in which gu
e is not interested; no national move
lent in which he does not take a part;
o national pursuit in which he does not pr
anticipate; nO national convention in 70
'hich he is not present; no national Ne
ght in whichhe does not strike a blow. pr
lie Is everywhere found with the people, LIZ
nd talks less about religion than those ce'
ious hypOcrites who are continually de ca