Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-11-19
Editor Republican :

tue OdInoii0 ueSecraUOn OF the Sunday,
September 14th, were false, they could
have been exposed instantly, for this thing
was not done in a corner. If the facts be
admitted, as they seem to be, of the Sun
day excursion, the armed procession dur
ing the hour of worship, the picnic and
the sale of beer, the moral and intelligent
community will probably be as settled and
as lasting in their conclusions now. as
though the n erited exposures had been al
lowed to quietly pass into forgetfulness.
When we negatively inquired about cer-
tain other legal aspects of the case, the
reply is on such occasions it is a universal
custom to disregard the law with the con-
nivance OF the officials. This is rather q
frank avowal and is perhaps true so far as
The Cath oic habit of doing things, bat it
does not increase their reputation As law
abiding citizens. We are at loss to know
which are the more highly "honored" by
this open statement of the situation-the
so-called christian church, or the NATIONAL
state and city officers.
The defense has several times urged with
some show of candor that beer is a neces
sary part of German sustenance. We have
not noticed the point because we have not
proposed to be led away from the disre-
gard for law and order manifested on the
part OF the Catholic Church. Even if it
were shown that our German friends could
not 80 through with church service With
out beer, there were enough open saloons
in our city to preserve life, without the
Church of Christ assuming the responsible
ty before the law and public opinion of ad-
dag to the number. The question is not
the right or wrong Of beer drinking, but
the wrong Of the Church in selling it on
Sunday. 1t was for this reason that we APP
peared Indifferent to sustaining charge
that any one really got drunk.
The ''Student" with Sophomore display
challenges US to prove how we would pun
ish them for disturbing our public worship.
probably proceed as against nuisance"
and it would then be found what kind and
how much Of disturbance one class of
people in the streets, are permitted to make
against another class, assembled in their
place Of worship, and how much ground
should be reasonably covered by "the rel ig-
ious end of even a Catholic Corner Stone
laying. Before competent jury it might
possibly be less than the arrogance of the
transgressor leads them to suppose. They
seek to plead the ''relgious privilege of
the statute, when we convict them of dis
tnrbing our worship. If they want extern
ded to them these "religious" privileges
they must not, in one day present so many
notable examples of en- utter disregard Of
what the Sunday laws say shall not be
DONE
We return many thanks for the clear
exposition of the intense hostility of Catho-
lies toward personal liberty We shall try
not to be caught again with the error of
supposing that they sshave predictions for
liberty of any kind, and we may honestly
be allowed to express the hope, if ever the
Liquor Dealers association unfurl their
flag in this city, especially in favor of free
beer on Sunday, that st. Bernard's W i'll not
be found entangled in its folds
We have been charged with making a
personal assault upon Rev. Father Corby,
and raising general howl against Roman
ism. We are not conscious of any personal
disrespect toward Father Corby, unless it is
a disgrace for him to be known as the re-
sponslble head of St. Bernard's on the mem
orable l4th of September We have all
the time believed and said that he wonld
have had some things very different if he
could have controlled the wild elements
that were let loose upon Society. AS for
attacking Romanism we have done our
best to be moderate in face of the chances.
but when the matter in hand is settled. if
the provocatlon continues, we may possibly
be indiscreet enough to let loose some things
on its political and social advantages. But
such an investigation even in the presence
of an able antagonist might appear like "a
malicious course and We ought not to be
malicious even when telling the truth.
We have, Mr.. Editor, taken the privilege
of the accuser to review the case, intro
ducing no new matter The defense has
labored Volumirously, and no objection has
been made to his using in the aggregate one
| page Of your paper. Our charges must set
close and hurt hard if any more space is
needed to "upset' them.
E. B. CUMMINGS.
l 20 SrrSh