The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-03-24

instruction which he don't likel Geghan
supposes that the consciences of these
men are so delicate that the misery OF
hearing under compulsion what they
don't like in respect to religion is a ter
rible disgrace to our free institutions and
to religion!
Who ever before supposed that the
man who would deliberately murder his
wife had any conscience at ALP Who
before ever suspected such exceeding
delicsey of the "moral sense" and such
scrupulous sensitiveness in the thrice
convicted thief and burglar? 1t had been
generally supposed that the inmates OF
the penitentiary were there because of a
destitution OF the moral sense called con-
science. 1t had also been supposed that
the most of them were too ignorant to
have any very clearly defined views OF
truth and duty.
Geghan upsets all this philosophy and
declares it an abominable outrage upon
conscience to compel attendance upon
tile preaching of one whoi does not be-
long to the church which they have
some of them) been born to. His bill
provides that no person imprisoned by
authority OF law shall be compelled to
attend any form of religious service OF
worship which is contrary to the die
tates OF his or her conscience; and that
equal facilities shall be furnished to all
for receiving the religious ministrations
of their respective denominations. &C.
CHAN plants himself on the American
doctrine OF religious liberty.
Why don't he be consistent and plant
himself on the American doctrine of per.
sonal hbertyP Has not convict as
good right to demand freedom for his
legs, which are reality to him, as well
as for conscience, of which he is desti.
tute? But he may have a religious
creed, says Geghan. Well, what right
has his religious creed that gave him nc
conscience, or his church that afforded
no protection to his victims to any par.
ticular consideration in an institution
where he is confined like dangerous
wild beast?
Why coniine his bill to the prisoners vain
Imagination of religious conscience,
while he is deprived of SO much that is a
solid fact to him? Has not the stomach
which lie most certainly possesses, some
rights as well as conscience, which is to
him very doubtful realityp Why
should one be compelled to feed on pork
and beans and corn bread if they are
not congenIal to his taste?
But how many varieties of cons science
does Mr.. Geghan propose TO relievef
There may be some who are opposed to
ever? Does his bill provide for such?
Are the Atheists to be furnished with
Atheistic ministration? Why not, if the
great reform OF Mr.. Geghan rests upon
the doctrine of religious freedom? Does
he contemplate seauces tor the Spirit
ualists? Why not? Are there no hthe-
lists or Spiritualsts in the Penitentiary
TO suppose negatively is too high CON-
VI AbuSlniu anu
Geghan's bill is little cheap, mighty
cheap, demagoguery. The convicps
conscience comes in altogether too late.
The State tolerates no sectarianism in
any of her institutions. The ministra-
tions at the Penitentiary are simply
moral Instruction. This is the spirit of
the Constitution of Ohio. If there is any
sectarianism there which any denomina-
ton can reasonably object to, it should
be cast out.
AS to who shall give the instruction,
we would say that if ecclesiastics are to
be the teachers, any and all of them
should be free to attend in the chapel OF
the Penltentiary on Sundays to teach
without money and without price.