Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-08-05
Geghan's Famous Letter Assert.
ing the Claims of the Catholics
on the Democratic Party.

COLUMBUS, u, March ., 1919.
James W. Murphy, Cincinnati, Ohio:
FRIEND JAMEs-I see by the public
press that my bill, which l introduced
into the General Assembly, in refer
ence to inmates of penal and reforma-
tory Institutions, granting them liber-
ty of conscience in matters of religion,
ETC., is already attracting public atten-
ton. 1 am in receipt of a communica-
ton from Mr.. T. H. Graham, President
land, Ohio, asking me what course it
would be best for them to pursue in Or
der that they may most effectually as
sist and enable me to carry out success
fully the measure that / have under
consideration at present. AS this
measure affects Catholics solely, it Is
really a Catholic measnre-viz: Grant
ing to Catholic clergymen the same
rights and privileges that are now and
have been granted since the formation
Of this State to clergymen Of other de-
nominations-it is high time tnat the
Catholics of this State sho'd assert their
right as citizens, and look after their
own interests. And if they are now
laboring under any grievances or dis
disadvantages, owing to unjust and
discriminating laws placed in the stat
utes against them-placed there by
prejudicial Legislatures-the fault en-
tirely lies within themselves, and the
remedy to strike from the statutes such
obnoxious laws is within their grasp.
What is worth having is worth asking
for. Aside from them being entitled
to the same rights and prerogatives as
any other sect in this cOuntry, its mem
bers contributing-as they have done
in the past and do at the present time
by not only paying their portion of
| the public revenue in support of State
institutions, and also hundreds of thoU-
sands of them contributing by the sac
rifice of their lives to the perpetuity of
the Union, and numbering as we do
nearly one-third of the population OF
this State, surely we ought to be enti-
tied to the same rights and privileges
with other citizens belonging to other
sects.
We have a prior claim upon the
Democratic party. The elements COM
posing the Democratic party in Ohio
to-day-fully two-thirds of said party
are Irish and German Catholics, and
they have been always loyal and faith
full to the Interests of the party. Hence
the party is under obligations to us, land
have perfect right to demand of them
as party, inasmuch as they are in
control of the State Legislature and
State government, and we by both out
means and votes placed them where
they are to-day, they should as par.
ty redress our grievances. l would
counsel the same mode of action to the
citizens of the southern portion of the
State to those living in the northern,
viz: that every Catholic society and ev.
cry Roman Catholic citizen immedi.
ately proceed to get up petitions, sign.
ed by all the Catholics and as many
liberal citizens as they can find in their
districts, and forward said petitions to
their Representative in the General
Assembly, calling upon them to sup
port my bill. Let the fire commence
along the line. Procrastination is
death. Everything depends upon i'm.
mediate action. The members of the
is not needed. Let them hear from
their constituents through petitions,
and assure you it will bring them to
sense of their duty. The Democratic
party has pandered to the interest OF
the whisky dealers by repeating the
Adair law, thereby gaining about 90
600 votes. Let us see if they will pay
attention to a demand Gust and equi-
table) coming from $4,000 citizens be-
longing to their party. If the plan is
carried out feel sanguine of success.
JOHN ]. GEGHAN.
You are at liberty to apply this letter
to any purpose that will be conducive
to the measure am advocating.
J. J. G..