The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-04-16
A strange Political Alliance in

We have already explained the nature
and import Of the Geghan bill in Ohio,
II simply requires that the directors or
superintendents Of penal, refOrmatOry
and eleemosynary institutions (which in
cludC penitentiaries, jailS, reform schools
work-houses, public hospitals and asy'
lums) shall extend 10 all inmates equal
facilities for receiving the ministratidnf
Of ministers Of their own religious de-
nomination. provided, that such minis
trations shall be given without any cost
to the State. The law Is intended to pre-
vent the exclusion of Catholic priests
from these institutions, and, to this OK
tent, il Is entirely in keeping with the
spirit Of our government and with the
Constitution OF the State Of Ohio, which
provides that "No person shall be com
PEELED to attend, erect or support any
place OF worship, or maintain any form
Of worship against his consent" and that
'"NO preference shall bC given by law
to any religious society" In itself
therefore, the bill Is moi only harm.
less, but entirely right and proper,
But il discussion pending tho passage has
developed evidence Of q acuriOus, and, We
think, Improper and dangerous alliance
between the Democratic party and the
Catholic Church in the State Of Ohio,
which, II maintained, may lead to the
most disastrous results, After the bill
was proposed Mr.. Geghan, It's author, nd,
dressed an open letter to u Cincinnati
gentleman, in which he held that more
than half 81 the Democratic party In the
State Of Ohio consisted Of Irish and Ger
man Catholics, md the Catholics had II
"priOr claim" upon that party; and in
which he also intimatGd that II this claim
were not distinctly recognized, the sup
port Of the Catholics would be withdrawn
from the party. While this letter was an
unusual and improper assertion Of relig.
ious claims upon u political party, IL was
only personal declaration, But II was
followed up by u still more curious aud
improper article in the GtthOiiO Telegraph,
Of Cincinnati, the organ Of the church in
Ohio, from which the following is an ex-
tract: ...
"The political party with which nine.
lenths Of the Catholic voters atliliate,On nc
count Of past services they will never for
get now controls the State. Withdraw
The support which Catholics have given
10 It, and II will fall In this city, county
and State as speedily rs ithas risen to lis
Iong.lUst position and power. That party
IL now upon its trial; Mr., Geghan's bill
will test the sincerity Of its profession"
This is something more than n dGclara-
liOn that the Democrats Of Ohio must
support tho Gcghan bill or lose the Cath
olic vote, which gives II ils power in that
State. II Is also u declaration IN effect
that the Democratic party in Ohio must
support every measure suggested or pro-
posed by the Catholic Church, In the in-
ierest Of that church, or else lose the
Catholic vote. FOrif the threat Is eilec-
lively made in one case, It may be eilec-
lively made in every other. Herein lies
the danger. While the claim Oft Cath
oliCs In the Geghan bill is just and fair,
there Ia no assurance that their demands
In every other CNse will be equally just
and lair. as matter o. l9GI Ihsir clergy
are already demanding III New ork anu anu
in various parts Of the country that either
they shall be relieved from taxation for
the support OF the public schools, or that
proportion o. The Sehool lnnu .hali Oe
SGT aside ior Tue support o. .helr Pnir", i,,,
Ghlal, dOgmatlc SCHOOLS. ms SccsaIaM, .lia",,
demand Is 80 reGngnahI 10 Ameticn,, ,.a',,ic,,n
IDEAS anu inc SPirlt ] o. onr '"I9,.s,Ho ,,t ,rEnn