The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-09-09

not one of these leaders was heards to
utter word about priestiysisterfer-
encs in politics, Or priestly demina-
ton. On the contrary, these venera-
bic prelates were lauded to the skies
by the Republican party, and their
example everywhere cited as an in
ducement to Catholics to vote the Re-
publiean tickst.ssNay, further, Presi-
dent Lincoln manifesteds his high re-
gard for the Archbishop of New York
BY sending him on . mission to- Eu-
rope. and the whole Republican party
applauded the act But did the course
taken by these eminent prelates--
none more eminent or better entitled
to the regard of their focks and of
mankind-contrel the Catholic vote
Every man of you 10 ready to say no ;
for it 10 as notorious as that the sun
gives light to the earth. that the great
body Of Catholics continued toIvote a.
they had been accustomed to vofe-the
Democrats continued to be Democrats
and the Republicans continued to be
Republicans. Fellsw-citizensi ! am
not Catholic, and I have no, desire
to draw comparisons between the
Protestant and Catholic priesthood,
but since the latter are SO freely de-
nounced for what is called their inter-
ference in politics, it may not be amiss
to ask . few plain questions. What
man has ever, heard . political
sermon from Catholic pulpit am
sure I neYer did, nor did I eyer read
or hear of ono. What man can num-
Der, the political sermons preached
f.om Pr, .stant pnlpits, from that Of
Henry Ward Beecher in Plymouth
Church down to that of the humblest
sdifce whose spire points to heaven !?
What man ever heard Of q, Catholic
priest making stump speech7 l am
sure I never did, nor do believe that
such a thing ever occurred. But who
can toll how many Protestant ninis-
ters have taken the stump, from Henry
Ward Beecher down to the. Granville
Moodies7 What man ever heard Of q
Catholic priest, being candidate for
Office? I know that I never did, nor
dol believe that any of you ever did.
But how many Protestant ministers
have held, and how many yet hold
Office, from the Halls Of Congress and,
Of the State Legislatures down TO the
humblest Offices Of the county, the
city and the town? Fellow -citizens.
yeu win much misnndersfand me if
you suppose that in anything I have
said mean to censure, much less con-
demn, any Protestant church or any
Prote estant priest. On the contrary, I
stand here to defend the rights ofeve-s
~ church, and to maintain that every
man, be he Christian or Jew, Protest.
ant or Catholic, priest or layman,. be-
liever or unbelievcr, to the fullest ex-
tent, his rights ~ 3 citizen that he
shall have the rights guaranteed BY
our constitutions-Feder and State
tho right of free speech, the right to
petition the lawmaking power the
right to vote as he sees fit, the right to
hold Office, and, most sacred of all, the
right to. worship Almighty God ac-
to the dictates of his own.
stand here to naintaia
that Ne shall not be traducod aud Bros
scribed because he exercises these
rights that > vindictiye s,preiudice
shall not be excited against him be-
cause heeexercises them that he shall
be, to all intents and purposes, what
the constitution makes hin,. ; free
man. .7rs ;{is - issFlf feaq ,sssEs