The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-04-14
The Coming Political Campaign
In Ohio.

There are not wanting evidences Tint
II new political issue il to figure more or
less conspicuonsly among our ONO
neighbors this fall. Those who read the
Cincinnati papers do not need to be told
what this new issue il. For tho benefit
however Of those who do not We will OK
plain the nature Of ii. Before tho ad.
iournmcnt of the late lcgistIire II bill WINS
passed providing that in all the penal,
rcformatory or charitable institutions OF
the State, "no persons shall be compelled
to attend religious worship or instrIic-
tions Of form which is against the die.
tatcs of his or her conscience; and II
shall he the duty ofevGryIircctor, trustee,
superintendent, or other person having III
charge any such institution to furnish
ample and equal facilities to all such per-
sons for receiving the ministraliOns Of tho
authorized clcrgymcn Of their own re-
ligious denomination or persuasion, iIn'
der such reasonable rules and regulations
IA the trustees, directors, managers OF
.superihtendentA shall make; but no sucI
rules shall be 40 construed aS to prevent
the clergyman Of any denomination from
fully administering the rites Of his de-
nomination 10 such inmates, provided
such ministration entailnO expense on the
public treasury"
This bill goes by the name Of tho Geg'
han bill, and It's passage has stirred npo
feeling throughout tho State the like oI
which has not been known since the days
of Know Nothingism. AT first reading
IL does not seem Objectionable in princi'
pie, but the objection 10 it Is thus stated
by the Cincinnati Gdseitc:
atts language il shrewdly guarded, but
ia disorganiEing influence on moral In
struction In our reiOrmatories and prisons
cannot be disguised. While dstensibly
putting all denominations oil all equality,
II cQuitably carried out, COnvicts must
hereafter be divided according to sect
We shall have Catholic burglars, Presby'
terian garrotera, Methodist liighwuyment
Episcopal forgcrs, Hebrew sheep steal
era, etc. Oi course, this discrimination
would bc absurd and impOssib ibIe IN some
instances, for representative Of every
sect within the prison walls cannot be
found at all times without 1t. II the con.
Wet is not rigidly secturiati, m available
representative OF another denomination
might I've found. II he il a tlGvOtec, he IL
to be made the Judge Of the prOpriety Of
receiving AIy instruction, IN other words,
men who cannot be trusted outside the
prison walls, aud whose hands do not
have respect for other peoples lives and
property, are held competent to judge oi
the incest theological distinctions"
The discussion Of the bill is not con
fined to the Cincinnati press, but is gen
cral throughout the State Of Ohio. Its
passage is not so much objected to on &c.
count of its specific provisions, as because
itexcitcs a fear that II IA but the first
sign Of movement which contemplntea
nothing less than the active Intervention
Of the Catholic Church in the affairs Of
the State. This fear has been greatly
stimulated by the language used by the
Cincinnati Catholic Telegraph, the reputed
organ Of Archbishop Purcell, in regard tc
the bill. That paper has, II teems, bccr
imprudcnt enough TO virtually proclaim
an alliance between the Democracy ant