New-York tribune., 1875-08-17

The ouarreI betwpen Catholic and Protestant has
an odd resemblance to vendetta inasmuch "a those
who wage it most bitterly have but vague idea OF
the cause of it. 1t bids fair TO come to head and
outbreak soon in Philadelphia between tho more
ignorant followers of each church lthe men who spoil
for fight on st. Patrick's day and the 18th OF
july on behalf Of certain Father Gerdemann
This young man left the Roman Catholic
Church, as our readers know, because as
he states, he found it impossible to believe
in the infallibility of tho Pope; or. as his
enemies assert because he had embezzled the funds
of the church, and wanted to marry. The charge OF
enbezzlement however was not proved when he was
brought up for trial. Gerdemann is clever, shrewd
man. and bids fair to be a dangerous enemy; the
war goes therefore, His last move was 10 lecture
supported by thousands of the ScOtch-lrsh Orange
men his themc. Of course, the priesthood lie
showed his sagacity by not accusing them OF any
monstrous crime the deep depravity with which
his hearers would willingly have credited them but
by pcturing them men on precisely the same level
as his hearers, of like passions, and more ready TO
fall into the temptation Of those passions. Perhaps
the antpathy between tho two great divisions of the
Christian Church will some day reach open out
break in this country as it has in every other but
we ina gne such attacks this will influence either
side but little: while political causes. or the infringe
ment of civil rights by any sect, will speedily pro-
woke public Indignation. the people will care very
little for the private character of its priests. The
true Catholic believes the divine blessing comes to
him without bemish. however corrupt the
hands that convey it and the true Protestant mas
too much faith in the teaching of Christ to suppose
the crror5 of one church class of teachers can
affect it,
Women who support their husbands, incapable
through vice. Incidence, or stupidity of supporting
themselves are no more rare birds than they are
happy ones Here, one of many instances is Francis
Hail. of Providence, II. l., young man of color, who
has established intimate relations with the police
and will reside for thirty days in prison. for kicking
Mrs. Hall and belaboring her with chair. ln ev-
dcnce it was shown that young Mrs. Hall supports
Francis Hall, finding him in food and raimcnt and
lodging and probably in alcOholical stimulants and
cigars. The presumption is that Mrs. Hail. forgetiu
of the boot and tho chair, impOrtuned the Judge to
let off her Frank with fortnight or a small fine
which she would have cheerfully paid, taking home
her prodgal once more to live upon her earnings and
once more to misuse her. Who wonders that women
usually classed as strong-minded' or. "prOgres-
siver are little angry with their weaker sisters who
patiently suffer all sorts of indgnity and injustice at
the hands of worthless, drunken, selfish and lazy hus-
bands! Yet what help is there for this so long as
usually does while it remains at all Sometimes
altreated wife says: have lost all my love for that
man." and 40 lets him drift down the river of ruin;
but for one woman who thus asserts herself, there
are hundreds who love 10 the last. With them 1t Is
uscles, to reason; but when Judge gets chance to
give one of these hard-hitng Frank Halls term OF
imprisonmcnt it is always best to make it as long as
the law permits.
We read that a. part of the discipline of the Iowa
State Penitentiary, no convict ~ permitted to
read ANYTHING which will give him information of
what il going on in the world outside the prison.
walls. No newspapers therefore, are allowed nor
any book indicating the progress of events We
confess that this to us rather severe rule In
the first place. the prisoner should hardly be confined
to reading that which has to him no living interest,
and in many cases the rule will amount to prohibit
ton of all reading whatever. But the worst result
will he the utterly ignorant condition in which,
upon the expiration of hs term the convict will be
liberated If he were TO stay for life in his cell 1t
would be different. and the greatest kindness to
him would be to help him to forget the world; but
AT the end Of ye ten, twenty years he Is to be re-
leased if he be living and is to enter upon life again.
In these future years he has property. The law has
not taken them from him. nor has the law any right
to interfere with his full enjoyment of them But
how is he to enjoy them if he is turned ont uninte
gent. uniformed, stupefedf How is he to take his
place again, upon equal terms in society, when he
has 80 long been kept in ignorance of social events
changes improvements The Iowa Penitentiary has
n claim upon his person for a certain time, but what
claim has it upon his mindf
pUPTTC OpyyTOy