The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-08-20
The Power Of Public Opinion; lis Proper
Attitude with Regard 10 Catholicism.

by JoHS POE, y. u. AZ tbe Blanchard
Church, Liberty township. We were
pleased 10 see a large attendance, which
was very hattcring TO Mr. Poe, as he was
at home, among the friends OF his boy
hood. He spoke from notes, but did not
appear to be haInpered By them, and bis
lecture was well delivered and abound
ed in strong points and happy hits. We
give the concluding portion OF the lee
tCl- for the benefit Of our reader, a. It
touches upon one o. the vital issues il
the present campaign.
We come now - the consideration u
a second division Of our subject. Do
not faint at it, prospective length, for we
are more than half through. We have
shown the power OF public opinion over
nations, its influence upon churches. and
its effect upon individuals. We have
endeavored TO exhibit its strength IL the
formation of governments, with their
laws, in the suppression of one and the
establishment OF another form Of relig-
ions doctrine. and In IL abolition Of that
bane Of any country-human slavery. II
tempts-and we all feel that such a power
exists in this cOuntry-certainly every
one Is anxious for its exercise in the re-
moval of any evils which may still exist
among Us. And since there are many
evils for which there il but the single
remedy, We must all agree that reason
dictates in the first place, the removal, II
possible, of that from which the danger
l.
this | will strive for Il few moments to
direct your attention, and if / shall sue
eeed in impressing your minds with the
importance, not only of public senti
ment in regard to 1t, but of a universal
action against it, / shall feel a thousand
times paid for my pains in preparing you
this address. / refer TO the gigantic evil
of Roman Catholic encroachments in
this country. we are well aware that
there are many good people among us
who, while they look with decided aver
sion upon the advance of ROIuanism, are
yet inclined 20 regard any danger to the
Republic from this source rather a. Wis
ionary than real Men may, perhaps,
console themselves with this view of the
question, so long as they are careful to
avoid all information relative TO the es-
tablishment OF well-grOunded epprehen-
sions In this particular, bat truly, the
facts and figures in the case must arouse
them from this position Of imagined Sc
cUrity. The increase of population in
this country from 1890 to 1875 has been
a trifie over !, GOO per cent. The increase
in our Roman Catholic population in the
same time has been nearly 16, 600 per
cent. In the year 1890 there was in the
United States one Roman Catholic for
every Isl OF population. In 1875 there
is one Roman Catholic for every of
population. In the past seventy-five
years they have arisen from OilC. SirtieH
to fully one-SsDh of our population. And
at the same rate of increase for the next
twenty-five years We will have III the
year 1900 one Catholic for every of
population, and they will hold working
majority in all of our larger cities and
States. But we have every reason to be
lieve that their rate of increase will be
fearfuliy augmented, even from immi-
grafton, if the determination on the part
OF European powers to subordinate them
to State control continues. And they
look for further increase TO the control
of the American youth. Year after year
more of our American girls to be trained
under Jesuit influences. xear nfter year
their schools are extending. Proud in
their increasing numbers, they have re
Gently made open bids for political pow
er. Impatient of the time when America
shall be a Catholic power. they now de
mand partial control of the public
schools. In his Lenten Pastoral, deliv-
cred in February, 1873, Bishop Gilmoar,
of Cleveland, said: '.Were Catholics
alive and united on the school question,
were they TO demand from every man
who ASKS their vote, a pledge that he
would vote for 0HT lusr share of the
school fund, legislatures would learn to
respect the Catholic vote, and give us
our Just rights" What does the Bishop
mean? His language seems TO convey
the idea that his infallibilty has discOy-
cred, somewhere in America, u political
party whose constituents are willing 10
sacrifice all hope or a perpetual Aneri-
can freedom merely for the satisfaction
Of party pTeiEdices. is it not possible
that even iEfallibi!ity Is mistaken in this?
Can there be political faction in this
country so regerdless of right as to be
tray the nation into the hands of an en-
emy, for the mere consideration OF party
ascendancy? Can the meanest politician
stooP so low us, Mt the Bishops bidding,
TO sacrifice all his sense Of justice and
honor3 We should love to answer that
the Rishop, for once, is mistaken, and
that there is no danger of such a sacri-
flee of principle. But facts forbid it
Party corruptiOns of the past preclude
the idea that such coalition is impossi- !
bic. 1t is too true that there are men in |
both political parties who would make |
any possible sacrifice for few years in |
cushions.
The impression which / WizI: here 70 |
leave is, that no man has right 30 he |
Influenced by such party leaders. We |
are glad to find in both our State plat
forms planks denouncing any division |
OF the school fund ia favor of religious
sects of any name. BIt it now remains
for the honest yeOmanry of the country
to compel their political leaders to stand
upon the platforms they have laid down.
and thus show the Catholics that their !
demand for rights as compensation for
their votes has not so much influence |
after all. We should recognize political
parties on this question 10 more than
if Italy should attack America in arms.
The cause is n common onu, and the very |
fact that the Catholics are arrayed, ns
shown by the Bishop, against our sys-
ZEN of education, of which we are all
Justly proud, and 20 which we look for
our future greatness is sufficient - ex-
cite the righteous indignation of every
rue American citizen, whether he be
Democrat or Republican, and when nee
sssary, to unite the entire vote of the
country against this invasion OF our free
Institutions. Catholics VIII tell you that
n Italy, where they have control of pub
ic education, there are very many more |
chools established than in Protestant |
Prussia. TEis you may grant But make
hem admit before leaving the question,
hat Italy with all her schools. IL one Of
he most ignorant, and Prussia one of |
he teSt educated of European nations.
hus bringing the truth to the suriace,
IL: that their schools teach little else
han Catholicism The record OF the
army during the last war in
orns us, that nearly if not quite, every
ne of the Prussian common soldiers
ould read and write. How is il in Cath
lie Italyl 1t has been shown by Gene
al Tore, in report published in 1871,
hat Of the young men born in 1SI6-47
nd As, who were Obliged to present
themselves for military service, sixty
inc out of every one hundred were un- |
70 ~ /