The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-07-29
From Harper's Weekly-I
The Ultramontanes in Ohio.
BY EUGENE LAWRENCE.

| 'Cathollc vote Is apparently nelu IN
rigid obedience to its bishop and its papal
press. Even its German Catholics have
lost their Independent spirit which some
times marks them in Europe, and their
great charitable association, composed OF
delegates from the chief cities of the
Union, has given in its adhesion to the
ultramontane policy. The priest selects
or excludes its members. 1t has been
converted into an extensive league for
the suppression of the common schools.
No one can be member of this charita-
Bile association, or enjoy its benefits, who
sends his children to these heretical SEM
inaries. The Germans are to be forced
into the Irish faction of Bishops McQuaid
and Ryan, and are to be made, if posi-
bic, as restless and as dangerous to the
peace of the community as that excitable
race which seems just now everywhere
proclalmlng its wrongs and its persecu-
tlons. Possibly the ultramontane lead
ers may fail in their plans altogether,
and may find that the German Catholics
of Ohio are not to be drawn into a close
union with the open enemies of their
father-land, and it will be curious study
to observe in the future politics of that
State how far German-Americans can be
subjected and overawed by the threats of
accommodation and the terrors of their
|
have always been the characteristics of
the German intellect. Freedom and
progress have come to US from our Ger
man ancestors. 1t would, indeed, be a
remarkable event, therefore, if in the
New World the German should once
more assume the chains of priestcraft.
and submit to a spiritual despotism which
he had been the chief means of destroy
ing in the Old. Yet the e.ultramontanes
in Ohio have evidently no fear of any re-
volt among the German population
against their rigid rule. They promise
TO the Democratic leaders "the solid un-
broken Catholic vote" Germans and
Irish are to march together to the polls
| The "Church" commands, its members
have no choice but obedience; and Ohio
| is to witness the first open conflict be-
tween the enemies of American educa-
tion aAd German unity and that liberal
form of republicanism which has made
our country the favored seat of the i'm
migrant and the home of human equality
If the priests can lead the German Cath
olics In Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana to the
polls to vote for ultramontane candidates
alone, we shall have plain and instruc-
tive example before US of the way in
which the Roman Curia is laboring to
! get the control of all modern govern
ments, by which it has seized upon Bel
GUM, and covered Germany with the
| elements of discord and destruction
One intelligent and patriotic German in
| Illinois, however, has warned his coun-
trymen of the danger of touching the
unholy alliance with the Catholic Democ-
racy. Mr.. Frederick Hecker is we'll
known for his accomplishments and his
integrity to all Germans, and his solemn
appeal may well arouse them to reflection.
He points out that ultramontanism in
America is exactly what it is in Europe
and at the Vatican; that it is a league to
destroy liberty, progress, and culture
throughout the world; that its natural
effect may be seen in perishing Spain or
divided France; that The German who
joins benevolent society pledged to
obey only the priest has united in a
league against the peace of the father
land; that the Catholic Democracy is
the natural foe of united Germany, and
the Republican party, with its broad and
generous principles, its patriotic memo
ries, and its close union with German
sentiment, the only safe league for the
German to join. Such, in effect, is Mr.
Hecker's appeal. and it may be hoped
that by the election of 1876 the Teutonic
element of the Catholic Democracy will
be separated forever from its ultramon-
tame guides.
In Cincinnati, however, at the recent
papal celebration, all was exultation and
success. A great procession moved
through the. streets of the city, which
were hung with flags and banners.
Knights Templars, men in armor, Knights
of st. George, and well-trained body of
soldiery, armed and equipped for action,
made up the remarkable spectacle. The
delegates heard mass, and met in docile
assembly. Some opposition was looked
for from the less fanatical members, but
it was silenced easily, and with rare
unanimity the representatives of $4,000
Germans placed the control of their asso.-
citation in the hands of a priesthood
which they knew was plotting the ruin
of German unity and of their native land.
If France and Austria assail Germany to-
gether, it is plain that the Emperor and
Bismarck will find little aid from the
German Catholic Benevolent Society
But the elimination of the celebration
lay in its closing ceremony. On Sunday
evening the vast throng of ultramontanes
filled the Grand Opera-house to reple-
ton. Bishop Purcell presided; the Jes-
uit college and the Catholic Telegraph
were, no doubt well represented in the
crowded house, and Bishop MQuaid. the
Catholic knight-errant of the lecture
room, delivered a violent attack upon
the American common schools. He had
been invited to Cincinnati for the pur-
pose, and one chief object of the ultra
montane gathering was evidently to mark
out for the Democracy that policy in ed
ucational matters which they will here
after be expected to pursue Having
"Geghanized" one Legislature the priests
feel that the Democratic leaders in the
future can give them little trouble.
They have only to secure the next cleo
ton if they would effectually iniure or
destroy the common schools Of Ohio. To
further this object, Bishop MQuaid un-
sheathed all the weapons of his spiritual
armory. The schools, he said, were
goddess; they were pagan; they were
unpopular; they were dying out. He
thought it a clear injustice that Catho-
lies should be forced to pay for schools
which they do not choose to use; as if
Catholics were to be favored above all
other sects. He might perhaps had he
dared, have complained that Catholics
were forced to pay taxes to a government
that had not yet learned to obey a Pope.
Animated by a sense of persecution and
the applause of unrefecting Germans,
our Irish prelate said the common-schooi
system of America was no better than
the Spanish Inquisition. He forgot
that but for popular education and the
common schools the Roman Inuuisition
would have hourished still in Europe and
America, and the Pope its Supreme In
quisitor, would have crushed freedom
and knowledge wherever his faithful
bishops had fixed his sway. The Roman
Inquisition, which still lives in the per
son of Plus TX, and which is sanctioned