The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-09-12
Speech q senator Tharaan as clsvsisaa.
CATHOLIC PRIEsTs AND PROTESTANT MINIS
TIERS IN POLITICS.

TIERS IN POLITICS.
The Radicals in Ohio are in need Of moro
standing ground, and are enlarging 90 ~ TO
include pretty broad plank Of old Know
Nothingism. It is of q piece of their old
policy. The "bloody shirtn shaken in the
"Rebel" face 10 slightly damaged by over
use, and now tLey lift the banner Of relig-
ious discord, and put on the livery of
Heaven to serve the Radical Devil in.
We copy this part OF the Senator'S able
speech, as we wish to show when and how |
It 10 that the tender piety of Radicalism is
60 painfully wounded in Ohio:
PRIEsrLY INTERFERENCE IN Politics.
| Ia close connection with the false clamor |
about the schools 10 another false ciamor of
priestly interference in politics. We hear
o great deal said about bill passed by the
last Legislature, commonly called the
s'Geghad bill" and to listen to Radical
man knowing nothing else Of the subject
would suppose that the bill 10 @ frightful
| encrmity, giving peculiar and immense
advantages to the Catholic Church over the
other churches in the State. Bot these
alarmists take good care not to produce
the bin itself, because 1t is only necessary
to read 1t to see that there il no foundation
whatever for their denunciations. There
is not word about the Catholic Church in
the Geghan law, not provision that gives
to that Church the siighest preference over
any other Church, not a provision that is
not found in substance in the Constitution
of the State, and that was not found in our
old Constitution. Ever since Ohio has
been State, even siVce the year of our
Lord 1902, the principles Of the Geghan bill
!, have been part of our Fundamental law.
The old Constitution declared "that all
men have q natural and indefeasible right
to worship Almighty God according to the
dictates of conscience; that no human
authority can in any case whatever control
or interfere with the rights of conscience; /;
that no man shall be compelled to attend,
erect or support any place Of worship, or to
maintain any ministFy against his consent;
that no preference shall ever be given by
law to any religious society or mode of
D worship, and no religious test ahall be re :
. quired aA o qualification to any Office of
q trust OF profit. But religion, morality and
knowledge being essentially necessary to
good government and the happiness Of
. mankind, schools and the means of instruc-
tion shall forever be encouraged by legis-
Q rights Of conscience" The same provision,
# enlarged in its scope, is found in the pres
ent Constitution, which declares, article z,
:. section 4, that call men have q natural and
10 according to the dictates Of their own con
science. No person shall be compelled to
9. attend, erect, or support any place o.
:. worship, or maintain any form Of worship
: against his consent; and no preference
O, shall be given by law to any religious soci
ID ETY. nor shall any interference with th'
IL rights of conscience be permitted. NJ
A religious test shall be required as quail
n 6cation for Office, nor shall any person b.
incompetent to be witness on account o
- his religious belief; but nothing hereil
shall be construed to dispense with oath
We and afirmations. Religion, morality, ant
on knowledge, however, being essential t
,al good government, it shall be the duty Q
oh the General Assembly to pass suitabl
y, laws to protect every religious depomina
OF mode of public worship, and to enceurag
Bx- schools and the means of instruction" An
ars now, what is the Geghau law Let me rea
co. it, aud you will see that every word hav
said of it is strictly correct, and the clamt
against it has not the elighest, foundation
me reaeo1 or truth. It reads as follows:
1cyF" An ACT to secure liberty of conscience
hat matters of religions to persons imprsone
ex, or detained by authority of law.
ra6A "sEcIIoN /: Be Il enacted by the General a
te'S sembly oF the State Of Ohio, That as liberty
ere conscience is not forfeited by reason OF convi
ecS tion of crime or by reason of detention in al
Il penal, reform atory, eleemosynary institution
=" any house of refuge, workhouse, jail or publ
are asylum in this State, no person in any snch
ana stitution shall be compelled to attend relgi
worship or instructions of q form which
against the dictates of his OF her consoienc
Ins and t shall be the duty of every director, tru
His tee, superintendent or other person having
.I Isl charge any such institution, to furnish amy
and equal facilities to oil such persons
oos receiving the ministrAtions of the authOriZ
len- clergyman of their own religious denominatio
~ or persuasions, under such reasonable rul
hand regulations as the trustees, directors, ma
Ieo' EAgers or euperinteDdents shall make, but
ran such rules RhNll be 90 construed as to preve
E u the clergyman of eny denomination from IN
administering the rites Of his denomination
WSS suoh inmates; provided, guoh ministEstton
tail no expense on the public treasury.
:, ~ SEC 2. This aot shall take effect from q
Z n after its passage.
:. - GEO. L. CONVERSE,
,aSff Speaker Of the House of Representatives
,ipkl "ALPHoNSo HART,
-,...-sssqs4sa--. 'iPresident of the Senate
snot Passed March 30, 1875.
hiOlS WAgu,this blu nrss passed the House