The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-09-08
WESTERN UNION RAILROAD.
SENATOR THURMAN ON THE
SCHOOL QUESTION,
Interference of the Protestant and
Catholic Priesthoods in Elections,

Interference of the Protestant and
Catholic Priesthoods in Elections,
Senator Thurman, in his speech at
Cleveland, Ohio, on Aug. %, had very
little to say about financial issues and
very much about the school question. The
following was the closing passage:
To hear Radical stumper talk of the
Catholic Church, you would think, ifyou
knew no better, that all the members Of
that Church are under the abs )lute domin-
ion Of their priest; that the priest has but
to point his finger, and his whole tlock vote
for the party to which he points. There
never was a more unfounded assertion,
never greater libel pronounced against a
body of American freemen. 10 matters
of religion the Catholic reyerently receives
the instructions of his spiritual guide; in
secular matters he acts. as other men act.
upon the dictates Of his own judgment,
There are tens of thousands of Catholics
who vote, and have always voted, the Re
publican ticket; and if the number OF such
votes is diminishing, it is not because OF
priestly domination, but because the spirit
of Know othingism again stalks abroad,
and threatens to obtain complete posses
many years since Archbishop Hughes Of
New York, and Archbishop Purcell of
Cincinnati, were open supporters OF Lin
coins administration, and were much APP
pauded by the Republican leaders for that
support. Then not one of those leaders
was heard to utter word about priestly
interference in politics, or priestly dOmi-
nation. On the contrary, these venerable
prelates were lauded to the skies by the
Republican party, and their example
everywhere cited as an iuducement to
Catholics to vote the Republican ticket.
Nay, further, President Lincoln manifested
his high regard for the Archbishop of
New York by sending him on mission to
Europe, and the whole Republican party
applauded the act, But did the course
taken by those eminent prelates- none
more eminent or better entitled to the
regard of their flocks and of mankind
control the Catholic vote? Every man OF
you is ready to say,no,f for it is as notorious
as that the sun gives light to the earth,
that the great body of Catholics continued
to be Democrats, and the Republicans
continued to be Republicans.
1t is little curious to hear Republican
speakers denounce what they call the in
reference oft Catholic priesthood in poll
tics, and then turn over few pages of his
tory and see what the Protestant priesthood
have done, mot only with the appreciation but
encouraged by the loud plaudits Of these
same Republicans. Have you forgotten
the petition to Congress of three Thousand
Il think that was the number) Protestant
ministers, denouncing the policy Of a Demo
cratic Administration, and with flourish
of trumpets it was presented and ap-
plauded And is it not an undeniable
TACT that no Democrat ever suggested OF
thought of assailing u Protestant church
because of that priestly interference il
politics 2" Is it not an undeuiable fact
that though the form and language of the
petition were criticised. though it was said
that it was of questionable propriety fol
the petitioners to appear in their clerica
character, and not in their simple capacity
OF citizens, yet no one was found to deny
their right of petition, or to viliiy theil
churches because they exercised that
right ? HaYe you forgotten the advent
in Washington of large body of Protes
tant clergy Of Chicago, who almost assum
ed to speak in the name of the Almighty
when demanding of President Lincoln the
issuance of the Emancipation Procama
ton ? and is not every man of you witnes:
OF the fact that priestly interference
in politics" occasioned no Democratic
assault upon a Protestant church, while OF
the other hand it was Justify applauded by
the Republican leaders and the Republi
can press And yet these same leaders
and this same press are ready to 60 int
spasms if Catholic priest has the audacit,
to exercise his right as an American citi
zen, and express, however modestly,
political opinion that's not orthodox accord
ing to the Radical creed.
Felow-citiZens, am not a catholic, ant
| have no desire to draw comparisons be
tween the Protestant. and Catholic priest
hood, but since the latter are so freely dc
nouuced for what is called their intcrler
ence in politics, it may not be amiss to AS
a few plain questions. What man eve
heard political sermon from a Catholi
pulpit? am sure never did, nor did
ever read or hear of one. What man ca
number the political sermons preached
from Protestant pulpits. from that of Hen
ny Ward Beecher, in Plymouth Church
down to that Of the humblest edifce who's
spire points TO heaven What man eve
heard of aCatholic priest making STUN
speech? l am sure | never did nor, do
believe such thing ever occurred. Blu
who can tell how many Protestant minis
tiers have taken the stump, from Henr
Ward Beecher down to the Granvill
Noodles? What man eyer heard of a Cath
ole priest being candidate for Office
know that | never did, nor do l believ
that any of you eyer did. But how man
Protestant ministers haye held, and no,
many yet hold office, from the halls Of con