Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1875-09-09

COLUMBUS, Aug. 24.-This being the
geographical and political center of
the State it is quite a good place to
meet men of both political parties,
and persons with noses for news can
at almost any time find some patriot of
more or less prominence to discuss
the political situation with, and quite
frequently pick up items of consider
able public interest. While meander-
ing about the Capitol recently with a
gentleman known to fame as n Demo
cratic member of the late lamented
General Assembly, the conversation
took in the now famous or infamous
bit of legal abortion known as the
Geghan law.
After speaking rather plainly of
what knew of the influence brought
to bear to secure this law, how the
Holy Fathers of the Romish Church
haunted the legislative halls during
the pending of the measure, hew they
buzzed members at their rooms, met
them on the streets, and almost be-
came their shadows day after day, the
late SOlon quietly acquiesced in all
had said, and, after gracefully remoV-
ing his cigar from his full lips, with
much earnestness remarked ''All you
say is true; but you don't know all
about the passage of that id fool
bill, after all. Now, let me tell you
something. You know l am q Demo
0rat, but not Catholic; and, while ]
don't care much for any sect or creed
my sympathies are with those of the
Protestant faith. Well, now, when
this Geghan bill came up, Geghar
came to me and said, here, Mr.. -,
am going to have hell of time with
my bill. 1 thought it would gt
through quietly, but some cursed Re
publicans have discovered there il
something about Catholics connected
with it, and so they are raising tn,
devil about it. The Republicans near
ly to a man, are opposing it, and WI
Democrats must stand by it. 1 tolC
him didn't think any one was really
suffering for such a law, but wouiG
vote for it if l could consistently
Well, you know considerable abeu
the fight over it. But what you dom
know is this. One night after the bill
had passed one house and was set fo1
third reading in the other, l with I
number of other members was sitting
in the Senate Chamber discussing tn
bill, when Father - (naming a yer,
prominent priest) came in, and, afte
shaking hands all around, asked wha
would be done with the Geghan bill
and at once answered his own ques
ton by remarking 'but of course tn
hill VTi11 4ror1hlo
rely on you Democrats who are il
power this year to help US on in Ou
; work One of our party remarks
tina; he thought several Democrat
members were kicking about beini
pushed to vote for any measure tina
was being lobbied by Catholic priests
the passage of the bill was not sur
f thing. AT this the holy father, with
out any further words, suddenly be
1 came enraged, and fumed and frette
3 about like country stallion at a coun
+ ty fair. After he had walked a littl
of his passion off, he came back to u
and, in tones of bitterness, referred t
; what the Catholic Church had don
q fer the Democratic party, and thi'
: too, without a single favor in return
8 Clenching one hand the priest struc
the desk in front of him and said:
a am tired of this pleading, this 6eggtn
n for .fGVorS from the Democratic pGrtg
: and TIL do no more of 1T. NOaC ge1
tLemen, I shall not ask yoW again
Il pass this btIL for as, bat, on the Otht
hand, I dare yoat to cote against it.
It that bill is not passed before this SeS
II sion closes, so help me God, priest c
=. I am, I q0iI take the stump meat ia
!. against the Democratic party. No'
ktU that ball If you dare! and with tn
/ the priest walked off in wrath. Th
a. threat had its effect, for when the bi
70 came up for passage all the Democrs
q ic Senators were on hand and vote
like automatons, lin the affirmative, sa'
one, who had to be brought from
real or shamming sick bed by polio,
sr man to record his vote for this unne
g essary and uhwise measure"
8 "But," said, after the gentlemi
Or had told me his story, "when y,
10 were opposed to the measure, wi
s, didn't you resent these threats of Il
- priest, and act like man about it p
Y, "Well," he answered, "thats Il
"a, way should have done, Curt bat yf
Is see I am in politics and d-n me-
e, hadn't the nerve, but, tell you, tn.
n felt, what an outrage it is that Il
he priests Of the Catholic Church eV
he dared to come into our legislati'
,e. halls and order us to do this or not
ra do that, as if we were their person
IN nroperty. Confound me, it hurts L
M to think about it."
a In giving you synopsis of q rath
lengthy conversation on this iutere