The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-01-23
Il Plea FOR DESPOT1sM.
lClsreland tohIo, Univsr.s. Jan. Is.

tiCo Ol AFlZOu8 Ii FemaFk8OI6. In CDIS mar
row. minded, despotic act hardly one jour-
nal has been Quixotic enough to attempt a
defense Of General Graut That the act was
direct blow at liberty of speech and re-
ligous liberty the worst fanatic must ad-
init. 10 fact it is astonishing that the
President of free republic would dara
strike at those liberties which are the very
foundation of the commonwealth but in
these days what is not possible Dead to
Justice and to law, civil rulers are every
where swayed by the worst passions of the
multitude and seek to retain power by war
on religion. With Grant power means
money. The obscure tanner of few years
ago has become the millionaire of to-day.
1t ia just possible that he may wish to add
an imperial crown to his ILL., cotton riches,
but few think that he cares much about re.
ligion. That he is the idol of the Methodists
we know; that he ia their candidate for a
third term the world has heard and that
of the Methodist preacher Newman can
hardly be denied but that bis anti Catho-
lie policy is simply bid for the retention of
power, every body knows His Des Moines
speech, his message to Congress and his
removal of Judge Dunno are successive
steps in that direction. Each and all have
been approved by the auti Catholic big
otry of the country, but the ten millions
who still love American liberty are Silent
with disgust and may not be aroused
by bigots or Administrator satellites.
Hence the prudent silence that has been so
remarkable.
But one wee voice has been heard on the
Maumee. The Blade is al old Administra-
ton hack. Right or wrong, for fifteen
years, it has supposed facts or created
hctons to sustain the reingipg house.
Grant or Johnston, it is all the same. The
hanging of an Innocent woman or the re-
moval of an uhimpeached Chief Justice
must he defended. OF all the ills that To-
ledo has to complain OF, the Blade is not
the least. But in all it's weak and shame
less exploits there is hardly one more bald
and contemplate than its recent attempt TO
asperse the grand character of Judge Dunno
and enter plea for the despotism of Cen
eral Grant. Had some journal outside of
this State been the first to lead off in this
shameful work, we should not have been
surprised, but that Journal of his native
State should by insinuation try to defame
the profound lawyer, the brilliant orator
and fearless Christian gentleman whom the
political trickery of General Grant has,
without question or trial, torn from the
Territorial Supreme Bench of Arizona, is
deeply shameful. Papers artagonistc to
Judge Dunno, published on the very
ground on which he has lived and spoken
and acted, and from whose bench be has
been removed, do not dare to attribute his
removal to any cause but that of his lee
ture on public education. The Arizona
Miner, one of the very first papers TO assail
him, spoke as follows few days before the
news of his removal reached Tucson:
"That the removal of Judge Dame will be
effected we have n doubt, and that his course
in opposition to our Public School system will
have been the cause of it we have ss little
doubt, for, aside from his religious bigotry in
religious matters as against secular education,
we have failed, with all the bluster that has
been made about iG to see where he has been
remiss in his duties as Judge.
with reference to the schools he has out
ragged the sentiment of the intelligent portion
of the people of the Territory and of the
earnest protestatIOns of his best friends and
now must take what it brings. Had he taken
nn enlightened and progressive view of the
educational question, as was his wont else
where, no man had fsirer prospects for prefer.
ment and lasting popularity. Fortunately for
humanity, his efforts to break down secular
schools have proven unavailing, and, though
man of splendid legal attainments goes down
instead, it is far better that one man should
perish in his reputation than that whole fu-
ture population should be doomed to life of
Ignorance and superstition. Those who have
looked on from distance and viewed the
matter dispassionately have come to right
conclusion.
The San Francisco AIta arraigns our Chief
Justice on precisely the same grounds main
tanned by the Miner throughout this contro-
VeTsy, VIZ, his opposition to Public Schools,
maintained by the Territory and free alike
from Professionalism, Catholicism, Spiritu alism,
Mormonisu, Judaism and all other religious
IsuIs, where the children of the rich and the
poor shall have an equal chance TO receive
good common school education"
In the face OF this admission of the
Miner, substantIated by the testimony of
the San Francisco Alta, a paper which
drew up formal indictment against the
Chief Justice, sent it to Washington and de-
mauded his removal on the charges it con-
tanned, how harmless should be the ely
and yillainous insin uations of the Blade
that Judge Dune was removed for rea-
sops other than that of his School lecture"
If additional testimony we're wanting to
blunt the shaft of the Blade, aud write in
history the despotism of President Grant,
we have the despatch of Secretary Pier
pont to the deposed Chief Justice. That
official does not care TO cloak his master
or hide the motive which Influenced him.
That Judge Dunno might consider bis
position on the School question the chief
reason for his removal he admitted. Aud
yet in defense of that narrow minded, IN
American act ~e hear the slanderOus in