The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-09-03
RELIGION IN POLITICS.
HOW A GEORGIA CONSTITUENCY VIEWS THE
QUESTION.

The Augusta, Georgia, correspondent of
the Savannah Gross, under date of August
2lst, writes:
Early in the present year an anti -Catho-
lie combination was inaugurated in Angus
ia, by a few white demagogues, who fan
cied they could drag themselves into noto-
rlety by inducing some ignorant whites
| and few deluded negroes to league them
selves together, in order to oppose the re
ligious and political interests of their Ca
| thollc fellow citizens. Scarcely any notice
was taken of their organization, from the
fact that the members were of a class whose
social and political standing in the com
munity was not considered much until
brought into the political arena at the pri
mary election on the 12th inst, headed by
one, who, to his shame be it said, had been
sustained in Office for years, by the honest
suffrages of his Catholic fellow citizena.
For several years the county of Rich
mond has been we'll aud ably represented
in the Lower House by gentlemen of the
highest attainments, and the people knew
that men, whose abilities were go well
tested In the past, were the best selection
they could make to guard their internsts in
the future. The anti Catholic element
thought they would oppose the nomination
of these gentlemen on the plea that one was
q Roman Catholic. How well they sue
ceeded We will see from the records.
Never in the political history of Rich
mond have the people acted with more
magnanimity or with firmer determine
ton to crush that contemplate spirit, en-
gendered as it is, from the drossy dregs of
Radicaiism, and it is to be hoped that the
shameful defeat given to the leaders of
this faction at the primary election may
teach them a salutary lesson, il they will
only take cognizance of it. The Catholic
candidate received thirty out of forty
inno tod hx-
exclamation by the convention while the
standard bearer of the anti Catholic faction
received nine votes, and these through the
influence of his colleagues. Notwithstand
ing the fact that this anti Catholic leader
had the confidence and support of the ma
jority of voters in the county-prior to
this canvass, yet, so obnoxious were the
principles of his party in this contest, that
he could not get the support of his nearest
friends.
Every artifce that low cunning could
devise was arrayed against the Catholic
candidate by his unworthy opponent, in
order to spring an issue between thorough
Democrats on account of religion, and the
old hobby was resorted to, of course the
bigots adopting the motto" calumniare
audacter, semper alquid adhaerebit-"l Q
boldly, some of it Will stick"
This seems to be the fIst instance, at
least in the South, in which this new-issue
Va ASS " A'
really has any, think it would take Don
Quixote to find it out) against the we'll be-
ing of the Catholic people, and it may be
well for these deluded hireliDgs to know
that their future efforts in that direction
will, as they have in this instance, signally
fail.
Their leader now sees the injustice he
attempted to inflict on body of citizens
who had been his best friends, and he sees
also that in accepting the political doctrines
of party, whose principles are antagonis
tic to American freedom he must necessa-
rily accept the ignominious defeat brought
about by such partnership.
The people of Richmond have determin-
ed, like true Americans, that a mans reli-
gion shall not debar him from filling the
station which true merit assigns him. 1
presume therefore that this defeated leader
will never again raise an issue among the
people of Augusta that is not more worthy
of their consideration than the religious be
lief of an honored citizen. l trust he will
act with more prudence the next time he
solicits the suffrages of an honest people
He is already penitent, and says he was
led into the mire by friends. This may be
so. He says he will never again be en-
shared into wrong doing by fanstical lead
ers, and don't think be will because
"burnt child breads the fire."