The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-10-24
a Slanderar Rebu Red.

To the Editors of the Argus;
For some time report has been quietly
but diligently circulated among the Cath
ohc population of Rock Island county,
;hat Miss Anna kirkpatrick, independent
candidate for county superintendent of
schools, was instrumental in getting Edith
OGorman, the escaped nun, to deliver her
lectures against Catholicism In the Baptist
church in this city, and also that Miss
kirkpatrick took great pains to entertain
the escaped nun while she was IN this city.
In order to ascertain If there was any
truth In the above report, number OF
Catholics have carefully investigated the
matter and find the facts to be as follows:
That Miss Kirkpatrick had nothing what
ever to do with bringing Edith O'GormaD
to Rock Island, did not entertain her while
she was 10 this city, and never spoke to her
but once and then for the following reason;
Those who were present when Edith
O'Gorman delivered her first lecture will
remember, that she made the assertion
that Catholic priest was never known to
contribute to the support OF Protestant
denomination. When the lecture was fin.
ished Miss Kirkpatrick went to Edith in
public and told her that she knew of an
instance where Catholic priest had con-
trlbuted to the support Of the Baptist
church in this city. Miss Kirkpatrick
then stated the following incident: A few
years since the Baptist church of this city
| held festival; complimentary tickets were
issued to the clergymeu of this city, in
GLIDING the Catholic priest, whom we be
ieve was Father Roles. The priest did
not attend the festival, but sent them S.
in money. This ended the conversation
and it was all that ever passed between
| Miss kirkpatrick and the escaped nuu
| The truth is that instead of doing what is
alleged against her to prejudice her in the
mind of CATHOLICS, Miss Kirkpatrick was
the only person in the audience who pub
iicly questioned the yeracity Of Edith
O'Gorman's statements.
Now, of all the nauseating twaddle that
has exuded from the eesspool of American
politics, we think the above attempt to
create prejudice against Miss kirkpatrick
is the meanest and most contemplate. It
has been originated by NJ. M. Sturgeon, or
by others in his behalf to injure his oppo-
nent in the minds of religious denomina-
ton. but like all other falsehoods of M. Nj.
Sturgeon it will return to plague the in
ventor. His deliberate falsehoods to Nc.
Farlane, Grover and TllIinghast are now
to him excruciating agony when he sees
the hostile attitude of Coal Valley and Mo-
line, and this, his latest attempt to SANDER
| the character of an estimable young lady,
immeasureably his superior in every res
pect, will recoil upon his own head, with
the same effect as his other falsehoods.
He dare not make charge openly against
the lady's character or qualifications, but
like venomous reptile he must crawl
through the mire of religious prejudice. and
endeavor to contaminate others with his
own infection. We had hoped that in free
America. at this late day, religious pre-
JUDGES would not be dragged into a polit-
ical campaign. but since NJ NJ Sturgeon
sees ft to conduct the campaign in that
manner, will he tell the Catholics of this
county what he has done for them, that
they should vote for him. We honestly
think that M. NJ. Sturgeon is too far be-
hind the present age; he should have lived
! during the dark ages when he could have
had ample opportunity to martyr some
young lady for her religious opinions.
A CATHOLIC,