The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-06-06
THE BEAM In THE1s OWN EYE.

Adjudication has recently been mad
at the North OF the diary OF q lady WHIT
occupied a very high social position IL
Massachusetts, wherein she has re
corded with great fidelity her memo
randa and "reminiscences of events o
which she was an observer and wit
ness. Some OF the most notable o.
these Incidents have been carefully liz
nored and excluded from the public
records and from the numerous his
tories, more appropriately designated
flctions, with which that section OF the
Union has flooded the country and the
literary world. Among these lie an ex.
ceedingly graphic and vivid narrative
OF the burning Of the Catholic convent
ut Charlestown, within full view of our
modern Athens, In 1894.
The writer was one Of the young ladies
of whom there were many who were
inmates OF the convent at the time OF
this great outrage, and who, though
Professionals, had been placed by
their parents at this institution
In order to avail themselves of It's
great advantages for the education and
training Of young ladies. Her nara
tive, therefore, could not be suspected of
coloring or exaggeration from religious
prejudice. It's publication at this time
IL especially appropriate, asa lesson to
the Pharisaical denouncers In Massa-
chusetts Of incidents OF mob violence
In the South Of less criminal and base
character and more difficult to suppress
and punish. In the case OF the burning
of the convent at Charlestown, In full
view Of a city OF over one hundred
thousand people, the shooting of
the ladies In charge and the expulsion
Of u hundred young girls In their
night clothes, ID appears, from this
narrative that the police author
tiles had full knowledge thereof.
and ample time to take the neces-
sary measures to prevent this outrage.
They not only failed to employ their
power for that object, but In fact en-
and stimulated the incendia-
ries, and refused to prosecute and pun
Ish them. Not only this. but when Pc
titioned to compensate the great losses
by this shameful violence, the Massa-
Legislature and the City Coun-
Ill OF Boston to this day have rejected
'very proposition looking to such an act
If justice and right. And from this
State and from the very demagogues
Who have either been silent or have
actively justified this foul deed and
prevented all inquiry into It, come these
'iolent denunolations of the Southern
'eople for their inability to re-
'ress and prevent comparatively in
ignitlcant acts OF lawlessness perpe-
rated in remote and thinly populated
ections, and originating In passions and
euds infinitely less brutal or criminal
han those which impelled the incendia-
les OF Charlestown and Boston In 1894.
Where then were Wendell Phillips.
Boutwell, and the rest OF the howlers. |
vhen the whole heavens were illumin-
ted with the conflagration Of this beau
iful educational and religious estab-
ishment, and when frightened nuns
nd young ladies were compelled to fly
alf naked through the streets to es-
ape the bullets, the blows and the
aiming missiles hurled after them by
renzied mob (? What have they ever
aid or done since to compel the au-
horities Of Massachusetts and Boston
D bring to punishment the perpetrators
4 these infamies? The millions of
catholics in the country were entitled
0 some rights even In Massachusetts,.
las single step ever been taken to
indicate those rights and repair the
reat wrong then committed? This de-
hand has been made a thousand times.
{ has gone up from every part OF
he country and of the civilized world.
nd the only reply given to it is that
he administration Of justice and Of
40 law belongs to the lawful au-
1orities of Massachusetts, that no
Their State or people have the
ght to interfere stherewith, and
lat the people OF Massachusetts
Ill always do what is right and just.
[eantime they will give their special
and apply lltheir energies to
,cure peace. order and the execution of
10 law In the South and West, and to
heck and punish the "barbarism of
avery" upon which so many PAM
hlets have been written, and 80 many
oeeches and sermons delivered, but
OF single one devoted to the de-
OF that most atrocious Of all
le acts Of mob fury and violence which
ain the annals Of the States of this
nion-the burning Of the convent at