The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-11-04
Does She-0rgan Speak FOR the Catholics
of this City,

Does religious belief enter into the pres
ent canvass? If not. why does the editor
Of the Organ talk about being "a Catho-
lie as we are2" What part in the pro-
gramme is to be served by Juggling into its
columns statements in regard to Catholic
priests. Citizens. see what the Organ
produces as an inducement to vote his
ticket; see what he declares on the SUBJ
iect-we let him speak in his own words:
''Mr. Haney is popular with all the Cath
Ole Fathers who know him. The Catholic
priest at Ohio. Bureau county, came to
bear bis speech, and was much pleased
with his earnest words In behalf OF the
working people. Father Kilkenney, Of
Fulton, met him not long since and told
him he wished be was in this district SO he
could vote for him.-he hoped Mr.. Haney
would be elected.
What does the old hickory Catholic, 10.
Danforth, expect to make by such appeals.
Does he expect the Irish Catholic citizens
are going to be more firmly held and bound
to vote bis ticket by telling them that Cath
ole priests are favorable to his
candidate? Does he expect by
such means to unite the Catholic
vote solid as one man. We have always
understood that Catholic priests stood
aloof from politics and did not interfere to
influence the members of their church to
vote for this man or that Have we been
mistaken in this view? Of course the
editor of the Organ had purpose in in.
PRODUCING the names and the sayings OF
Catholic priests into his columns and Civ.
ing them publicity to his readers. Does
he have the special ear of Catholic priests
and act as their spokesman, and want it tc
be understood in this insiuuatlng manner
that it is their wish that Catholics should
vote for Haney. If this is not bis obiect
what is it? Now we want to say right here
that we don't believe the clergy Of the
Catholic church have placed themselves il
such doubtful and equivocal position
We don't believe the clergy of any demon
ination whatever are more free from re
| preach IN this respect than the Catholic
clergy, We know it is contrary to thei
rules aud their professions to step asid
from their high calling as clergy and dab
BILE 10 political, especially in party affairs
We are more just and generous to them a
q highly intelligent and respectable body O
christian clergy and gentlemen than to be
heve they would willingly countenanc
any such use of their names for partial
purposes. What is it done for then
Irish American Citizens, we ask you 10 a
candor and sincerity, we ask you as
friend who has stood by you and defende
you 10 your rights against know nothing
and every other form Of political pre-
scription, if you sanction or countenauc
such use Of your clergy's names 10 partiza
r affairs; do you want to see them draQge
into print to further the aims and rrornot
the schemes of the man who claims to b
the brains Of the new party aud propose
: TO run it according TO his own sweet wi
t and to make you back him up in il
? We ask once more what is he using th
S names Of Catholic clergymen in connectio
s with political candidates, if he don't e1
pect it will make him and his candidate
t stronger with Catholic voters, and strenl
t then his influence and control with b
0 party. Irish American Catholics, "
have not dragged religion into the confess
4 we have made no allusion to yor
religion or your clergy-we hav
made no appeals to any mans religou
belief-how happens it then, that ma
q who proclaims himself catholic, pretend
} to be Unidentified with the interests of Il
d Catholic Church should make such an a
if nouncement 10 the last issue of his pap
d before election. unless he hoped and e
e pected that it would influence your vot
D to pretend that the Catholic clergy we
r all wishing it success and lamenting the
N inability to give Mr. Haney their vote
: We have always entertained great re
d pect for our Catholic fellow citizens;
e. ask again in all candor and sincerity, do
s. the Organ talk about your clergy and Il
D. use of their names to manufacture vot
D. for his candidate meet your approval,
N you want to build up party 10 that wa
is If not, why don't you stop his elcetionee
is ing that way. 1t certainly will not ma
ii friends for the Catholic interests OF Il
h country to be dragged into political stri
E. to further the personal ends of the edit
lie of the Organ or his pet candidate N
~ Haney. AS temporary expedient it nj
p help to few votes, it you do not give
Of your condemnation, but in the end it W
r surely be detrimental to the cause y
Of wish to serve. 1t would be a sad and fal
III mistake to raise the cry in political affai
e. of Catholic and Anti Catholic. Let the
u be no religious issues in the politics of IL
country.
VoEa tl,o etra;obt dao,oorat;c t;nl,at