The New York herald., 1879-07-15
GEN. GRANTS DIES MONIES SPEECH.

General Grants famons Des Moines speech turns
up once in awhile. in some form or another in the
press. Its latest appearance was in the form of an
interview with DR.. Keating. of Philadelphia. the
nephew OF ex-Secretary Borie. and with Mr.. Borie.
one Of General Grants travelling panions in the
Fast Dr. Keating in the interview referred to- said
that he recently had conversation with Bishop
OConnor. of Omaha, the subject in the course Of
which he lthe Bishop acquitted General Grant OF
any intention to reflect upon the Roman Catholic
Church in the United States in the Des Moines ad-
dress. The Omaha Republican of the 18th has been
at the pains OF sending reporter to the Bishop who
is represented as having spoken as follows:-
understood INV exact words. What meant to have
said was this IL attached too much Importance TO
the speech when wrote the article In the Cathohc
Quarterly Recscsc. II had read the speech At ALL
read it in a hasty manner or read an incomplete
report of 1t. On reading it afterward felt that
what Mr.. Grant said could have been uttered with
out intention to reflect upon the Catholic commun-
ity 1t certainly could have been interpreted more
mildly You will see from the remarks made that
1 wrote without the speech before me. l said what
said largely In the light Of the views expressed in
the by Catholic newspapers. In the light of
his later explanation think as well as others OF
the Catholic church. msinterpreted his motives.
He ought be acquitted of any intention to offend.
and am glad indeed anxious. to make amends for
my mistake.
REPonrER- interviewer puts your recantation
'o Bishop so'cosSon-Yes. My conversation with
Dr. Keating may have been unguarded. met him
and Mr. Borie at Fremont. and rode to Omaha with
them. On the way here among hundred other
topics that came up-I have known DIR. Keatng
since his childhood and Mr.. Borie was a parish
ioner OF mine in Philadelphia, hence talked very
freely-I referring to the portion OF Mr.. Grants
speech in which he said 1.-THE next struggle will
not be with rebellion, but with ignorance, with the
opponents of general education, or language quite
like that. You will remember he commended the
common school system and arraigned its opponents
in general terms. got the idea that he had made
specific attack upon the Catholic body and Incl
dentay in the article in question referred to the
speech. am now satisfied Mr.. Grant had no inten-
tion to arraign condemn the Catholic Church. and
/ regret that made so much Of it, and that misn-
terpreted mis- motives. This the substance of
our discussion on the cars. and can see that it
could have been said in such way to lead to the
slight misstatement made in the Inquirer
REPoRTER-What is the opinion OF Catholics gen.
orally Of Grant as o man?
Bishop O'CoNSoR-Among intelligent Catholics 1t
is thought he is man OF no settled religious i'm
pressions. 1 think him o we'll meaning and able
man. In his private relations he is certainly agree
able and his conduct worthy. believe he is sim
cere true man to his friends.
REPoRTER-ls he not regarded as Protestant?
His wife, believe IL u Methodist.
Bishop OCoSSoR-He Is said to be q good deal
under the influence Of Methodism. This was per-
haps manifest in his appointment Of Rev. Mr. New
man to a government position OF considerable i'm
portance However, he probably has fixed re-
ligious opinions. His surroundings seem to be OF q
character which makes him lean toward Methodism.
This IL general opinion and Catholics simply share
with the public generally in the notion without feel
ing or caring much about the matter.