, 1879-03-08
wns olJtnlned, md their national isolation MS,
have been potent causo for the non-progrcas,fo
character Of the people.
THE PURCELL FAILURE.

A Catholic LaymanA Appeal to Cardinal
hfctioBicy ia Head \ Movement for Ex-
tInEulahinG Aret,hisfop Purcell'a Dohts.
New YoHK, March 8.-7p ths Ediior or the
iFew Hrk Ntra'a: read with acute pain, but
not without hope, the statements daily appear
Ing In tho papers concerning the Indebtedness
Of Archbishop Purcell, observe with aomo
qualification ttat 10 many prominent Journals,
not by any mems Catholic, tho Herald among
tile number, there ara moro words Of pity than
blame for lhc unfortunate ptelatc. 8till some
blame Is implied. I do not purpose 10 discuss
the right or wrong OF the eystem which has
BROUGHT so lauentab1c 4 scandal upon the Cath
ultc Church. What has happcned will deeply
States, ami, II not rectitied, will lcayo lasting
stain upon thc Catholic Church.
Ttat stain must bo wlpcd out and theae is no
way 10 do II but to wipe cut tho debt. Il was
Gsc & a e cdRshoss Rfhss 81 81 oho s ss
their saYtngt, and not merely to John Purcell.
All the Catholics Of the United States arc con-
cerncl III whatever mfsadvcnturc has resulted
bookseller Of Boston, 10 whom had been sln,i-
la7lY Intrustcd considerable amount OF the
.ayings Of the poor Catholics Of New England,
failed In business, Archoishop Williams 10
keenly telt the disgrace flat might ensuo on the
claims being outlawcd that ho took charge Of 40
arrangement for the gradual extinction Ut the
debt, and already shnc " per cent llas been
pal 10 tue poor pcUpIe4 H1lh lA1r prospect on
tic clItire sum bein, l,a,nled over. But tfero
the inlcLtcducBs amounted to iesa than $50 600.
1n tile case OF Archbishop Purcell It amounts 10
millions. What was possible In Boston is not
pusstblu Ia Cincinnati. What should be dona In
the premises Is ctcnr.
therefore respectfully submit to Its Etnt-
ncncc Cardinal MCCloskey that, no less for the
credit uf the Catholic Church than for what is
far moro tnportant,-fts spiritual dominion over
many Of its discouraged aud waverlng children,
--hc should bead 4 movement Ut the Catholics
of America 10 ob1.tcratc that debt. Frpm no
one c!4ecaA tho EcnGrOls impulse come with tile
Aalnu authority. II the Archbishop Of Boston
felt himself finnelcd to saye hts tlock from
similar disaster, brought about by the 1mprn-
dutlce Of a trusted Catholic 1ayman, how much
ii,use strongly should The ca&o Of this unfoftu-
mute archbishop appeal to the Cardinal, who
stallds before all. America tic highest ccclcsi
astic In the Aulcreau Church. Will the Cardt-
nal authorize utia heuh a subscription OF tbs
Catholics of the United States for this worthy
purposoi AL viii respond eou1c. 1t mar be,
as VIC arc the church Of the poor ns weil as the
rich, with dimes aild quarters, but others With
handsome SUMS froin their surplus Of the
worlds goods. The Church has had to sustain
many trials; but can RECALL no snasa1'co III i''e
history ot this Republic where It la Threatened
with such wlsolcgaIa dfscfcdlt. Therefore, !
confidently, though respectfully, appeal to bis
Etntbcncc tnc Cardinal to blot II out. Let .lwre
be MI end to what the Herald hns nptly termed
'ccciesast!eal aavlngs bnnka - but let all cath-
ofca sec tint Lie end Is redeemed from il9
Threatened disgrace. 4 CATHOLIC LATMAS.