The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1880-08-18
Communicated
For THE LEDGER.
4 Reply to "Luthcr."

glaring mistatemcnts made in an
article, which appeared in your issue
Of August 4th, and headed "rhe En-
cusiveness of Romanism," whatever
that means. The writer evidently
allows his feelings to ovcrdo his facts,
and with degree of uninirncss, might
say coarsencss, arraigns the Roman
Catholic Church before the public and
makes it responsible for nearly all
the evils of society.
In the first place Roman Catholics
discard the word "Romanisu," as
used by the writer, for Roman CATH
oiics, as title Of opprobium; and no
writer will use it unless he desires to
be vulgar and offensive.
The subject matter which has arous-
cd the writers Indignation, seems to
have been what he calls "thc recent
controversy in Charleston over the
Free School funds" The writer will
be surprised to learn that no such
controversy is or has been in Charles
ton. The facts are simply these -
The Roman Catholics of Charleston
have hourishing boys school, con-
tanning over four hundred and fifty
pupils. This school and its equip.
mcnts are valued ut not less than
so, 10000. Add this to the salaries
of eight teachers, the cost of which
has been met 10y the Catholics of the
city. Besides this, they have other
schools which they support at their
own expense. The City Public Schools
are full to ovcrhowing. The PROPOSE
ton, therefore, was made to the City
Commissioners of Public Schools to
take the Central School" with its
equipment and teachers, the latter if
found qualified after the usUai cXam-
nation, and embrace this school in the
City Public School System, to be
under the same rules and regulations
rs the other City Public Schools. The
proposition was agreed to by n vote of
the Commissioners Of six for aud two
against its adoption. Is there any.
thing vile or threatening in this ac-
ton? The Catholics Of the city num-
Der about onc-third OF the white pop
ulation, and a large proportion of
them are taxpayers. 1t is not un-
reasonable then that they should claim
immunity from a double tax, if they
could harmonic these differences with
the Board OF Commissioners of the
City Public Schools. As this matter
pertains to the city, and is understood
in Charleston, it would be well 10
leave the city to attend to it. own
affairs.
The writer il somewhat unfortunate
i'll his search after facts with which TO
annihi!atc the rikc CrM)iir, for whom
he has neither commisscration or love.
lie is not one of those who would
take aside his crring brother and
kindly win him from his evil ways.
We had hoped he would have looked
for his facts nearer home, where we
would have had a better opportunity
of verifying them. In his seafch he
goes all the way to Rome, from thchce
to Massachusetts,, then to poor famine
stricken Ireland, and finally back to
New York. The writer's logic is
glaringly at fault, as his conclusions
are no where. found in his premises.
Such wild statements as Bishop
Lynch's oath to "pcrsccute hcretics y
is utterly untrue. The Pope's control
Of real estate iE Cincinnati is destitute
Of truth. The assertion Of the rgcn-
tleman (who) spent a Winter in Rome,
and was the guest of near relative
of Cardinal Antonclli, Papal Sccre-
tary of State" that "no Protestant
church was allowed in the Papal
States is false. The little pathetic
story about the "pockot bible" has
not a word of truth in it. Hundreds
of pocket bibles could be obtained in
Rome during the reign of Plus TX.
The advice of the American charge a.
failures must have been gratuitous,
for no such American representative
with the above title ever resided in
Rome. The cruel incarceration OF
the husband and wife in "another part
of Italy" for holding a "prayer.mcet.
ing" is absurd, and must have been
invented for raising "hunds for mis-,
sionary purposes"
The spirit of Rome" he says, "i-
the same in this country rs tits in