The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-06-04

Il Ill NtlN hldSh PalllGu W DCdI l1ldl
certain calumnies have been circulated reg
arding the character of the Rev. Father
Larkin, who is Zealously laboring in this
mission. He has come, here with dimis-
serial letters and recommendations of the
highest character from his late Bishop, and
/ have no fear but he will deserve the same
at my hands if it should happen that 1
would be deprived of his VALUABLE and zeal
OnS services.
LOUIS MAIGRET,
Bishop of Arathia,
Vicar Apostolic.
subsequently Father Larkin informed us
that he was authorized by the Bishop, to
modify the form of this certificate of char
acter; so that it should appear as an answer
to a communication; and he gave us a copy
of his letter to the Bishop; and made altera-
tions in the certificate of character, so tina
it reads as follows; as published in our 18th
May issue.
HONOLULU, May 4, 1881.
To the ReU. W. j. Larkin, President st.
Louis College:
REV. AND DEAR SIR:-In reply to your letter lust
received, in which YOU complain of injurious
reports; ] will say in reply: l am very much
panied to hear that certain calumnies have been
circulated regarding your character. You have
proven yourself a Jealous laborer in this mission,
always acting in accordance with my instructions.
You came here with dimissorial letters and
recommendations of the highest character, from
your late Bishop; and 1 feel well assured that
you will deserve the same at my hands, if it
should happen that / would be deprived of your
valuable and Jealous services, at any future time.
7 LOUIS MAIGRET,
Bishop of Arathia,
Vicar Apostolic.
After a certain discussion had arisen in
regard to the authenticity of a letter, or
any other document from the hand of Bish-
OPP Maigret in respect to the character of
Father Larkin; and which authenticity was
denied by a public print; the editor of this
journal called at the Catholic mission, and
waited upon Monseigneur Maigret, who
was in company with the Rev Father Mar
fial, a member of the mission.
Upon presentation of the certificate of
character of Father Larkin, the Bishop
looked at and recognized his signature. He
remarked at the time, that he did not write
the letter, or document; and was not in the
habit of writing any. The editor then read
slowly the certificate, pausing and COM
menting upon each phrase; and subsequent
tIy repeated its substance in the French
language; (although the English language
is well understood by Monseigneur and his
associate on this occasion:) and then enqui-
red of the Bishop, if he had authorized any
such statement, and the subsequent modifi-
cation of the document signed by him; to
which the Bishop replied distinctly and
emphatically, that be had authorized Father
Larkin to say all this, and much more. He
commented upon the unusually warm and
commendatary letters which the reverend
Father had brought with him from Arch
bishop Alemany of California, and mem
bers of his clergy.
During this interview, the venerable and
highly revered prelate exhibited a clear
appreciation of all matters involved in the
discussion, and expressed n warm and firm
determination to defend the good name of
a priest, whom he esteemed a faithful
worker in his mission.
Therefore we read with a feeling of more
than surprise, in the Gazette of the LIST
instant that the editor of that journal has
in his hands, ''~indisputable evidence" that
such certificate of character of Father Lar
kin, as we nave published "was never writ
ten or signed" by the Bishop. This editor
has Furthermore on the "6est (his italics)
authority an alleged statement of
Bishop Moran, Father Larkin's late dioce-
san; said statement purporting to be a
report of conversation with Bishop Moran
VI DullcUlu- uuIlIS u lew III stay VI IudI
prelate in town, ia route per City of Sydney
to San Francisco; and the party or parties,
who make the report, are " ready to appear
in Court N swear"
If such parties were ready to show their
names in print at this time, it would assist
the public to obtain-what it is our aim to
get-correct Information. We could then
get below the surface and understand the
animus of parties, and their real objective
point. 1t is a wicked thing as our cotenp-
orary says, "to SOW distrust between 3
worthy priesthood;'' and if any one has
done so; either to gain or to maintain an
influence, that does not belong to his holy
office, he will deserve the severest rep
rehension.
We shall await our cotemporary's fuller
statement of information, will names of
parties. We desire information for the sake
of right and justice. We seek not to defend,
or attack any one in this matter; and we
cannot appreciate the action of our cotem-
porary, who publishes a charge of forgery,
and a general defamation of character with
out the presentation ola particle of evidence
except a garbled report, of one who was
evidently seeking an evil report; on the
very day, that the party affected was to
stand before a tribunal with character and
liberty in jeopardy. We cannot appreciate
such action, we repeat; as that either of a
journalist or a gentleman.
DECORATION DAY, or the day for the
commemoration of the dead of the great