Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-15
THE PURCELL SCANDAL IN GIN.
CLIMATE.
views Of Leading Catholic Organ.
From the FrceInan's journal.

From the Frceman's journal.
Pretended friends of the deceased brother OF
the aged Archbishop of Cincinnati-vicious per-
sons-force some statements that an all-excus-
ing charity had desired to let rest, even at the
cost of some seeming blot on Catholic fidelity to
trusts. the Catholic Telegraph Of Cincinnati
large beneficiary of the deceased bankrupt
clerical banking broker-run by some one with
the traditions of the Apostle Judas Iscariot on
his d!shonorcd brow and his senced sacerdotal
office-has made the scandal of the Purcell
banking scheme matter SO open, so general
so widespread. that it is not possible longer to
try and cover the scandal. except by leaving the
administrator of the afflicted diocese of Cinciu-
natl, Bishop Elder under the weight of false
accusations. coming from the yilest and most
corrupt ccSspool Of Jansenism, GallcaRism and
other concentrations of everything hostile to
Catholic orthodoxy that the most subtle of hell
plans could devise. and of which. for q quarter
OF century and more. in the Cincinnati Tele-
graph. the late Mr.. Edward Purcell was the
proud. defiant. Gsagreeabie 6utocrat.
The case is very plain. Suppose it were the
cashier or president Of a bank. In 1857, during
foolish panic caused by Oyertrading, We saw
piece OF paper with Moses Taylor's name on
the back OF it sold fer per cent n month. We
do not say that the broker that sold ii was not
Moses TaylOr'S broker but 1t was cashed in q
bank not Moses Tayl0r's bank.
Suppose. in place Of the thrifty man he was,
Moses Taylor, president of the city bank. had
speculated on other peoples money outside his
bank, and had been caught and lost all that
money. His stock In the city bank would have
been sold and bought and the gentlemen of the
city bank would have quickly demanded the
resignation of his office from the bankrupt presi-
dent. But not one dollar of responsibility would
the bank have tor the gambling or specializing
debts OF Its president
The aged Archbishop is in a helpless dOtage.
and tenderly nursed at the expense of the bank
rupt diocese. His brother Edward, from being
a small attorney and ward politician was lifted
into the priesthood, and given by the simple
minded Bishop complete control Of the finances
of the diocese. 1t was putting beggar on
horseback. Toward priests of the diocese who
did not cringe to him. he was a tyrant. He was
man OF magnificence. with other peoples
money for those that fiattered him. So he came
to trouble, and then. in place of asking judicious
friends, went to eXtOrtiOners, in q vain effort to
bridge over his disaster.
There was meeting of some prelates in New
York to see what could be done. mostly out of
compassion for the aged Archbishop Purcell.
Even SO, the meeting took care to say it was
nowise of obligation to assume his debts.
For one thing New York is noted favorably-
ITS high sense of commercial honor. Arch
bishop PurcelFs personal friends met, in the
persons of the wealthy and liberal Catholics of
Now loih, d TiSiu anu sCorulul TeDuH NO!
said one whose check was free for thousands;
81 will not give cent to rescue from whole
some disgrace ecclesiastics that leave their
proper calling to turn money brokers'" That
was the correct sentiment that put the damper
on the sentimental appeal of Archbishop Pur-
cells friends.
With pain we have seen misrepresentation of
the true status of this matter. 1t was well that
Catholics with business heads on them fiouted,
as against good morals, paying Mr. Edward
Purcelfs debts. because his brother was an Arch
bishop and tried to bolster him.
Any small amounts of money that Mr.. Purcell
may have loaned or given in his horseback liberal
1ty to Catholic churches or institutions ought to
be given back. But all Mr.. Purcells losses in
playing big banker without the ability ought to
lie there till the end Of the world as q monu-
ment to the folly of pride.