The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-17
CHRISTIAN STATESMEN.
A Good Word for Public sIeu from the
Clergy.

Washington Letter in Boston Herald,
Father Chappelle, pastor of ST. Matthew's
the leading Catholic Church of WASH ngton,
has written the following letter to CORE
spondent: You cannot do more usetul
work than to demonstrate through the press
the fact that all our statesmen and officials are
not morally corrupt. If it be true that the
mainstay of republican institutions is moral
virtue, it argues very badly for their main
tenance if the contrary assertion could be
made with some show of reason. The reck-
less writing and speeches that engross public
attention during political campaign, and
the abominabie pharisaism of some Hnbic
men who have of late years clothed them
selves with the livery of Christianity to at
tain unjust ends, have contributed largely
to impress upon the minds OF
many the notion you speak of-that
public men are worse than they really are
There are many cases, especially the corrupt
practices of election times, which prevent
honest Christians from occupying important
official positions; but, for all that, we may
thank God that among those who are trusted
with political power there are many men
whose private and public lives are unsullied
by moral turpitude. Washington was, be-
yond doubt, a sincere Christian. He be-.
lon .ed to the Episcopalian Church. Some OF
his successors especially Jefferson, were
tainted by the rationalistic ideas preva-
lent at the end of the last century and at the
beginning OF LnlS, OUT Iney were lar from
having Invested themselves from the moral
teachings of the gospel. The declaration OF
Independence is an admirable document If
we except a few hypocritical expressions,
which could never have been proclaimed fits
writer's mind had not been permeated
by Christian doctrine. | believe there
is good authority for saying that Abraham
Lincoln was brought up in the Catholic
church. He was not COMMUNICATE during
the later years of his busy life but, no
doubt, the Christian teachings of his youth
bore fruit in his more advanced age. The
late Chief-justice fancy, appointed by Jack
son. was practical Catholic. We all know
that more upright and fearless Judge has
never sat on the supreme bench, which has
been adorned by men who have done honor
to their country and to humanity by their
learning and their virtue. With regard to
Catholics of our day occupying official posi-
tons, l would mention ex-Senators Kern n,
of New York, and johnson, of West Vir-
glnia. Mr.. Kenna, of West Virginia, recently
elected senator, is a Catholic; SO is Gen. Fhil.
Sheridan. General Rosecrans is practical
Catholic, brave soldier and pure states
man. The leading member of the New York
bar, Charles O'Conor, is also a Catholic"
Rev. w. A. Leonard rector of the Presi-
dents church, writes: My contact with
public men justifes an echo of the opinion
of a member of Congress, who was MEM
Der of my parish, when he stated that he
had never seen a more honorable, upright,
sincere ana irreproachable class OF gentle
men than in the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives. The few bad men in office work.
doubtless in dishonorable ways, but they do
not represent that much larger majority Of
pure and undefiled men of the state into
whose hands the business of the nation has
been safely committed"