St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-26
Cleveland and the Catholics.
Isl. Clnud Times |


Some of Gov. Cleveland's enemies are
endeavoring to excite Catholic opposition to
him by assertions that he has exhibited in
his official acts a hostility to anything per-
tanning to that church. The Catholic Citizen,
of Milwaukee, which bears the endorsement
Of Archbishop Heiss and Bishops Marty and
Krautbauer, in its issue of last Saturday,
article, and comes to the conclusion that
there is nothing. absolutely nothing, upon
which to base the charges. Referring to the
statement that he had used his influence to
secure the defeat of the ''Freedom of Wor-
ship bill,' the Citizen says this charge ''is,
to Our k,uomleclge, the essence of falsehood.
The Citizen continues thus:
The Freedom of Worship Bi1l,' here re-
ferred to, actually passed the New York
legislature while AlOnZo B. Cornell was gov
ernor. Alonzo B. Cornell vetoed it, twas
again introduced in the legislature of 1929.
Grover Cleveland being then governor of the
state and the Democrats being in majority
in both branches of the legislature. 1t passed
in one branch, and chances for its passage
in the other were good, when all of sudden
the legislature adjourned. The individual
who caused this fatal adjournment was no
less parsonage than Senator Grady, the
Tammany spokesman at Chicago, and he
made his motion to spite Gov. Cleve land be-
cause the latter would not appoint his favor
ite to some New York City office. Gov.
Cleveland had named VIM. Murtha Gan
Irish Catholic by the way, and Tammany
united with the Republicans to secure an adj
s<Nt,
The Freedom of Worship BiIl'' came up
again in 1884 before Republican legislature
and met with defeat. No suspicion has
crept into the Catholic press that Gov. Cleve-
land was adverse to so praiseworthy meas
ure. Certainly Tammany hall can not
come in with clean hands and assail its op-
ponent on this score.
The Citizen adds:
It has been said that Mr.. Cleveland is
''Opposed to the Catholics The Catholic
Universe is quoted as having specially
urged this objection. its editor, Manly
Tello, now confesses his mistake and adds
that he received from Senator Herman, of
New York, most positive assurances that
Gov. Cleveland, so far from having denied
equal political rights to citizens of Catholic
denominations in New York, had, if any
thing, appeared somewhat partial to them in
his friendship and official appointments
This is true. When Cleveland became
governor the three out of five best offices
within his gift, ranging in salary from
$4,000 to $4,000 were given to Cathoiis.
Among his warm New York supporters at
Chicago were such Carholic gentlemen as ex-
Senator Herman, Attorney Gen. O'Brien and
many others. Does this look like hostility
to Catholics:
The Citizen SAYS:
But the most baseless assertions are those
connecting Mr.. Cleveland with hostility to
the Irish race. This Misrepresentation is
predicted upon his refusal to pardon one
John Dewey, jailed for criminal libel on
complaint of q Tammany politician banker,
named Belmont. Mr.. Dewey was convicted
6hy jury OF his peers, after Whist, to all
appearances, was a fair trial. There were no
grounds for an exercise of executive elem
ency, although if Governor Cleveland were a
shrewd politician he would, we think. have
granted the request. Not being a shrewd
politician, he refused the pardon and Mr.
Dewey, who publishes an Irish-Republican
journal, called the Irish Eation, has since
made national and race grievance out of
what is merely a personal grudge. This is
the ''breadth and emptiness of Governor
Geveland's hostility to the Irish,
We trust that the Nortarste7n Chronicles
Republican editor, who supported the Repub-
licau candidate for governor last year, and
isnow leaning toward Blaine, has read and
aigested the Citizei's article, especially
wherein it condemns Catholic journals and
americans who ''violate the dictates of char
ity in misiudging their fellow citizens.S'