Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-30

In seeking the Irish Catholic vote
Blaine Will have to satisfactorily explain
some things which appear in his record
before he can hope for a reasonable meas
ure of success. Before he became as well
known 20 fame as be is now, and was a
manager Of local politics in Maine, be
was recognized as a prominent member
Of the American or Know Nothing party.
In 1856 he wrote in the KeHRebec Journal.
We need stringent laws 70 regulate the
immigration from Europe, and faithful
officers TO administer them. If present
abuses are not corrected, and corrected
speedily. we shall become worse than
Botany Bay. In fact we are worse now,
for we have little doubt that more crimi-
nails reach US from Great Britain in sin
gle year than were ever transported to the
penal colonies in ten years. And these
convicts and felons have hardly got our
dust upon their feet before they are allow,
ed TO vote and control our elections. Ana
yet, with these facts plain as the lgnt,
demagOgues will tell US that our foreign
immigration is nothing but benefit TO US,
and that our laws regulating II need no
amendment.
Everybody who remembers the time
when the American party fOurished
knows the effect which articles OF this
kind had on the public mind. The bitter
est feeling Of hostility against foreigners
manifested itself throughout the country,
and in many localities there were bloody
collisions between the native and foreign
born citizens. Blaine's opinions with re-
spect 70 foreign-bOrn citizens may have
undergone a change since 1855, but there
is reason TO think that as late as 1870 he
entertained anything but kind feelings for
Irish Catholics. In that year Gen.
Plaisted was the Republican candidate
for Congress in the Fourth Maine district,
and James &. Madigan was the Demo-
cratic candidate. A circular was printed
in the office Of Blaine's paper, the Ken
neJec Journal, and sent out from Blaine's
house, which caused intense indignation
among Irish Catholics in that district. In
that circular which was signed 'Protes-
tant Democrat" and which many be-
lieved was written by Blaine, most I'M
called for attack was made on the Cath
Ole Church. The following is an extract
from the circular:
James c. Madigan, the Democratic can
didate for Congress in the Fourth district,
is a very Jealous Roman Catholic. He is
believed by many to be a lay member Of
the secret order Of Jesuits, just as the late
Senator CasseTly, Of California, was.
Casserly was elected TO the Senate by
Jesuit money. 500, 600 contributed by that
order. and the fact being discovered, Cas-
serly at once resigned his seat rather than
stand an investigation and nus expose
the workings of the order. In OHIO and
other States the Catholics are STRIVING 10
destroy the only avenue for education
left ODen 10 the children of the poor.
They say, I'VE will have church schools
instead and thus let loose the worst
Of theological quarrels all over the land.
1t is a great gain 10 the Catholics 70 get
these prominent men in Congress. They
have now four members of the United
States Senate. one eacn from the states OF
New York, Missouri, Virginia and tlorl-
da. The whole energy Of the Catholic
Church is now eXeTted to increase Its
power in the Congress of the United
States. The Papists everywhere are
watching the result of Madigan's cam
paign in this district, and II viii be nall
ed everywhere as a great triumph for the
Catholics if a New England Protestant
district sends a Roman Catholic to repre-
sent them in Congress.
Allusion was made in the Northern
press a few weeks ago to this circ"lar,
and the charge was made that Blaine was
the author Of it. Thus far his managers
do not appear to have taken any notice Of
the charge. When Mr.. Blaine's record
is fully exposed it is not improbable that
the enthusiasm that few Irish Catholics
in New York and in some other parts of
the country are showing in his interest
will abate considerably.