St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-10
THE PROPAGANDA.
Father BDI7ae's Response to NettletOnidn
BiDOtI.y and Ignorance.

Father By,ae's Response to NettletOnia,a
BiDotry and Ignorance.
The following communication to the pub
lie was received at the GLOBE Office last even
ing:
1t is difficult to refrain from the strongest
language when denouncihg a line of con-
duct which we cannot behold except with the
utmost disgust, and consequently think I
would be readily pardoned if were to use
the strongest terms to qualify Mr.. Nettleton IS
article, ''The Sale of the Propaganda" in
Sundays Tribune. Surely the breach between
Catholics and Protestants is wide enough al
ready, and this uncalled-for article, which
stigmatiZes as narrow minded the views of
Professionals, who can condemn an act of in
justice, even when Catholics are sufferers,
must be regretted deeply by those of
our city who love friendliness and harmony.
To us it is an insult. Where did Mr.. Nettle-
ton acquire so much sympathy for the infdel
government of Italy, that he has none left
for his fellOW-countrymen who are unjustly
plundered of the funds which they gathered
to erect a college in Rome! Does he think
IllC WIZ SICdG SdClluCC
collected these sums of money, collected
them to enrich the italian eXcheouer! Is it
possible that he is so ignorant of the condi-
tons of the italian government at present as
not to know that the s'conVersion' of the
goods of the propaganda is the robbery of the
goods Of the propaganda! He should know
before talking as is his wont, without suffi-
cient data, that Of the three millions of capital
possessed by the propaganda two millions
would be lost in this conversion on account
of the expenses of converting" the taxes
on the administration of the property and
the low price at which the property under
ecclesiastical censure must necessarily be
sold. Then what is given in exchange for
the balance! The bonds of the weakest gov
eminent in Europe, which are not negotiable
and at paltry interest of four per cent. an
nually. Moreover, once the law is enforced,
no money or property can be lett to the
propaganda, but all such requests revert to
the government, which on the slightest pre-
text of disloyalty will confiscate all.
Mr.. Ncttleton says the propaganda is
political institution. Well, even if
it were, are political institutions to be treated
with the greatest injustice? Why did not
the Italian government advance this plea and
coniscate all at once? No. the propaganda
is strictly Il religious institution, and with the
exception of Greece the nearest country that
comes under its jurisdiction is thousands of
miles away from Italy. We here in Mime
sofa, in the earlier days, have experiencedits
charity, just as Dakota and many other parts
of America receive its assistance at present.
Many of our priests and bishops were edu-
Gated in the propaganda colleges. Where
is there district in Europe, Asia or Africa,
when inundated by floods or depopulated by
famine. that has not received the assistance
of the Propaganda, withoutregard to religion
or country! Surely we have not forgotten
so soon the 400, 600 francs sent to the suffer
ing Chinese six years ago. Now to paralyze
this institution by stripping it of its wealth,
which has come from every part of the
world, is evidently an act OF the greatest in
justice, and the man who APP
plauds it is either ignorant of
the facts or complete scoundrel.
We hope the former will be true; let him
show it by retracting. The election is over,
but we sincerely doubt even though it is,
that the Tribune can proftably insult those
whose favor it sought only few days ago.
We leave Catholic parents to consider well
whether the Tribune, which is not content
with ordinary bounds of enmity, is always
on the side of extreme bigotry and ever ready
to hurt Catholic sentiments, is the proper pa
per or not to be admitted into their families.
j. c. BYRNE.
Min ar1O1ic ADri1 Y