Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-10-18
CLEVELAND NOT A BIGOT.
Albany's Bishop Writes a Letter.

The National Democratic COMMITTEE
last evening made public the followin!
correspondence relative to pamph'e e
entitled Governor Cleveland and th'
Catholic protectory," which the Blaine
republicans have circulated among
Catholic priests throughout the Unitet
States. Besides the charges against thu
governor in relation to the Catholic
Protectory the pamphlet accuses hin
of bigotry and intolerance and is head
ed with the following challenge
"Write to any Catholic bishop in the
state of New York or to any priest in
New York city for the truth of the
matters herein" The letters are as fol
loWs:-
NEW York, Oct. 1884.
Right Rev. Francis McNierny, d. D.,
bishop of Albany
RIGHT REVEREND AND DEAR SIR-A
rumOr is widely circulated in this
vicinity that Governor Cleveland i.
tainted with bigotry ant! has exhibited
spirit of hostility and intolerance -;u
religious matters during his admins
tratiOn as governor of that state.
On the one hand aud OIL the other
are assertions and denials of this report
until many citizens, with the best in
tentiOns and with sincere desire tu
know the truth and follow it, are found
at variance in regard to the matter, and
confusion and considerable ill feeling
are tho consequence Of this uncer
talnty.
TO SET MEMS MINDS AT REST.
Under these circumstances and in
view of the grave Importance of the
to set mems minds at rest, if possible,
we take the liberty OF addressing you.
By your residence ut the capital and
in the neighborhood of the executive
mansion, the official residence of the
governor, and by your acquaintance
with him, you possess peculiar facili-
ties for observation as to his course.
We, therefore, would ask you if the
charge OF bigOtry against Governor
Cleveland be true, and whether or not
he has exhibited it or anything akin to
it during his administration or shown
that he was inimical or unfriendly to
the religious denomination of which
you are respectable prelate, or to its
institutions. Very respectfully and
very truly yours,
JOHN E. DEvELIN, JAMES H.COLEMAN,
F. r. CorDERT, WM. j. TANNING,
EUGENE S. IVES, JAMEsA.G.BEALEs,
Ed. G. DoNNELLY, j. j. CAMPIoN,
WILLIAM O'BRIEN, JOHN MULLALY,
JOHN O'BRIEN, MoRGANJ O'BRIEN.
NO INTOLERANT SPIRIT.
DIOCESE OF ALBANY, BIsf-
oP's HOUSE, ALBANY, Oct, 10, 1884.
JOHN E. DEvELIN, f. r. COUDERT,
&c. -
GENTLEMEN-I have to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of October 9,
in which you refer to the rumor preva-
lent in your vicinity to the effect that
Governor Cleveland is tainted with
bigotry and has exhibited spirit OF
hostility and intolerance in religious
matters during his administration as
governor of the state, and you suggest
the peculiar facilities afforded mc for
observation by my residence ut the
capital and near the executive mansion
and my acquaintance with the COVER.
nor, asking me to inform yOn whether
or not the governor has exhibited it OF
shown that he was ilIimical or un-
friendly to the religious body of which
l am a prelate, or to its institutions
In answer would beg leave to say
that have followed with some inter-
est the course of the governor since his
assumption of the duties of the CHIEF
executive of the state, and relying
solely on my resources of personal
knowledge, l am aware of no act of his
administration which would argue a
narrow, intolerant spirit of hostility to
the Catholic church or her institutions.
On the contrary, from, what has come
under my observation, am led to be-
licve that he is free from bias and
enmity against Catholics and aclllatetl
by a spirit of fair dealing toward the
Catholic church and her interests.
Your obedirnt servant,
FRANCIS,
Bishop of Albany.