Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-10-12
BLAINE OFFERS A BRIBE.
One of his Agents Tries to Buy a CathO
lie Priest-NOt for Sale.

One of his Agents Tries to Buy a CathO-
lie Priest-NOt for Sale.
The latest move of the Blaine managers,
says the New York World, is the at
tempted buying up of Catholic votes.
The scheme, of course, has had no effect,
for Catholic voters emphaticallY decline
to sell themselves even at the high price
that the Republicans offer. There is
hardly a man in an influential position
who has not been approached and offered
money to throw his influence to Blaine.
Regular agents of the man from Maine
scour the country making appointments
with prominent clergymen, and by promi-
ses, brides and threats, seeking to gain
their public Endorsement OF the man who
wrote the Mulligan letters.
A fine sample of this underhand work,
of this last resort to which the Blaine
managers are driven in their desperation,
comes from Paterson, n. j. The clergy
man whom the Republicans vainly tried
to buy up is the Rev. Father Muller, of
the Franciscan Order. About mile out
of Paterson, at the foot of long range of
green hills, franciscan monastery
pushes its gable roof above the surround
ing whitewashed cottages. 1t is way off
the main road, and the retreat is such a
| quiet one that the very name of politics
! seems out of harmony with the surround
ings. Mill operatives and farmers about
! Paterson attend the church attached to
the monastery, and over these Father
| Muller exercises a general supervision
| for good. 1t was with view to gaining
| the support of these church-goers that the
priest was approached.
| On trip out West the reverend gentle
man met a prominent Washington Re-
! publican, who discussed the political sit
| uation and assured Father Muller that in
the event of the election of Blaine the mo-
mastery would receive substantial aid.
He also referred to tie necessity Of having
all Catholics work for the Republican,
cause, and ended by offering the friar
! $4,000 to use his influence among his par
ishioners. OF course the offer was de-
| clined, but some time afterwards Father
| Muller received a letter renewing the
| offer and begging that 1t be accepted. No
| attention was paid to this communication
! and it had almost been forgotten when a
| telegram came to the monastery request
| ing Father Muller to meet the politician
for the purpose of concentrating the pur-
chase of the votes Of the Paterson congre-
! CATION. The reverend gentleman finally
met the political purchaser at Hoboken
and gave him to understand that Catholic
| clergymen were not for sale.
At the monastery yesterday afternoon
Father Muller was seen in regard to the
transaction. Robed in the coarse gown
of his order with a girdle about his waist,
he looked the last man in the world to be
| Influenced by a bride. At first he de-
clined to talk about the matter, but final
ly admitted that he had been approached
by the Republican, and then he told of
the letter and telegram that had come to
the monastery.
81 am not in politics." her said, ''and
do not know anything about them, so l
cannot imagine why the gentleman should
want to talk to me-"
''What was the mans nameY
81 do not remember
Then after a moments reflection he
added: "The name DR.. Fisher was signed
to the letter and telegram.