St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-21
A Funny Catholic Article.

To the Editor of the Globe.
The Northwestern Chronicle has a very funny
article in its issue of the 17th-very funny be-
cause it invites all Catholics. in a round about
way, to vote for that very good Catholic, James
G, Blaine-best of Catholics because he James
G. Blaine, proved his devotion to his mothers
and the mother church by purging it of himself,
for whom he considered it too pure q sanctuary.
The Catholic church is the most conservative
institution in the world. It is the center and
soul in the economy of society Of all conserva-
tism. The Democratic party, in our political
world is the conservative party 1t is not strange,
theaefore that the Catholic in religion, should be
a Democrat in American politics. If he has a
logical mind he will be; and hence the genuine
Catholic is instinctively Democrat.
call the article in the Chronicle funny be-
cause it appears in professedly Catholic paper.
But it is funny for other reasons. Its logic is
funny. Its grammar is funny. What it explicitly
states is funny and what it only insinuates is
fully as funny. Let us see. 1t says: ''Grover
Cleveland is before the country as the Democrat
c candidate for the presidency, and the fact that
he is the Democratic candidate is his full and
exclusive claim upon American voters Now
isn't that funny? The writer evidently would
nave Inc T6HOoTS Oh the CNTOUtCt6 uuQeTSLdElQ
that the Democratic Chicago convention was
general council of imbeclles who chose the big
gest imbecile in the party to represent them be-
fore the nation, and that the fact that a man is
the candidate of the Democratic party is proof
conclusive that he has no claim upon American
voters. Now the Democratic party constitutes
over ane-half this people Of the United States
and nineteen-twentieths of the Roman Catholics
of the United States members Of that party
The Chicago convention represented the brain
of all the Catholic Democrats Of the United States
as we'll as all the Democrats who are Protestants
jews or infdels. Is it not funny that the
ChronicIe should thus compliment the Catholics
of the United States? That Grover Cleveland is
the candidate Of the Democratic party for the
presidency is one reason why he should be
elected. That is the reason why jefferson and
Jackson were elected. But it is not the sole
reason why he should be voted for. Did the
writer of the article In the Chronicle never hear
how Grover Cleveland cleaned out the Augean
stables of municipal administration in Buff alo?
Did he ever hear how the same Grover Cleveland
cleaned out the Augean stable of state admins
tration in Albany.
What is wanted to-day? A man who will clean
out the Angean stables of federal administration
in Washington. And who promises so well to
do this last as the man who purified public affairs
in Buffalo and Albany. If the writer Of the ar
ticle in the Chronicle has not heard all this and
does not know all this, it is very, very funny in
deed.
The writer in the Chronicle continues: s.Per-
sonally he is a man comparatively unknown.
In 1870 he was sheriff of Erie county.
New York, and had never been heard of outside
OF that limited district Funny that this should
be reason not to vote for Grover Cleveland. Is
that Catholic logic? My logic inclines me to vote
for Cleveland for the very reason that only few
years ago he was completely unknown, and that
to-day his name is for good reason on every in
telligent mans lips. A fool fourteen years ago
is fool to-day. Cleveland's history since 1870
is only the development of what was then latent
in him.
But the writer in the Chronicle assures US
Cleveland is OF .'meagre talent" Did that gen.
tleman ever weigh Clevelands brain or take an
inventory of his mental stock. By what funny
means did he do it? "PsrsoadHy,," says the
Chronicle, ''he is a man comparatively I'M
known" Hence he shoFd not be voted for
But so is the Pope comparatively unknown per-
soRaliy. Is that any reason why Leo XIII.
does not make good Pope: Funny loglc,funny
logic.
AleNeIhIU WIS udlileu rs the QeIuOCTdtlC can
didate for governor because he was a negative
man," says the Chronicle Now was a man ever
named as the Democratic candidate for anything
because he was negative man: Funny state
mentl Has Cleveland not proved himselfa very
positive man by his course in Buffalo and Albany
And does it not require a very positive man to
oppose liberty of conscience bill, as the ChF0n-
icie asserts, but does not prove that Cleveland
did: To call him first positive and then mega
tive is very funny.
But an, SAYS our writer, .expediency dictated
his nomination." Whist under heaven should
dictate it! Inexpediency: Wouldnt it be fun
ny If that were so!
,swhie governor he distinguished himself
chiefly BY favoring corporations aud monopolies
and by making strenuous efforts to prevent the
passage in the legislature of liberty OF consci-
ence BILL This is not proven. Besides, there
Is no need to give Catholics anywhere liberty of
conscience bill. They have that bill in the con-
stitution of every state II s Catholic, in prison
or out of it. is deprived of liberty OF conscience.
any of the rights OF conscience denied him, let
his fellow Catholics make test case of his case
in the courts, which even governors must obey,
for it is not in the power of s governor
TO deprive any one of 8 right guaranteed
them by the constitution, for the governor is the
servant of the constitution not its master. Fun
ny that the Chyoniels should think it was How
much does the Chroaicls know about the consti-
tutioni IL takes good care not TO charge that
Cleveland ever vetoed bill. 1t does not charge
that he opposed it; but / shall not presume him
innocent of the charge until he is proven guilty
of il; although for the lifeof me i cannot see
the use or necessity OF liberty of conscience bills
supplementary to the constitution which guar
antees liberty OF conscience to everyone. That
would be like asking principal synod to pass 8
decree declaring the pope infaliible, when by the
very constitution of the church he is infaIlible
Fanny logic.
Again we are told we must not vote for Cleve-
land because he would go to Washington totally
IMMERSED in federal affairs. So says the t'hfoEi-
cls / can pick out in st. Paul twenty-five men
who never had anything TO do with federal af
fairs. any one of whom wonld make an excellent
president. knowledge OF the duties Of pre-
si6ent, common sense, average intelligence,
honesty OF intention and frnness OF purpose
are all the qualifications needed. Every intelH-
sent American citizen has the first of these and
the rest are not uncommon. Haman has not
the first " these. his attorney general viii in
form him what they are: and such Is the sim
pIicity OF the machienry Of our government that