The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-02
ACCUSING sECTARIANISM,


In its desperation, the Democratic party
seeks to make Mr. Blaine responsible for the
declaration of Dr. Burchard, who, in address
ing Mr.. Blaine last week, among other things
said:
eve are Republicans and don't propose to
leave our party and identify ourselves with
the party whose antecedents have been rum,
Romanism and rebellion
The shrek which, by arrangement, the
Democratic press has raised over these words
Indicates the straits to which it is reduced in
its attempts to win back the Irish voters who
have deserted the Democratic party by thou
sands and under the guidance of honored
leaders, such as Finerty, Dewey, Ford, Morri-
son, Scanlan and others, have pronounced
with all the ardor of their nature for Blaine
and Logan.
Mr.. Blaine replied courteously to the min
listers who called on him, but not a word in his
reply implies the slightest approval of the i'm
proper language used by Dr. Burchard, who has
never been accepted as Mr. Blaine's mouth
piece. 1t is due also to DR.. Burchard to say
that he has promptly disowned the desire to
express any hostility to the Roman Catholic
Church in what he said. In a campaign such
as this, full of excitement and turmoil, no
public man is expected to analyze public ad
dresses, and no one but fool would hold him
responsible for the declaration of overzealous
partisans. 1t should be borne in mind that as
soon as DR.. Burchard and his friends had
retired, Father O'Neil, of this city, presented
a gold-headed cane to Mr.. Blaine, expressing
at the same time the friendly sentiments
which many Catholics profess for the great
American statesman. No one supposes that
when Mr.. Blaine accepted the gift and thanked
Father O'Neil in polite terms that
he departed for moment from the broad, in
dependent position he has held throughout
this campaign in regard to all religious de-
nominations. James G. Blaine would not
descend to sectarian hate to secure any posi-
ton, however high. We believe that rather
than sheer at his Roman Catholic fellow citi-
zens, he would lose hundred presidencies.
He is gentleman in the truest sense of the
assail rum" "Romanism, or even ''rebel-
lion"
Mr.. Blaine's whole career bellies this CON
temptible attempt to fasten on him hostility
to the Catholic, or any church. His own
mother was Roman Catholic, and one of the
noblest of his many noble acts is letter in
which he refers in graceful terms to her hon
ored memory, and refuses to allow any one to
assume that because he is Presbyterian in
faith he entertains the slightest ami
mostly to the Catholic denomination.
His broad, generous nature revolts at the
American in that respect as he is when he de-
sires to see the national flag float on the ocean
and strives to shield American industry from
ruinous competition.
Throughout his whole career Mr.. Blaine has
been the friend of religious freedom and pop
ular rights Irrespective of creed, Irishmen
have focked to his standard and that of the
gallant Logan, who is an Irishmans son and
inherits the martial ardor and invincible
courage of his race They know that Mr..
Blaine has never evinced bigotry throughout
his long and honorable public career. They
know that he enjoys the esteem of Catholic
clergymen, who expect no special favor
at his hands, but who turn