Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-01
A Republican Gun Spiked.

At the Democratic ratification meeting
held in Albany, n. Y, Tuesday night,
Hon. PATRICK COLLINS, a prominent
Irish Catholic, spiked, dismounted, and
Otherwise rendered Republican gun
so useless that il will have TO be re-
tired from service for the rest OF the
ctmpaign. Ever since CLEvELASD's nomi-
nation the BLAINE organs have rung the
changes upon his alleged antagonistic atti.
tude towards the Irish Catholics, and
have labored sedulously to excite the
rTCiudice of that class against bin. They
have luggea the religious and race issues
into the canvass on all occasions, and have
not hesitated TO charge the Democratic
nominee with The narrowest sort OF bigotry
IN both his private and public capacities.
As to what ground they had to stand upon
in such warfare let Mr.. CoLLISs answer.
After pricking the campaign bubble with
which 1t was sought TO array the working.
men against Governor CLEVELAND, Mr..
COLLINS said:
hesitaled TO drag the question OF religion
lhisseSl into the contest; and Catholics. as
sach. are invited to desert the Democratic
party and vote the Republican ticket this
year on account OF alleged religious bias on
the part Of Governor Cleveland. Their bill
OF particulars is First, Governor Ceye-
lands veto of the "ircedom OF worship
bll," and second, his veto OF the appro-
prlation for the Catholic protectory.
II ought to be q sufficient answer TO the
first charge TO say that the Governor did
not veto the 'frccdOm OF worship" bill.
lie never had a ch8n'e TO do so, rs il never
lassed the Legislature. II did pass the
session OF 1881, when his Republican prede.
ccssor vetoed it. which is probably the
foundation Of the lie told against Governor
Cleveland Had such bill reached Gov.
ernor Cleveland, am assured that ii would
promptly receive his signature.
The Catholic prOtec,ory is a most excel
lent institution, located in New York city,
for the shelter and care OF destitute children
in New York and vicinity. II is not, as
may he supposed, public institution,
though by long usage all such institutions
receive more or less financial aid from the
county treasury. and in some rare cases
from the State. The Catholic protectory
in 1888 was granted $4,000 by the Legis-
lature, and the Governor Withheld his APP
prova. on the ground, among others, that
the cost OF maintaining that institution was
properly chargeable upon the city and
county OF New York rather than upon
the State at large. In this view
every lawyer will concur, including the
eminent counsel for the protectory, Hon.
John Il. Develin. Loud applause.l But
lac lnFx hn iA to xsnt,
tortured into general ati-Catholic prejudice
by those whose interest it was to break
down the Governor, and many who were
ignorant Of the grOun.s upon which the
veto was based were led TO believe that it
was a blow directed at the Catholics as
class. read what the president and coun-
sci for the protectory say about 1t in letter
written within few weeks
Mr.. Daniel Manning, Chairman Neto York
Delegation:
We never doubted the sincerity OF the
motives which induced Governor Cleve-
land 10 withhold his signature to the APP
preparation 10 the protect0ry. We thought
then, and think now, that he was not ac-
tusicd Icy any feeling OF bigotry, or Of no.
tility to Catholics or to Catholic inStitu-
tons On the contrary, Governor Cleye-
land is liberal IN the extreme, and we are
of the firm belief that he was led to with
hold his approval OF the appropriation
solely by sense OF public duty, as he
viewed it. HENRY l.. Ii0GUET,
President OF the Protectory;
JOIN Il. DEvELIN,
Counsel and Adviser TO the Protectory.
fCheers.]
Both these gentlemen are too well known
to require IN introduction TO any Catholic
in the land. and both not only defend the
Governor from this base and unfounded
attack, bit warmly advocate his election TO
the presidency.
Those who attack the Governor for this
veto are careful 10 conceal the fact that all
denominations were treated alike by him,
and that he approved no bill or any item
In bill giving dollar ont Of the treasury
TO any such institution, whether man
aged by Catholic or Protestant, jew or
Gentle. The safe and decided ground
always taken 10y him is that public moneys
shall be raised and expended only for pub
lie purposes. In the supply bill Of 1893 he
vetoed twen'y-Seven such items, amounting
TO f250, 70i.3G. As Catholics, all we ak is
fair play and equal terms with all Others in
the community. We ask no special favors.
And we serve notice on those who have so
suddenly shown zeal for us-or our votes
that we are guided in our public conduct by
principle, not prejudice, and II they appeal |
to this lower motive they appeal to Us IN
vain.
find. among other evidence Of Governor |
Cleyelands deep hostility TO the Catholics, |
that he has caused salaries TO be given TO |
three Catholic chaplalns in the prisons OF |
the State. No Catholic chaplain ever re- |
.l.rx, -. i'll. |
executive who has a race or religious pre- |
JUDGE will find some difficulty in conceal |
ing II In bis appointments. The three lead |
ing positions IN the gift OF the Executive |
OF the State OF New IOrk-indeed, the only |
three important nes-Governor Clevel md |
flled a. follows;
Railroad Commissioner, John ID. Ker-
nan.
superintendent Of Insurance, John A.
Mccall, Jr.
Superintendent Of Public Works, James
Shannahan.
II happens that all these gentlemen are
of Irish blood aud Catholics in religion.
know the Governor did not appoint them
10 these high positions because OF their
race or creed, but because they were emf
nently lit for the places. / presume he
never thought OF race or creed. But il he
were narrow, bigoted, or even timid. be
would have done so, and hesitated.
WHY Because never before In the
whole history OF the State were those oil.
ces, OF any one OF them, filled by men of
Irish blood and Catholic faith ! When
,be act to establish an emigration
commission went into effect, be did not
hesitate 10 appoint an eminent Irish
American Catholic, William II. Murtha, IS
TO carry out its bene1cent
provisions. / will not weary you with
mention OF many similar appointments to
minor offices In the Executive gift, though
he list is full and representative. But
.sk you, in all candor, what other Gov
'Tnor. in all the long, illustrious line, has
uch record2 tApplause.l
/ dislike exceedingly 10 descend TO the
eyel OF those who have imported this race
md religions issue into the canvass BuL