Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-09
CATHOLICS AND THE CAPITAL.
Their Acquisition of Property at wash
inGton Revlves an old Opposition.

inEtou ReNiVes an Old Opposition.
NEW YORK, June 3.-New activity is
/ discernible in Know Nothiugism, or rath-
err among the Jealous anti-Catholics. The
organization known rs the American
Pr0te- tant League, long dormant, is now
in q state of something like agitation. 1T
is understood that Mics CatHariue Wolf,
one OF the wealthest maiden ladies' an
America, has contributed und Tor lhe
cause, in which she has long taken deep
interest. However, She declines 10 give
either a denial or confederation OF the as
sertiOn. At all events, the society IS pre-
pairing for an effort TO arouse religious
feeling against the Catholic Church.
Freshly written tracts are TO be issued by
the million, and a plan for a newspaper
organ 81 the movement has been perfect
I'd. The promoters declare that
100000 are already at their
command, and they are hopeful that be-
tore that sum is exhausted, the O,d-time
acrimony will have been revived. The
point Of especial insistance will be th5t
the Catholics have gone very far in sys-
tematic effort 10 capture Washington, As
a centre OF political influence. The evil
dences to be cited IN support Of that view
are the immense requirement Of rOperty
by the church in the District OtColumbia.
Sites for schools, converts, colleges,
churches and asylums have been pur-
chased there greatly in advance Of actual
needs: and now % acres OF ground have
been bought for the projected seminary,
to found which Catholic lady recently
gave $500, 900 as a beginning. The active
controller of all these concerns is the
Archbishop of Baltimore, in whose diocese
the capital is situated. In all this the
American Protestant League sees de-
termination on the part Of the Catholics
to make Washington their potent Ameri-
can centre.
Cardinal McCloskey is very feeble, and.
if he is able to take a directing part in
such a scheme, it would surprise those
who know his physical and mental con-
ditiOn. He lives secluded in his Occical
residence-a beautiful marble structure
adjoining st. Patrick's Cathedral, in Fifth
avenue. He has taken no share in public
services since the imposing ceremonies
with which his red hat of the cardinal
ship was received. He has "A numerous
household OF priests, and his niece, the
wife Of John Kelly, Tammany's leader, Is
n fayOrite and informal visitor but TO the
outside world his presence Is as impcno-
trable as that of the Pope himself. His
secretary is Father Farrelly. who says of
the new auti-Catholic movement: Ills
emineHce has been for some time aware
OF IT,. lie regards it as harmless out
cropping Of the old narrow prejudice. It
will amount to nothing. AS to our move
ments i'm Washington, they show for
themselves. They are charitable, educa-
tional, spiritual as the growth Of
our church interests demand. Possibly
they are more comprehensive than are
absolutely required at present, but we
shall grow up 10 them speedily. ! have
not word To say of the policy of my SUI
periors, special or general. except that,
Of course, it is carefully calculated for the
good OF the church"