The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-18


and customs.
IT is not surprising to learn that there are
'reasons" for the removal of Father ONeill
which are regarded as satisfactory at the Bish-
ops house, outside of the 'foolish episode of
municated to us, and, as we are anxious to
treat this matter with the most perfect fair
ness we acknowledge the receipt of the in
formation. We must take occasion to say,
however, that if these are the reasons upon
which the removal Of the father is predicated
their publication would look very strange
alongside of Bishop Chatard's statement that
Father O'Neill is "a good man and a worthy
priest Therefore the tardy preferment of
dorsement, compels us the more strongly to
adhere to the belief that 'the foolish episode
of the cane" is the real animus of the removal,
whatever may be the causes assigned pro
forma. In addition to the absolute
incongruity of the official reasons"
now alleged, with the words of
the able and scholarly diocesan, in card
over his own signature there stands uncon-
tradicted the letter of Mgr Bessonies which
cannot be wiped out by any trumped-up post
date excuses. Never before in the history Of
the diocese of Vincennes so far as it has been
made public, has the vicar-general, or the
bishop, felt it necessary to warn priest "to
leave politics to the politicians" and it cannot
be whistled away that such a sentence would
not likely have been penned to Father O'Neil
had his trip to present the cane been to Mr.
Cleveland instead of to Mr.. Blaine. Surely
it will not be denied that, in many ways, the
this diocese but elsewhere, has been exerted
secretly and powerfully, as we'll as openly and
VIGOROUSLY, in favor of the Democratic
party. In this city, it has been done without
question or rebuke. It is too late for the
Catholic authorities to assume the virtue of
non partisanship.
If "politics" is contraband in the Catholic
Church, it should not have been admitted into
the church fair. There was "politics" in
putting up the cane TO be voted for There
never was a qualm on the part of the au-
thorities over taking the mammon of political
unrighteousness, and running "politics" to the
furthest verge in order to get the more money
for the cane. The offensive politics" only
appeared when the votes were counted,
and it was found that Irish Catholics
had had the audacity to express
preference for James G.. Blaine. Then "poli-
tics must be left to the politicians" hornets
nest was let loose about the devoted head of
Father O'Neill, an he insects big and little,
have been buzzing and singing ever since,
until the final and deadly thrust was given
All this is too plain to be gainsaid. We know
what we are talking about. The ''reasons"
alleged as those for the removal of Father
O'Neill are entirely incompatible with the in
dorsement of Bishop Chatard, who knows
the value of words, and chooses them with
care and nicely when he afixes his powerful
name toa public document. The incidents and
facts all point in one direction, and that that
Father ONeill was "disciplined' because he did
not heed the. warning of Father Bessoniess
letter, and that the episcopal authority has
desired to have it known, in a way not to be
questioned that there shall not be political
freedom in the diocese of Vincennes, except
it be exercised in the interests of
the Democratic party. It would not do
to allow Catholic priest, who
had seemed to indorse the temerity of his con-
gregation in breaking away from their tradi-
tional allegiance to Democracy, to continue in
position where he might have a dangerous
influence with an Irish Catholic constituency.
This is the bald fact as plain as any truth can
be not susceptible of legal proof, and the
evasions resorted to to explain it away only
show its verify the more plainly.