Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-11
LIQUOR TRAFFIC..
Position OF the Roman Catholic Church
Toward Prohibition.

Toward Prohibition.
From the Ee,o York Teiegram.
The arrival Of the Rev. DR.. O'Connell,
rector Of the American College at Rome,
is awaited with great anxiety. He is eX-
pected within few days and brings with
him the DEGREES of the Plenary Council at
Baltimore as they were approved by the
Pope. The section in the decrees relat-
ing TO the liquor traffic has created great
excitement and people are on the tip-tOe
OF expectation 10 see in what form the de-
cree was approved In that respect. Tie
section adopted by the Bishops was not
confined to the prohibition OF selling
liquor on sundays, but called upon pas
tors 10 induce members Of their flOcks
who are engaged in the liquor traffic 10
abandon it and embark in some other
business. This is 80 sweeping that. If ap-
proved IN the form presented by the Holy
See, it will lead to movement in temper
ance reform the most extraordinary ever
known in this country.
CAUTIOUS RECToRs.
a reporter called on several Catholic
rectOrs to-day in reference TO the matter,
but they declined to discuss it in adj
vance OF the publication Of the decress,
which will be made after the arrival
of DR.. O'Connell. Rev. James II. Nc
Gean, of St. Peters. Barclay street, said
he would reserve his opinion till he saw
the full text Of the DEGREES.
Rev. John j. RiOrdan, of Castle Gar
den, said:
at seems to me that there is no war
rant for the sensational turn given to this
portion of the DEGREES. Nobody has a
right to assume that the decree in rela-
ton TO the liquor traffic has been approved
in lis original form. For my part l don't
know in what shape the DEGREES have been
finally approved"
would you be surprised if this sec
ton referred to was adopted without alter
alton! 2"
II cannot say that would. This tenn
perance section, or, as politicians would
term it, plank saYOrs very much Of
Bishop Ireland, Of st. Paul. Ii is his pet
theme. Bishop O'Connor, OF Omaha, and
two other American Bishops appeared be-
fore the Propaganda, aud presented argu-
ments in favor OF the DEGREES"
THE approval of the liquor section
in that shape would create some excite
ment"
''Not doubt OF it; but we had better
wait patiently"
RIGHTEOUS PROVISION.
The reporter next met Rev. Patrick
Hennessey, rector of St. Patrick's, Jersey
City, and founder of the New Jersey Cath
Olic Temperance Union.
The provision of the DEGREES against
liquor selling on Sundays" be said, us a
most righteous one, and has been APP
proved In all probability by the Holy See.
We have succeeded to great extent in
New Jersey in suppressing the sale of
liquors on picnics and excursions con-
Quoted under Catholic auspices. Only en-
force the strict observance of the Sab
bath in the question of liquor traffic and
we shall gain another great point. 1t
will prove an incaleulabe blessing to our
people. ! shall lend all the aid in my pow
er toward such contamination"
what about the clause calling on rec
tors to induce members Of their flocks to
give up the liquor traffic altOgether%'
This is delicate question and you
must excuse me for declining to answer
1t. We had better wait till the DEGREES are
published"