Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-11-01

to 1.-THE Question n Need Only be Fairly
Stated to WIn-CaIl the New City johns
town.
Rev. James P Tahansy, pastor of st.
Johns Catholic Church Of our city was
seen by the reporter Tuesday evening,
and on the subject of consolidation had
the following to say:
al am for consolid alton all the time.
may say, also, that am somewhat of a
stranger here, but since ths food | have
learned the Johnstown people pretty
thoroughly. am interested in the mat
ter of consolidation only as it concerns
our people. I believe 1t to be to the best
interests of all the people of this valley to
consolidate into city.
"On this matter feel very much like
Mr.. Moxham. There are so many argu-
Monts in favor Of consolidation aud so
few against it, that sometimes think the
ease is hardly worth contendlng-thatit it
should carry on its own strength. have
no doubt that many of the saloon keepers
are against it, and many local politicians
too. The former have some of our bor-
oughs almost in their hands, but wit h q
city they fear they would be shorn Of their
power.
"Then again some Of our boroughs are
largely Catholic, and there may be sorne
among their people who think they would
not be able to run those places to suit
themselves. But politics and church
matters should not he mixed. Catholi-
cism is Aot selfish, it is broad, general,
universal. l am going to build nay church
in Johnstown borough. If consolidation
carries may change my plans and locate
the church elsewhere. A lot in Cone
maugh borough belonging to the church
might then be selected. l want it in
Johnstown wherever it Is.
"This whole valley is known abroad
a. Johnstown. A man from Conenaugh
borough goes to some city hotel, and he
rsEisters 'Johnstown' as his place of res
idones. II Is the same IL he 10 from
Morrellville, from WoodvAls or any other
place about here. The people of Johns
town, since the food, apart from any po-
litical OF religious opinions, have shown
themselves to be very generous. In fact,
think that nothing else besides selfish
ness IL against consolidation. I am op-
posed to the local idsar-the idea of each
part remaining selfshly by itself. while
the interests of all our people would be
best served by consolidation.
81 might be said to represent two char.
acters. am citizen having an interest
in the civil Affairs of our people, and l
am priest having the spiritual interests
OF my flock in charge. AS priest
think the interests Of Catholicism snd
temperance would be advanced by con-
solidatien. 1t would lessen the power Of
the saloon element, order would be bet
ter, and the morals thereby im-
proved. All our interests would tAsa
be united, and in uniOn there IL
strength. A strong central government
would certainly be promotion of temper
ance, order, and morals in general. As
Catholic, my duty is clear on this psint.
Aa citizen represent no ism, but be-
lieve in doing what would be best for all.
Abroad Johnstown is the whole valley.
The other boroughs are unheard Of. The
census gives to the borough Of JohRstoWn
. small population. A city of 10000
people would attract capitalists. They
would be eager to come here to seek in-
Vestments. AS one who advocates the
interests of the whole valley, l can not
helpurging the people, one and all to vote
for consolidation.
" With a city government Woodvale
would have been cleaned up long ago,
an embankment would have shut out the
river, and the water would not have
made highway through her heart yes
terday. can not see what some people
want.
I" 1t may be that some of our boroughs,
which are largely Catholic, wish to re-
main by themselves. All this is wrong.
Some Of them do things that are
a scandal to the church. In church
matters we recognize no such thing
as Republican or Democrat. This quasi
Catholic idea, if any such exist, is op-
posed to the spirit of the church. The
church asks for no privileges not accorded
to everyone. Liberty, law, unity, in these
are her strength
" And after all are not all the individ-
ual interests identical 4? If one borough
goes in debt to build bridge, do not the
people of the other boroughs use it when
ever it suits them Should they not
help to build 1t Such selhshness has no
manhood about it.
Z" Let US have a unity, let us have
strength, let us have the best meR tor our
leaders, men of prominence, men OF
ability, let us have city with name
abroad.
" What about the name of the city? "
asked the reporter.