Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-11-24
A STRIKING INCIDENT.

A LONDON dispatch which ap-
pears In this issue is straw in the
wind which Indicates the drift Of
popular morality. Father Banam,
in the Italian Catholic Church at
Hatton Garden, took occasion, in
his sermon, to animadveFt upon the
conduct Of Charles Stewart Parnell,
the Irish political leader. Evil
IDENTIFY the priest alluded to the re.
cent scandal In order to read moral
lesson to his congregation, that
they might avoid the rock upsn
which Parnell stranded. The COM
ment Of the clergyman did not have
the desired effect. Itcaused blaze
Of indignation to burst forth, mspi-
tested by a number Of people ab-
ruptly leaving the building, while
others shouted their disapproval of
the remarks Of Father Banam.
1t appears that the reverend gen.
tleman was merely referring to cur
rent history to illustrate his sermon,
and warn his hearers against taking
a downward course in morals. The
conduct Of Mr.. Parnell has been q
great and notorious scandal, show
ing that he has no regard for truth
or for the sanctity Of the home OF
personal friend. Being a public
man, known throughout the civil
lied world rs a sturiy champion of
Irish rights, the disreputable course
he has pursued, and which has
shocked the moral susceptibilities
Of ali pure people, is public property.
And If such villainy as he has been
guilty Of goes unrebuked by press
and pulpit the consequence will be
a demoralizing effect upon the peo-
pie at large.
That such man is held up, sus-
tanned and pampered as a pei, shows
badly for the state Of public morals,
which are gliding downward, with a
rapidity that must cause alarm TO
all right-minded people. The doe
trine that has been advanced by
some leading journals to the effect
that In the matter Of political leader
ship the people have nothing to do
with Pafneli's morals Is monstrous.
The same idea prevailed in Rome
when that empire had become NOR
ally rotten. Sound morality is the
foundation Of nationaland individual
greatness. Without il neither can
have any degree Of permanency.
Neither the nation nor the in
dividual can stand upon the single
plank Of intellectual grasp and adj
vancement History has proved this
If ii has proved anything.
And We insist that to continue
such q man as Parneli in the public
position held by him so long rs a
leader, cannot fail to have the effect
of cheapening public morality, by
debauching popular sentiment.
Mr.. Parnell was, on his own con-
fession, during the investigation of
the Tunes eIpose. proved guilty of
falsehood. 1t was shown that he lad
made certain statements at a given
time, and he admitted that he knew
at the time he enunciated them
that they were untrue. Much char
ity was exhibited toward him, how
ever, on two grounds. In the first
place he had been wrongfully &C
cused and assaiied by the great
newspaper named. In the see
ond place, it was believed
that the untrue statements were
made solely in the interests of the
cause Of Ireland. Still, as the
famous Mr.. Ballou has said, "false-
hood il cowardice," no matter how
people may seek to palllate 1t, and
it 10 something of which every per-
son guilty Of it has reason TO lie
ashamed. But this late scandal
goes beyond the realm of pallialion.
IL not only involves ordinary moral
turpitude but treachery to a man
whose friend he pretended to be.
The treatment of Father Banam
after he left his church and was on
his way home, was most brutal.
He was assailed and struck, pre-
by people who are en-
thusiastic for the rights OF
Ireland, while they were ready |
to mob and abuse man
for merely, exercising the right |
Of free speech in commenting upon |
a matter Of current history. Such |
people do not have any proper con-
ception OF what constitutes human
rights. 1s- --
We believe that it would be bene-
fetal to the cause of Ireland and |
public morality If Parnell were
reiegated to the sphere Of private
life.