Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-04-22
ELsDoNIsM, ARTICLE 2.

ELsDoNIsM, ARTICLE 2.
 Mir Adamson Ably Quotes History in
 Defense of the Jesuits.
 To Editor of the DEMOCRAT:
 MT Elsdon's slogan is-Down with the Jesuits-but somehow or other they re. fuse to down. Banquo's ghost had the same failing, he wouldn't down either. Whether it is that the Jesuits entertain poor opinion of the influence and intel lectual calibre of the Elsdons, the Jay Cooks and the Fultons do not pretend to say. To the lay mlnd it would so ap- pear. anyway. The Jesuits occupy very high ground; they always did. My of their great mind is sufficiently exten- sive to enable me to say, that they com pare favorably with the average run of Baptist ministers. It is very true they are trained in different schools The Jesuits are not particularly noted for billingsgate, villitication and religions hate. In this they appear to differ from their traducers. They mind their own business, which cannot be said of the small fry who islander them. They are jealous promoters of the teachings of ion covert abbettors of infidelity. They are the acknowledged champions of the physical sciences. Their supremacy in this sphere is unquestioned. They were the greatest discoverers of our crystal lakes, our mighty rivers and virgin for ests. When MT Elsdon's ancestors in the faith were but the barest of possibilities the Jesuit was shedding his blood m this land of ours. His mission was one of christianity and civilization amongst the savages of Amer ca. The poor sim pie natives then knew nothing of abuse, creed hatred and vituperation. He must be either densely ignorant of the history of our country, or surprisingly bigoted who refuses to the Jesuit priests their just need of praise. Bancroft and Parkman, both Protestants, have i'm mortalized the names of the Jesuit ex- plorers of North America. Mot cape was turned or river entered" says Bancroft, but Jesuit led the way" am sure that MT Elsdon reveres the name of Marquette, the peerless mission ary and explorer, that he venerates the memory of Berbonif and Jaques, who were butchered by the savages for teach ing the doctrines of christianity. Ger tainly his broad sympathies 40 out to Hennepin, Allouez, Doblin and Lalle- nlaut who sacrificed their homes, earth ly happiness, and lives to make the new world better known and to SOW the seeds of the gospel. And yet all these heroic pioneers of discovery were ''cruel." bloody" ''unscrupulous" Jes- uits. They were men of strong convic- tions and they died for them.
 More than this. Americas first bishop, John Carroll, the intimate friend of Washington, the staunch friend of the struggling colonists, was one of these horrid Jesuits. It is not on record that he conspired to any great extent to crush out the life of the nation. even when it was assailed by powerful for etgn power. The testimony of an arch infidel, as Paul Bert was, avails nothing The same Paul Bert entertained as poor an opinion of Protestantism as he did of christianity and he is not fal-s ghted ,peaker who will quote him. If the Protestants united with the Cathollcs in the struggle against infidelity better results might bs obtained, am honestly of the opinion that the Protestant sects are mainly responsible for the vast flood of inhdelity that threatens so much ruin. It is notorious fact that the only enemy that infidelity has is Catholicism. and feared, and consequently so much hated as the Jesuits. But what are our chul ches doing to stem the tide of in fidelity? NothiI g, absolutely nothing It is an undeniable fact that the majority of Protestant clergymen hail with de light the fierce assaults of the infidel hosts against the Catholic church. They very often encourage these assault both by word and action. The hand of fellowship is always stretched forth to the man, be he infidel or pagan who will strike the Catholic church. What is the result : Not mnch apparent harm to Catholic ism, but an almost total undermining of faith amongst themselves. As non- Catholic 1 often blush at the open as- sistance Protestantism has always given to infidelity in its warfare against the ancient church. One never hears of an infidel assailing protestantism. Not at all, for it is his faithful ally; but we dc hear, and frequently at that, that their guns are turned on the Jesuit citadel, and so it will ever be.
 As to whether Peter or Paul would have made the better pope leave to the judgment of those who know more about the matter than I do. However, I know this much, that if Peter sinned he had the manliness to show sorrow for his fall. Some of his latter day crit les might profit by his splendid example. It is on record that his sorrow was ac. ceptable to the master. l hold this out as an encouragement TOT NIT EjSOO0. If Mir Elsdon could only see the smiles that light up the countenances of the Catholic laity of this city, he would give them less taffy and more vinegar in the future. The day is gone by when they can suffer by the smile aattery of avow ed enemles. In the words of one of them, "it is too diaphanous."
 must confess that MT Elsdon's assault on the Catholic church is a disappoint | ment, and advise him to try woodchop ping or some other healthy exercise, that isn't too fatiguing. He is better | adapted to such pursuits. After all,
 what else could we expect?
 M. ADAMSON.