New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-07
UNFRIENDLY TO NO CHURCH.
FALSE STATEMENTS ABOUT ANDREW d.
WHITE AND THE CATHOLICS.
GIVING CREDIT IN SPEECHES AND WRITINGS 10
THE GREAT cHURcHMEN OF ALL AGES.

GIVING CREDIT IN SPEECHES AND WRITINGS 10
THE GREAT cHURcHMEN OF ALL AGES.
CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT ALIKE.
Ithaca, Sept. Special-Two arguments havc
been advanced thus far against the nomination
of Andrew ID. White for Governor at the Republi-
can State Convention this week. First, IL Is
said that he was opposed TO universal manhood
suffrage, and that he had been member Of the
Constitutional Commission favoring this PROPOSE
ton, These allegations one as false
the other were effectively met and summariy
disposed of by Mr.. White in The Tribune Of
yesterday. The second objection TO him is even
more preposterousiy untrue. 1t is in effect that
the late president of Cornell is unfrendly to the
Roman Catholic Church. the basis Of this charge
being that in his writings Mr. White has criti-
cised religious intolerance Of science by this, as
well other denominations.
To people in general this will be surprising
enough, but to those who know Mr. White. par
ticularly his friends here and the Cornell alumni
and Students the statement will appear simply
ridiculous, for if there is any man in the country
to-day free from tn slightest suspicion Of re-
ligious prejudice Of any kind and beyond all forms
of denomnational hatred it is Andrew d. White.
In fact, this is the last charge any at all
familiar with his career would expect TO see
brought against him, and it will certainly react
against those using it. II is true that in little
book published nearly twenty years ago. and in sun
dry articles tracing the progress of various branches
of science through the Middle Ages, Mr.. White
has described the encounters of these sciences with
various theological ideas, supported by Catholics
and Protestants, but so far from showing any
hostility to the Roman Catholic Church, he has
constantly held up to admiration those great
Churchmen who have stood for humanity and
truth through the Middle Ages and modern times.
He has specially called attention to the noble
services of Pope Clement " IN protecting the
Jews from popular hatred throughout Europe
during the great European plaques. He has held
up to admiration the conduct of Bezunce, Bishop
of Marseiles in the last century, when the plague
was raging there When obliged historian
to show the opposition to vaccination growing out
of certain theological ideas in certain clergymen
in Canada he spoke with ferver of the noble con-
duct of the whole Roman Catholic clergy Of
Montreal during the ship fever there, declaring
that their conduct forms one of the most glorious
episodes in the history of humanity.
While showing how theological ideas were from
time to time at variance with those Of medical
science in the Middle Ages, he has taken pains to
show the great services rendered by the monks.
many of the parish clergy, and indeed the whole
Church, in the establishment of every form of in
stitution for the alienation of suffering So far
HOln dsdillcp N'tHVh'i'his hc h"'t
in his chapter on geology, held up Cardinal Wise
man to especial admiration for his courageous
course in defending geological truths against such
Protestant attacks as those of Dean Cockburn and
the Rev. Mellor Brown in England. Those who
have listened to President Whites lectures know
well that he has displayed such men as Bossuet,
Fenelon, st. Vincent de Paul, ST. Francis Xavier
and Peter Canisius as among the great gories OF
humanity. In the memorial window designed by
Mr. White and placed above Mr.. Comelrs statue
in the Founders Chapel of the university. the
great Catholic founder of colleges in the Middle
Ages William of Wykeham, holds the central
place between John Harvard and Ehhu Yale.
During the last term of last year ne lectured TO
large popular audiences in aid of the fund to
erect another memorial window in which the two
great figures were st. Vincent de Paul and John
Howard the phlanthrOpist, and his panegyric on
St. Vincent was listened to by large audience at
the unveiling of the window in commencement
week. And he did this in spite of the fact that
a considerab BILE number of people were at first dis
posed TO look askance at the idea of placing the
picture of great Catholic apostle of charity In
that place. Years ago he gave TO the Young Mems
Christian Association of Cornell a series Of en-
cravings to adorn their walls. These engravings
represented the striking scenes in the moral
progress Of the world, and among them was one
representing St. Vincent preaching to the galley
slaves and carrying foundhngs TO the Paris hos
pital.
Among more recent Churchmen of whom M
White has spoken publicly in terms OF the highest
respect and admiration are Cardinal Lavigerie. for
his work in combating the slave trade in Africa;
Cardinal Gibbons, for his kindly ana toerano
spirit: Archbishop Ireland, for bis powerful pre-
sentation of moral truths to his people: Bishop
Spaulding for his breadth OF view on American
ouestOns; and Bishop keane, rector of the Uni
aity NJ WaShiuOtOn for his DUMer IN pre-
sentng educational subjects Though brought up
in the Episcopal Church, to which he mas always
remained sincerely attached, Mr. White has
steadily combated every form of intolerance, and
held up TO admiration every great anu goot
man of whatever creed. As American Minister at
Berlin be eXerted himself TO free from the opera,
tlon Of the severe military laws of Prussia ana
other German States his tellow-cltnens OF what
ever creed-devoting himself 10 Jews and Gentiles,
Catholics and PrOtestants alike. When gentle-
man presented to Cornell University a large sum
of money 10 found chaplaincy, with the under
standing that 1t SHOULD 3e niled 10y GlerSS aa han
of the Church in which Mr. Whte mad Deen
educated, he declined 10 recommend the plan 70
the trustees lie said that Cornell University,
having been founded by the Nation ana the State,
should nor he even in appearance, tied up 10 any
one denomination. lie induced the gentleman glV-
ing the money TO endow with IT preacnersh1p
TO which eminent diyines OF all churches should
The result was that the most distinguished
clergymen OF every considerable body IN the
Christian Church, Catholic and Protestant, were
invited to occupy the pulpit, and among them
were Bishop McQuaid, Bishop Simpson, Bishop
HUNTINGTON. Howard Crosby, Dr. Macarthur,
President Porter, of Yale, and Dr. Peabody, OF
Harvard These facts are known 10 large num-
Der of people already. At one time they brought
some obloduy OH Mr.. White from men who mis-
understood his motives: but that has long since
subsidized and it is believed that the more the
gactc i'm the case are known the stronger will be
his support among the men who desire good
jTnvernnent, whether they be Catholics or
ProteStants.
REPUBLICAN DELEGATES CHOSEN.