The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-14
DEPEw's CHICAGO GRAFTON.
Catholic Prelates Consid erinR the Ad.
Visibility of HeDlying to It.

Catholic Prelates Considering the Ad-
Visibility of HeDlying to It.
Although Mr.. Depew spoke with scheer-
full philosophy as he could command at the
| Union League Club last night, says New
| York special to the Philadelphia Press, yet
he was disturbed, not only on account. of
the election, but at the evidences he has
lately received of intense dissatisfaction
with certain portions of his Columbian ad-
dress at Chicago on the part of Roman
| Catholics. Some OF the highest authorities
| In the Catholic church have criticised Mr.
| Depew's references to the condition of the
Christian church at the time Columbus was
preparing for his expedition. Some of these
criticisms have found their way into the
Catholic press, and it is understood that
Archbishop Ireland. Archbishop Corrigan
aud some of the other greater dignitaries
have been seriously considering what reply,
If any. was to be made
Mr.. Depew's mail gives evidence of this
decidedly bitter dissent. He is accused of
having attacked the Roman Catholic church
unjustly. and he Is even charged with in
tolerance, Protestant intolerance 1t looks
now as though, the excitement Of politics
having passed away, this trouble might be-
come sufficiently sensational to attract
attention.
Yet dispatch from Rome this morning
suggests that the pope is pleased with
Depew's grafton, and IL this news is well
founded, Pope Leo must have read the
speech with the same understanding of its
intent which Mr.. Depew contemplated when
he wrote it. Vicar General Farley is in
Rome, having arrived there only few
days ago. He is a warm, personal friend Of
Mr.. Depew's. great admirer Of his oratory,
and has frequently received substantial aid
from Depew and his friends for the great
mission work which he established in New
| York city. It is possible that the dispatch
| from Rome is due to a we'll meant sug-
| gestion Of the vicar generals.
Mr. Depew says that his purpose is en-
tirely misunderstood by the American
Catholics. He had no thought of criticising
the Roman church as distinguished from
the Protestant. There was no church prac-
tically at that time IN Europe excepting
the Catholic. The reformation had lust be-
gun. 1t was Depew's intention to call at
tention to the state Of the Christian religion
and not to the Influence of the papisss
| He severely criticised certain features of
the Puritan movement, aud believed he
could do that without being compelled to
face an accusation that he was thereby at
lacking the Presbyterian or Congregational
denominations
Perhaps this explanation, if it shall be
formally made, as Is quite likely, since Mr..
| Depew regards the accusation as of con-
siderable Importance, will BE- sufficient
Some of Depews friends here in the Catholic
denomination believe that the trouble is
entirely due to the haste with which Depew
prepared the GRAFTON. 1t was really written
In single day. and it has been suggested by
Archbishop Corrigan himself, who OF course
has had his attention called to this matter.
that If Mr.. Depew had had more time care
fully to write and accurately to set forth
his thoughts, there could have been no COM
plant. think the archbishop is inclined
to take that view of it.
DEPEw AND MS CRITICS.
1t is not the first time that Mr.. Depew has
set the tongue OF censure wagzinR by his
orations, but think it is the first time that
he has been seriously concerned over a mis-
construction of his speeches. Last year ne
caused commotion among those who cali
themselves Jeffersonisn democrats by assert
ing in his Galena address in honor of Gen.
Grant that the names of the four Americans
who would be remembered 1000 wears
hence, as Caesars now is, were Washington
Hamilton. Lincoln and Grant. He was
taken to task for leaving out the name OF
jefferson, and he defended his estimate on
the ground that Jefferson was not in any
sense the creator or the preserver of the
American nation. Yet no man has paid
higher tribute TO Jefferson'J services than
| Depew himself.