Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1893-11-10
GOOD ORDS

r. Laboring Man Should Not be
Threatened with Discharge
On Recount OF Religious
Or Po1ir1caI Belief.
Comment. on Father Raster's
Letter Published in These
Column. Friday
Evening.
want now to speak OF matter
which perhaps may not at first
glance seem to have much connec-
ton with the subject which we are
discussing. But hope before I have
finished to show you that 1t has a
direct bearing not only upon the
question OF labor, but upon the still
more vital question OF the civil and
religious rights OF the Individual.
Many Of you no doubt read in the
Transcript Of last Friday evening q
communication from the Rev. Fa-
Their Raster in regard to society
known as the "A. P. A. Readers OF
the Transcript had been advised by
an intimation in the previous even
ing issue that such an article would
appear. Most Of us therefore expect
ed to read an able and strong con-
demnatton of the Society, supported
by the opinions Of distinguished re-
preventative men. What we did
read was an abundance OF matter
the greater part of which had no
more relation to the A. P. A. or any
other society than it had with the
question Of W romans rights or Of the
liquor traffic, and much of it was his
torically incorrect. There were how
ever some extracts from the st. Paul
Globe, paper in whose veracity the
Rev. Father shows a childlike conf
dence which is truly touching. Asto
that papers assertions or to the Rev.
Father Raster's opinion of the A. P.
A. have nothing to say as that So
ciety is undoubtedly able to answer
for itself. ~ -
notice that Father Raster feels
called upon from time to time to
state his views upon various ques.
tions and it is a singular coincidence
that the opinions he holds are usu.
ally in opposition to those institu.
tons which are peculiarly dear to the
heart Of every true American. A few
weeks ago he gloritied parochial
schools at the expense OF our public
schools; but only to find in the next
evenings Transcript reply so con.
vincing and crushing that apparent
ly up to this present time he has not
recovered from it,. I am reminded as
I read these illusions of the genia
pastor of the German Catholic church
of the great strong Englishman who
allowed his little shrew of wife tt
beat him occasionally; and in reply
to. the question why he allowed il
said "that it pleased his wife ant
didn't hurt him. So these com
munications which from time tt
time we are called upon to read evi
IDENTIFY please their author and d(
not hurt anyone. ~
| lam glad however to agree witt
Father Rasterin some things he says
/ agree with him for instance whel
he says that he desires to preserv
the present peaceful relations exist
ing in our city. But ask whethe
the course pursued during the las
week or two by some of his parish
toner's is not calculated to promot
disharmony and i'll will rather thai
peace and concord? l approach thi
| question in q spirit of fairness an
my position is such that L am abb
to speak as a disinterested party.
! am not a member. of tn
| A. r. A. or any other similar OF
lganization as / have more than ono
declined to join. I am not her
therefore as it's defender or its ar
$ponent, but simply as the .advocat
OF civil and religious liberty and {
the rights of labor. I have neve
made in my sermons or in any othe
form any attack upon the Catholi
church. The first vote ever cast
my life was for q Catholic, and til
last vote gave was for membe
OF Father Raster's church, an
several other times in my life have
Voted for Catholics. Indeed til
lquestion of a mans religious fait
has never affected me one way or til
other and 1 trust it never will. I
my trading I haye dealt as muc
with Catholics as with Protestant
I have attended Catholic entertain
ments although it occurs to me tina
Ihave never seen the pastor Of thi
Catholic church at any of ours. ] al
a strong believer also in Home RlIl
for Ireland, and here and elsewher,
I have sought in all ways to pronlot
Harmony and to sink those diffel
ences that too often separate ufs ,z
mention these things to show yo
i that there Is no animus on mypaI
against the members Of the Catholi
faith, but also mention them to shoy
on the other hand that when th
i time comes to speak In condemns
tion Of any attempt to interfere wit
The rights Of people Of my own fait
i intend to speak plainly and witt
out reservation
That time has come. am tol
i on good authority that some prom
Iinent citizens OF this place 1atel
lwent to one OF our leading merchant
and demanded the discharge OF on
OF his employees. On what ground
ibid they ask It? On the gronn
4 that the man is an inefficient worl
man and had spoiled some OF the
property? On the contrary the m,
chanic referred to enjoys the reput,
ton Of being a first-class workman
Was it that the man is a drunkar
and violator OF the laws OF b
country? On the contrary, he is
most sober and law abiding citizel
Il Was it on the ground that he