The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-10-12
IRON FOUNDERS.

true exponent of American freedom, v,,.
seeks to deny to his fellow man anv ripLt
or privilege because of his religious beIiefS
AS to New York requests, 1 must again
ask the question, What has that IN do
with Georgia politics? I am not farnu-
lar now with the exact data, but some
thirteen years ago this same charge was
made by minister of one of the protes-
tant sects, and made an official inyesti-
cation, and from this l discovered that
more money was then appropriated for
non-Cotholic than for Catholic charities,
that for thirty-one years the number Of
Catholic charities aided by the state was
exactly twenty, whilst the non-Catholic
ones receiving state aid numbered 127.
This aid is given to a class who would in
state institutions, be far greater expense
to the taxpayers. Must I, in my inmosr
heart, resolutely vow never to vote for
Methodist because my friend, Dr. Hon.
kins, is receiving state aid, as president OF
archaeological school?
AS to the exclusive privilege accorded
the Little Sisters of the Poor of begging
in the departments, I know nothing They
never ask whether one who seeks shelter
is Christian, Jew or an American Pro-
tectiVe Association member / do not
know if this exclusive privilege be given
them, but assuming it to be correct, what
has it to do with the voting for a Catholic
become a
member of town council2
II do not refer to Gonzaya college, sim
ply because, like the bishop, I am not in
possession Of both sides of the story. l
VIII obtain the necessary information and
lay it before your readers.
An amusing display of anti-Catholic
zeal occurs in the latter part of Bishop
Nelson's queer letter. The bishop speaks
of good old Father Stephan as 'one of the
nd brio o.
told some time since by an elderly female
OF strongly defined prejudice: I always
knoWed them Jesuits stole Charley Ross
rather Stephan may be shrewd, and
may be bright That is simply a matter
OF opinion. do not consider him as emf
nently bright, nor particularly shrewd.
But one thing l know-he is not Jesuit.
Why was this brought into the letter?
In conclusion, / ask: Is Bishop Nelson
an authorized exponent of protestant
thought and feeling? l do not believe it,
l prefer to believe that Gov. Stone Of
Missouri more nearly represents and
more truly expresses the views of major
ity of my non-Catholic fellow citizens.
And Gov. Stone says:
am disguised with the very little
ness of this thing. grow impatient when
ever l think of it. am not a Catholic. BY
BIRTH education. belief, l am protestant
am not called upon to defend the Cath
Ole church. l am not concerned about it.
But l believe in fair play and honorable
dealing. And this l will say to these lat
ter-day political bigots, who would make
aliens of thousands in their native land
because of religious convictions, that
many of the most illustrious names in
American history were communicates Of
the Catholic church. Among the signers OF
the declaration of independence, and
among those who have made immortal
names in art, literature, in the cabinet, on
the forum, on the bench, and on the mar
tial field, were men who died rejoicing
IN the faith of that great church To blot
their achievements from our history
would be to remove many of it's bright
est pages and disfgure it almost beyond
recognition. This crusade against large
class of our citizens-as intelligent, en-
terprlsing, moral and reputable as any
because of their church affilation is an
unspeakable disgrace to our civilization
There spoke a patriotic American:
Compare Gov stones utterance and
Bishop Nelson's card.
L thank you. sir for the courtesy OF
your columns to defend my loyalty to
American institutions.
Benjamin J. Kelley, V. G.