The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-24

SEVENTH have always preached that every
Observation-Disclosures. Christians, Catholics.
Protes tants, OF every sect and shade-were all
entitled to the entire enjoyment OF the free
dom of conscience, without let or hindrance
| from any other denomonation, or set of demon
| nations, no matter how small their mum Der,
| or how unpopular the doctrines they protested
Eighth have always preached, both pub
| licy and privately, the Christian obligation OF
peace and good VIII toward men, even when
| they hate ard persecute US.
Ninth have been accustomed to pray pub
| licly in our churches for the constituted au.
thorities of the United States for the welfare
OF my fellow-citiZens of all denominations and
without distinction: whilst James Gordon Ben
nett and william L. Stone were, from day to
day exciting the hatred of my fellow-citiZens
against me, and. so far, attempting to deprive
me of the protection of my country.
These affirmative propositions | am bound
and prepared to prove If Mr.. Bennett and
Colonel Stone deny them. All the propositions
are facts, and are to be overthrown if assailed
at all, not by sophistry or arguments, but by
other facts with witnesses which will prove
them untrue.
Now, therefore, James Gordon Bennett, Will
liam L. Stone and We other deceivers of the
public stand forth and meet Bishop Hughes.
But then come forth in no quibbling capacity
Come forth as honest men, as true American
citizens, with truth in your hearts ana candoI
on your lips. know you can write well and
can multiply words and m1srepresent truth.
This is not the thing that will serve you now.
Come forth with your facts. Bishop Hughes
honest man before the American people.
He asks not favor, but he simply asks
whether the opinion OF Bishop White is true,
that with the American people no man can be
put down by calumny. Bring, therefore, your
fccts to disprove the foregoing negative propo-
sitions. Bishop Hughes pledges himself to
prove those that are affirmative, If you or any
decent man with his signature will deny
them.
Neither the editors nor the preachers came
forward with their facts. Then as now, they
| i 1r1yO in
sentation, and the same unanswered challenge
which stopped the elder Benefits cowardly
mouth smites to-day the slanderous teeth OF
DR.. Case.
But the end is not yet "1hink of twelve
millions" he says, "glven to Rome since Abra.
cam Lincoln was assasslnated by Roman Cath
olics." Here, Mr.. Editor. am tempted to give
up in despair. What in the name OF common
sense is the good of arguing with the concen.
trated idioey which inspires that assertion?
| One would imagine that protectors OF Ameri-
of American history. The fact, however, is
| that they do not; and there are thousands in
| this City to-day who are fully convinced that
Lincoln was murdered by the Jesuits.
| For the sake OF those who, unlike DR.. Case
are in good faith let me recall some facts:
| President Lincoln was murdered on the 14th
of April, 1865, at the theater by an actor
named j. Wilkes Booth, who entered the box
shot the President through the head, crying
''Sic semper tyrannis. The South is avenged
| Nowhere in standard works, neither in the
| IoIltlsH uOT hIucIICdH EuClClOpculdS, w WE
| find any charge that Che Catholic church had
| anything to do with the foul murder.
| The great biography of Lincoln by j. G. Nico
| lay and John Hay in ten volumes has not even
an insinuation about the charge.
! The official acts bearing on the entire subject
| have been published under the title, "The
! Assassination of President Lincoln and the
| Trial of the Conspirators," compiled and ar
ranged by Ben Pitman, recorder to the com
mission. Yet in them all there is not single
| charge against the Catholic church.
| The murderer, J. W. Booth, was OF English
descent and his family were Episcopalians.
! Herrold's whole family, for at least twenty.
| five wears before the assassination, had beer
| communicates of Christ's Episcopal Church
| East Washington. During his entire incarcera
! ton until the hour OF his execution, he was at
| tended by the Rev. DR.. Olds, pastor of thai
| church
! Payne, who made desperate attack on the
| life of Secretary Seward, was the son of O
Methodist or Baptist clergyman.
AtZerodt boosted openly OF his atheism
| Mrs Surratt was the only Catholic, and on the
| judgment of thousands of American citizens
she was entirely innocent of any conspiracy tC
| murder President Lincoln.
To clnch these facts allow me to COPY letter
| signed by John G. Nicolay, one OF the biogra.
| piers of Lincoln. 1t is in answer TO an INQUIRY
| sent by Rev. P. Guldner OF New York;
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec g. 1894
Bfy Dear Sir: l have not before answered youl
letter Of october so, because wished first to con