Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-04-08

otficials In authority, and the altar, ant
also the ritual OF the order Ia full Thu
again, the old saying that "murder vii
out" Is verified. These whole proceed
ings were given awav by reporter VIII
became member; but whose conscienc
after reflection, told him that sucl oath!
were bet,er broken than Kept.
A CENTURY OF INTOLERANCE.
Now, my friends, we naturally ask tn,
question: Why Is this hellish work per-
mitted to 60 on under the name anc
guise Of patriotism? Why this nnholy
un- American spirit OF intolerance anc
bitter hatred OF Catholics? But we In.
qnire In vain for an answer, as no good
and sufficient reason or excuse, is or can
be given for it.
And yet, after all 1t Is nothing new, for
there has always existed strong anti
Catholic feeling In this country, since be-
fore the revolution. From the very foun-
dation OF this Republic, there has been
an unaccountab bic fear aud hatred of Cath
olics, and at times that hatred has been
SO bitter that its promoters have! made 1t
an issue in the politics Of the nation.
Even after the.adoption OF the American
Constitution, granting liberty Of con-
science to all, several OF the original
states enacted anti Catholic laws. Up
to 1906, Catholics were prohibited from
holding Office In New YORK State, and In
Massachusetts II was not until 1921, that
Catholic disabilities were removed. In
Virginis, Catholics only obtained their
religious liberty in 1890, and In North
Carolina, up to 1886, no Catholic could
vote or hold office, without first swearing
to his belief In the truth OF the Prot sstant
VnIf fvfn In
excluding Catholics from holding Office,
was not repealed until 1874, aud it Is only
within very few years that New Hamp.
shire removed similar stain from its
Constitution.
Thus the evil spirit of intolerance and
bigotry has been handed down from one
generation to another. cropping ou. fro IN
time 10 time In organizations under one |
name or another, to the great detriment,
persecution and annoyance Of q class OF |
people whose patriotic hearts are ever
pulsating for holy aud unfettered
freedom.
BATTLE CRIES OF POLITICAL VAMPIRES.
These political vampires we're first
known In this country under the ma me OF
'Nativists." Their cry was "Dnwn with
the Pope;" "Put none but Americans on
guard;" Americans only, shall rule
:" etc.
After the war OF 1912, this nativist party
Utmost entirely disappeared, and was not
heard OF again as an important factor In
politics, until 1S43, when 1t reappeared in
Sew York State, and from there spread
nto several OF the other States, to such an
kent that some Of the governors and \
many members OF Congress were elected .
ysits influence. 9
After lS46, this organization apparently !
,came extinct again; but such was not
ne case. Ii simply remained dormant c
'r while, only to reappear about 1850. r
ith renewed vigor and virulence, under Il
le name OF "Kuow Nothingism," lis R
al name being "rhe Supreme O.der of
lie Star Spangled Banner"
This nest OF vi oers became so bold chat -
om 1852 to 1855, portions OF the country a
ere terrorized by them. In Charlestown, e
Iassa chusetts, they set fire to convent, |,
Id about the same time ttey cruelty G
rred and feathered the inofsnsiye and !,
loved Father Bapts, in Maine. n
CENDIARIsM AND ANARCHY RAMPANT. L
Riots and disturbances were of almost "
lily occurrence every where In the New b
lgland states. In Chelsea, Massachu- b.
It's, Know Nothing mob smashed al! e'
C windows in the Catholic church, and %
lied down and destroyed its crosses. In I'll
=, law aad order was tramp!ed under G
Of, and mob law and anarchy ruled the ct
ur. And nowhere in New England was
Is organization more numerous than in lii
r own little State OF Rhode Island. Dur b.,
e those terrible times IL was one day ru- ey
q nf A.
armed mob was organizing to dem ol,sh dr
Convent OF Mercy at the corner Of ID
Dad and Claveirck streets, and as the III
port hew about the city, hundreds Of o!
tholics fastened to the convent to pro.
It it; but the cowardly Know. Nothings OF
ps well out OF sight, not caring to In. an
e the exceedingly hot reception PFC. i'd
red for them. its
n 1850 the Know. Nothing party carried M
cry election in this State. In 1856 and pl
y the slavery question began to engross m
blic attention TO such an extent that it W,
used split between the Know. Moth. ST
gs OF the North and South, and az the da
ar 1860 approached, Know. thiDgism tin
appeared, principally merging with the in
publican party, although quite a num- Le
r OF them became what are today "Old ey
ne Democrats" di
The breaking out OF the Rebellion COM tn
'tely shattered the Know.Nothing Gu
rty as an organization; but its mem. Ca
rs retained, and to this day the most OF ti,
em who are living still retain and cher be
! the same bitterness OF feeling and tn
tired OF Catholics that thoy did In the Ca
urch burning days before the war. hs
vIvAL OF UBIQUITOUS KNOW MOTH. co
INGIsM. br
And now this unjust and ungenerous - -,
iiDR OF bigotry and intolerance against w
thoiics Is again manrfesting itself pub '"
ly. This hideous spector of iniquity is
aiE amongst us, scattering its deadly ar
lson on every side, and Is counselled, w
couraged, applauded and led bv ouch y, w
lstics. cranks and bigots as ex.Indian VI
mmissioner Morgan and Policeman ~ =,
adbury OF Providence, and the Revs. :, %
ner, lansing, Fulton Lorimer, Nc ~ =,
hnr RIatfapu - | Ni