The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-05-02
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Religious Prescription in Congress
A Speech in Opposition by Mr.
German.
From our Special Correspondent

IL oPCCC4 AAA 0RkC1Ae-O-~ -
German.
From our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON D. c., April %, ls9d
Reference was made in this correspondence some
weeks ago to the incorporating war winch mao
been made in the House of Representatives by the
A. p A. element there upon charitable institutions
in the District of Columbia under the direction OF
religious denominations. This movement, while
strictly in the line of the policy of the notorious
proscrptiye association known as the A. P. A. and
while originating with one two of the most blat
ant Representatives of that order nevertheless
backed upand supported by the bulk ofthe Republi-
can membership oftheHouse, and thus as far as that
bodywas concerned, was carried into effect 1t Is
fact well known to ell careful observers of political
events that the old proseriptye sentiment which
formerly animated the repudiated Know Nothing
party has with its old time advocates dropped into
and been absorbed by the Republican party, where
IL has lain more or less dormant ana inert, but
ready at any time like smoldering embers to be
famed into fame of fanaticism and prescription.
1t was this spirit of religious intolerance which lies
concealed under the fair professions of the party of
great moral ideas" that has sometimes bobbed up
and revealed its cloven foot ut critcalmoments to
the great discontinue of Its foster parent Such an
event notably was the Burchard incident in Mr..
Cleeeland's first campaign, which deprived Mr..
Blaine of the electoral vote of the State of New
York. and it is no secret that the more sagacious
Republican leaders in Congress are sorey vexed at
what they regard as an untimely manifestation of
this proscrptive spirit in the present Congress- but
being thrust upon them, they have been, with
knowledge of the underlying sentiment of party
at a loss how to deal with 1t, and just as the
"Plumed Knight in that fatal moment felt con-
strained to bow his assent to the alternative sent-
n -, tha
Republican party of the House of Representatives
recommitted its general appropriation bill on the
eve of its passage in order that the DEGREES of the
A. p. A. sentiment of religious intolerance might
be written therein
| But when the appropriation bills came to the
| Senate for consideration more conservative senti-
ment asserted itself and the proscriptive DEGREES
written into them by the A. p. A. sentiment in the
| House have been carefully expunged. The discus
sion Of the Indian appropriation bill in the Senate
elected emphatic condemnation of the spirit of re-
lisious intolerance from Senator Carter on the part
| of the Republicans; Senator Allen, on the part OF
| the Populists and Senator Cockrel on the part OF
| the Democrats An effort made on the hoor OF the
senate during the consideration of the sundry civil
appropriation bill on Friday last brought Mr. Cor
man into the debate and he delivered very forci-
BILE unequivocal, and timely utteranee on the sub
Mr. German Mr.. President, the Senator from
Iowa in charge of the bill has stated very frankly
and justly the condition us to these two hospitals
| we understand it. would in effect have given to
| Providence Hospital all that they would have been
entitled to under the old provision OF law ana ~
| all probability more IL would have deprived the
Garfield Hospital of the possibility OF reasonable
existence
| II is one of the many provisions which have been
inserted in all the appropriation oils striking our
all charitable institutions and educational institu-
tions which are conducted and controlled by GER
| tain religious denominations. II may be well TO
separate, the phrase goes, church from state IN
the matter of educational affairs We have mad me
question discussed very thoroughly upon the In
dian appropriation bill. We will have it very
| thoroughly discussed in the matter of charitable
institutions in the District of Columbia; but con-
less my amazement that any Congress OF the United
States any party in control OF the Congress Of tne
ment, from fair treatment when il comes to a mat
ter such as under consideration. II 1t be FOR
political purposes, it will react upon the authors
Can il be that the Senate of the United states Will
ever agree 10 proposition to strike down two great
hospitals in the city OF washbngt0 N %me e tS aSe
happens TO he controlled by one religious denomi-
| nation?
can understand the sentiment when it enters
| upon the public-shool question; how men may be
| carried away by fanaticism; how man can honest
y believe that there ought to be appropriations
on that account But in the matter of IA hospital,
the only one in the city of Washington which today
is equipped to take charge of persons who are al,
which the Congress of the Unithd States has aided
by giving 1t sufficient appropriations TO enable 1t to
put up one of its buildings, how can any one pro-
pose TO strike at IL simply because II happens 70 De
under the control of the Catholics? But in striking
ut it the authors of the proposition strike down
| another great hospital known as the Garfield Hos
pital which happened not to be under the control
| of Catholics, but of Protestants They come and
| say TO Congress, "You have stricken us down ana
have made it impossible for us to take care OF the
unfortunate" The provision as it comes to us
would give il all, in all probability, to the Provi-
| ita1 hpaot1Sp contract
| than the Garfield. Now, the Senator from New
| Hampshire Mr.. GallingerJ after the Committee
| on Appropriations have adjusted the matter prop
erly and simply propose TO continue the old rule of
designating the amount to each one of these hospi
tails offers prOviso to one that contract shall
be made and they shall only be paid for service ac-
| tunlly rendered. He proposes, understand, TO
make distinction between the two hospitals IN
matter where life aud limb and health are at stake.
Can ii he that the sentiment of prescription is to go
| that far? Has ii come to this that you will pract-
| cally prohibit good woman or good man, be
cause She Or he is Catholic from attending child
| who is afflicted with a disease that il contagious?
| A great many things are occurring. A great many
| things do occur every four years. When we are
about to enter upon great campaign for the con-
| troll OF the executive branch of the Government
| propositions are presented and speeches are made
that would not be entertained or made at any other
time But is il possible that the great party on the
| SADIE which would prevent a Catholic from admin
| istering TO the wants of the unfortunate in the
! District!
The insignificant sum of $4,000 to each of these
| hospitals ought to be given without word. 1t
ought 10 be given in the interest of humanity
| am sorry the senator has offered the proviso, or
| that he or any other member of Congress should
bring up the question OF religious denominations
| in connection with these institutions. l move to
lay the amendment to the amendment upon the
| table.
And the amendment was laid on the table with
out a division.
The consid Grafton of the general pension bill in
the House of Representatives gave rise to consid-
cradle opposition among Democrats and conserva-
! tive Republicans, who deprecate the debasement
of the penson-rolls by the proposition contained
in the bill to nscribe the names of deserters from
the Confederate armies, camp followers, and other
unenlisted men thereon. Representative George
B. Mcclellan, son of the Union general, distin-
guished himself by his able opposition to this bill,
and Representative Miles. of Maryland, who is
growing to be quite an influential member, also
made pointed speech in opposition to the bill. 1t
was, however put through the House yesterday
under an application of the 'Reed rules"
The river and harbor bill as amended was re-
| ported to the Senate today. Among the Senate
amendments is an appropriation of 100000 for the
| improvement of the Baltimore harbor. 1t would
| be profitable employment for the press of Balti-
more. that bushes itself much in the realms of
fllsehood to excite the prejudices of unreasoning
people against the senior Senator from Maryland,
to search long enough in the field of truth among
the public records of Congress to make up sum-
mary of the benefits received in behalf of public
improvements in Maryland during the incumbency
of Mr.. German Senator. The comparison of the
figures thus shown during the past fifteen years
with those of the proceeding half century would
present showing that would be a source of pride
| to all true Marylanders.
Everything now looks favorable to an early ad-
| journment of Congress yERITAs.
COMMISSIONS RECEIVED.
Commissions for the following named
persons appointed to fill the respective offices
hereinafter mentioned, were filed in the office