The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-31

Col. r. NJ. Douglas, Republican
goId-bug candidate for Supreme court
Justice. writes that he has been IN
formed that an anonymous attack mas
been made on him because he is
Catholic, and requests us to PRINT the
following letter which he has written
TO a member of the Centerville Council,
No. 20. Jr., Order u. A. NJ, of Forsyth
county:
My Dear Sir:
Replying to your kind letter of the
2stb instant, which has just been re-
ceived. I will frankly say that | am
a Catholic; but my religious BELIEF
does not in any way interfere with my
duties as an American citizen; nor
could It ever do so. Bad Catholics can
undoubtedly be found; but all good
Catholics are good citizens. We
should remember that Magma Charta
was written by Stephen Langton,
Catholic Archbishop; while the pre-
sent Lord Chief Justice Of Protestant
England, Charles Russell, is an Irish
Catholic OF the Supreme court of the
United States, the late Chief Justice
Taney and the present Justice Nhlte,
nood Catholics. We have had but few
Catholics in North Carolina; but those
we have had. have always been pa
triotic and frequently distinguished
citizens.
The charge that / am opposed to
the public school system Of North Car
DINA. is grossly unjust. | have al
ways been an earnest supporter not
Of
State. but also of the University and
the State Normal and Industrial
Schools. Long before South Green's
boro. where / reside, came into the
corporation, l supported ats free
school openly and consistently by
personal contributions as well as by
advocating every measure calculated
To increase it's usefulness and influ-
ence. / not only advocated the dona-
ton by this city of thirty thousand
dollars to the State Normal ana In
dustrial School for girls, but l per-
sonally signed the bond for an equal
amount guaranteeing the approprla-
ton. / took the same course with re-
card to the A. and M. College for the
colored race, remaining on the notes
of that institution for nearly two
wears, until the appropriation was
available.
/ regretted the attack recently made
Kpon me by the Biblican Recorder on
4he ground of my religion. My moth
En- having been a Baptist, / have the
highest respect for that denominh-
ton. I am forced to believe that the
indignation of the editor of the Recor-
der arose more from my hearty sup
port of the University and State Nor
NAL than from my religious belief,
The slips to which you refer, stat
! ING that I am Roman Catholic, and
ending with the gratuitous advice to:
| Beware of our Enemies" seem to
| have been circulated throughout the
State only during the present week.
/ The anonymous author evidently eX-
| pected that they would not have be-
| come known to me until it was too
hate for me to get any answer before
! the people. / do not fear their effect
! among honest and intelligent Protes-
! tants, who viii never lend themselves
! in this free country and enlightened
| age. to any attempt to stir up reli-
/ gfous strife, or to prostitute con-
| scientious convictions to personal
/ malice or political animosity.
/ / deem it but just to state that / do
not hold the Democratic State commit
tee responsible. The distinguished
| chairman Of that committe has too
much self-respect, as we'll as just pride
inIhis own ilIustrious ancestry, to
| intimate for moment that man
| is unfit to be the successor of CASTOR
| and of Manly simply because he is a
| Catholic.
At the recent commencement Of the
! State Normal School in this city, de-
| livered, upon invitation of the faculty,
none of whom are Catholics, the adj
dress presenting to the graduates CO.
pies of the Constitutions of this State
| and of the United States. / enclose
the Daily Record containing copy.
Thanking you for the information,
and in sincere respect for the spirit
of fair play which prompts you never
to strike ia the back or the dark, | re-
main,
Very t1.l1Ixy vnu1c