The record-union., 1896-09-29
MAY PROVE A BOOMERANG.
CHIEFTAINS OF TArlr1ANY HALL
INCENSED
Over Letter Addressed to Catholic
Clergy by Mckinley and
Hobart Committee.

NEW YORK, Sept. 2S.-The following
letter addressed to the Catholic clergy
of the United States by, It is said the
Mckinley and Hobart Business Mems
National Campaign Committee, was
given out to-day at Tammany Hall:
Reverend and Dear Sir: We are well
aware that the dignity Of your sacred
office forbidS the exercise of your in
fiuence in any political matter involv-
ing matters of merely executive or leg
islative policy. Nevertheless. We are
fully persuaded that the questions be-
fore the country depending on the
present Presidential campaign are Cf
an especially serious character, because
they involve fundamental moral issues
n decision in the selection of President
that Will commit the executive to q
policy that in it's application Will forci-
bly, compromise private financial obli-
cations and will repudiate a portion Of
national debts, will be u vocation Of the
basic Christian principle that COM
mands honesty between man and man.
Such decision, we believe would be
thoroughly immoral, and would precip-
itate an ethical and material calamity
of incalculable magnitude
I'VE are also of the opinion that the
attack now being made upon the regu-
larly constituted legal authorities of the
National Government is pernicious and
dangerous to an extreme degree, for
1t contains rebellion against those safe
guards of law upon which society, the
individual, the several States of the
Nation, must depend for security and
protection. If successful the vital
principles of our Government will be
undermined.
Recalling with gratitude the patri-
otic and eminent public services of the
late Most Reverend Archbishop Hughes
and many others of the Roman CathC-
lie clergy when the integrity of oar
Government was threatened on a for
mer occasion, we take the liberty to
suggest that the present is a period of
equal danger. The Government is not
threatened by physical force. but in
s!dious and false ideas that inspire in
cipient anarchy and contempt for pro-
per authority are industriously propa-
gated throughout our country.
1t is not our purpose to argue the
foregoing suggestions. We merely de-
sire to respectfully express the opinion
| that the political issues involve moral
questions that powerfully appeal to the
religious instructors of the people. Our
committee it not partisan. It includes
neither office-hoders nor office seekers
We have no personal political interests
to serve, being private citizens associ-
ated for political purposes. Very re-
spectfully, ROBERT c. OGDEN,
Chairman Publication Committed"
The Tammany chieftains are very
| much incensed at this appeal to the
Catholic clergy to support Mckinley
and Hobart, which they think viii prove
a boomerang.
General Osburn, when shown a copy
of the letter at Republican headquar-
ters, said he knew nothing about it,
Arthur Sewall, the Democratic can
didate for Vice-President arrived at
the Fifth Avenue Hotel this afternoon.
Mr.. Sewall said Mr.. Bryan got mag
nificent reception in Maine, and gave it
as his belief that the candidate of the
Democratic party in that State would
be improving every day up to the cleo
ton time. The Vice-Presidential can
ddate expects to remain in the city un-
til Wednesday.
At the headquarters of the National
Democracy word was received from
Chicago that the farmers of the North
west are becoming distrustful of the
free silver sentiment, and request the
immediate shipment OF 2o,oOO copies or
Secretary Carlisle's Chicago speech