The San Francisco call., 1896-09-29
TENTH STREET, ABOVE CHESTNUT.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 10, 1886

out to-day at Tammany Hall:
TENTH STREET, ABOVE CHESTNUT.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 10, 1896
Reverend and Dear Sir: We are all aware that
the dignity of your sacred Office forbidS the ex-
ercIse of your influence in any political mat
ter involving mere questions of executive or
legislative policy.
Nevertheless, we are fully persuaded that
the questions before the country in the pend
Ing Presidential campaign are of an especially
serious character. because they involve funda-
mental moral issues A decision in the selec-
ton OF President that will commit the execu-
tive to policy that in its application will
forcibly compromise private financial obliga-
tions and viii repudate a portion of the
National debts will be a violation of the basic
Christian principle that commands honesty
between man and man. Such decision, we
believe, would be thoroughly immoral, and
would precipitate an ethical and material
calamity OF incalculable magnitude.
We are also Of the opinion that the attack
now being made upen the regularly cousti-
tuted legal authorities of the National Gov
eminent is pernicious and dangerous to an
extreme degree, for it contains rebellion
against those safeguards of law upon which
society, the individ ual, the several States of
the Nation must depend for security and pro-
lection. If successful the vital principles of
our Government will be undermined.
Recalling with gratitude the patriotism and
eminent public services of the late Most
Reverend Archbishop Hughes and many
others of the Roman Catholic clergy when the
integrity Of the Government was threatened
on former occasion, we take the liberty to
suggest that the present is period of equal
danger. The Government is not threatened
by physical force, but insidious and false id eas
that inspire incipient anarchy and contempt
for proper authority are industriously propa-
gated throughout our country.
1t is not our purpose TO argue the foregoing
suggestions. We merely desire to respectfully
express the opinion that present political
issues involve vital moral question that DOW
erfully appeal to the religious instructors OF
the people. Our committee is not partisan.
1t includes neither ofice-holders nor office.
seekers. We have no personal political inter-
ests to serve, being private citizens associated
tor patriotic purposes. Very respectfully,
ROBERT c. OGDEN,
Chairman Republican Committee.
The Tammany chieftains are very much
incensed at this appeal to the Catholic
clergy to support Mckinley and Hobart,
which, they think, will prove a boom
erang.
General Osborne, when shown a copy of
the letter at Republican headquarters, said
he knew nothing about it.
Arthur Sewall, the Democratic candi-
date for Vice-Presldent, arrived at the
Fifth-avenue Hotel this afternoon. Mr.
Sewall said Mr.. Bryan got magnificent
reception in Maine, and gave it as his
belief that the candidate of the Demo-
cratic party in that State would be i'm
proving every day up to the election time.
The Vice-Presidential candidate expects
to remain in this city until Wednesday
next.
at the headquarters of the gold Demo-
cratic party word was received from Chi
cago this morning that the farmers of the
Northwest are becoming distrustful of the
free-silver theories and requesting the i'm
mediate shipment of $4,000 copies of Sec
retary Carlisle's speech.