The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-31
FATHER YORKE
TO Gen. MORGAN,
The Chancellor ExcoriateS
the Ex-Indian Com
missioner.
HIS MILITARY CAREER.
Says the General Was Convicted
Says the General Was Convicted
on Thirteen Different
Charges.
THE CoURT-MARTIAL RECORDS
What the Catholics Have Done for
Indian Education in the
Western States.

Rev. Father Yorke, Chancellor of the
archdiocese of San Francisco, writing in an.
swer TO letter TO THE CALL from General
Morgan, Indian Commissioner under
President Harrison, says;
TO The Editor q the San Francisco CaI-DEAR
az; me Kew. Hon. General T. J. Morgan,
ID, takes exception to my letter of Decem-
Der Il, 1893. In that letter I drew attention
10 the Hon. Rev. Generals record in the army
ana 10 ms achievements in the Indian service.
NY WORDS ne charec IeriZes as 'fcoWardly SIAN
derouS and false With the Quick sense of
honor which distinguishes all such "high-
toueo, conscientious and brave gentlemen as
ne, aIlef calmly chewing the cUd OF reflection
Ior SIX weeks, ne rushes into print TO defend
ms reputation by maligning his companions
IN arms.
NoRGAN's ADJECTIvEs.
The Rev. Hon. General T. J. Morgan. D. D.
charscterlzes my letter as an attack on his per-
sonar chaTacter-an attack uncaIled for, cow
sloly, slanderous and false. Allow me 8 few
INES 10 examine this charge
l. MY attack on General Morgan, ID,
was not on MS personal character, but on his
PupIle record. II the documents lying the
war office proved him to be untruthful, vim
ulctlYe and devoid of honor in his public
capacity he has no right to distract the public
attention py cries about his personal char
scter. Each one of these vices is a personal
vice, ana are officers guilty OF them to escape
PUNISHMENT on the plea that they are per-
sonal To prove them l did not go into the
Rev Mr.. Morgan's private life. l judged him
oy his public acts. If this be an attack on his
personal character gladly plead guilty.
= The Rev. Hon. General Morgan, DID. con-
sIders that my attack was "uncalled for.'' 1t
seems that he has full liberty TO come to this
Paclnc Coast as a lecturer against the church
and we have no right to defend her It seems
that he can consort with notorious defamers
OF good citizens and these citizens must keep
their mouths closed. It seems that he is privi-
legged 10 go up and down the country on
crusade against Catholics and Catholics are
compelled TO be thankful that they are kicked.
No, Mr.. Morgan. You are very much mis-
taken II you imagine that past immunity has
given you franchise to roam forever with I'M
bridled jaw.
When you attack any body of your fellow
citizens that body has right to attack YOU
mat they choose to ignore you at times does
not take away their right TO defend themselves
We are all familiar with the spectacle OF the
vicious cur which follows the pasSer-by shap-
ping and snarling. Every time the passer-by
takes no notice the cur returns 10 his den
barking applause at his own courage. Some
tlmesI however, an unexpected kick sends him
home hoWling-"Oh, what an uncaIled-for
attack on my precious persona
B. The Rev. Hon. General Morgan, Z. D. thinks
my attack was coWardly. am under the
impression, Mr. Editor, that before your read
eFs nslash the evidence Will give in this letter
they VII grant that Mr.. Morgan is hardly
competent TO speak about cowardice. Let me
now remark that my attack was made over
my name and in the public print. / did not
take refuge behind anonymous correspondents
or behind courtesy title. What had to say
SAID it-in such manner that and 1 alone was
responsible. am ready now ana at ali times
TO stand by every word OF my charges
4 The Rev. Hon. General T. J. Morgan, D. D.,
cOnsiGers that my "attacki was "slanderous
and false" SANDER is defined by webster as
"a false tale or report maliciously uttered
tending 10 iniure the reputation of an
other" Wherein has the Hon. Rev. General
proved my charges false? said he
was court-martialed. Does he deny it?
! said he was convicted. Does he deny
it2 l said he escaped on q technically
Does he deny 1t? He has given explanations
in plenty, but the substantial facts remain.
We shall see soon how much his explanations
.rFh ha b. n
corning him which I have not backed up with
evidence, and though he proclaims loudly that
these assertions are false he has not dared to
deny single one.
his UNBIASED DISPOSITION.
As 6 letter of introduction to the San Fran
cisco public the Hon. Rev. General 7. J. Morgan,
ID, opens his communication with the 1oI-
"a very prominent business man of San
Francisco, an army officer of high rank, who
kindly sent me your paper-which reached me
following statement: Il read the inclosed very
carefully, and have talked with quite num-
Der OF military men concerning your record,
and am pleased TO inform you that they are
universally favorable to you, and against Yorke
ana his methods. know that you will have
nine tenths of the ole soldiers with you on
most any proposition against the Catholics
and their opposition TO our grand public school
system. l not member OF the A. P. A,
but they have my unbounded sympathy -
Let me say right here that do not believe
that such letter was written by prominent
business man OF San Francisco, an army
officer of high rank"
Prominent business men and army officers
of nigh rank are not III the habit of slandering
their neighbors. II General Morgan had a
spark of soldierlike feeling in him he would
not have produced the testimony OF g man
whose name he withheld. Brave men fight in
the open, but Morgan and his correspondent
Hrefer 10 stab in the dark.
If Morgan's friends wish to defend him
think, Mr. Editor. your columns are open.
should like to know the name of the army
j.
the ignorant horde OF unnaturaliZed Orange
men and ScandinaViens who hired the Hon.
General Morgan TO preach. should like to
know by what right he speaks for nine-tenths
of the OLD soldiers. Let him come before the
San Francisco public so that we may see the
brave and broad-minded soldier who is with
Morgan on every proposition against the
Catholics.
| know enough of the history of the war and
of the old soldiers to state now that Morgan's
assertion and the assertion OF his anonymous
correspondent are untrue. The old soldiers
are not bigots. When the call to arms first
came Catholic and Protestant went to the
front and inquired not about religious faith.
When in the field, in the hospitals the Sisters
of Mercy and OF Charity ministered TO the
wounded without distinction OF class or creed
lies"
On Memorial day, when, the veterans go from
cemetery 10 cemetery and IN sadness recall the
past they are not against the Catholics. They
see the tiny flags waving over the graves as
thickly in Calvary as in Laurel Hill, ana no
unklnd feelings of bitterness or plgotry dls-
turb their solemn thoughts among the silent
tents and in the bivousc of the dead.
THE FIRST coURT-MARTIAL
The Rev. Mr.. Morgan gives his version Of the
two court-marti tails IN which he figured. Con-
corning Colonel Henry c. CorDin ne writes; .!
felt called upon to have one of the officers OF
the regiment court-martialed for cowardlee
and although the evidence did not satisfy the
court it was true nevertheless. Concerning my
own testimony in the case of the officer lCor-
binl charged with eowardice at the battle OF
Nashville, l simply say now, after thirty years
and with no malice toward the officer, ana
with regret that / am forced thus 10 say IL,
every word of the testimony which gave at
that time was true, absolutely and unquali-
nedly. protest that am not responsible LOT
dragging him once again before the pubic In
lhls unenviable light"
Inc Rev. Mr.. Morgan would do better 10 re-
serve his protests Tor himself. Colonel Corpln
mas nothing to fear from being brought before
l ne pubic. Let me copy out the finding OF the
court winch Is Cor bins justification and Nor
gan's eondemnation:
HEADQUARTERS
TEST SEPARATE DIVISION, ALABAMA, Z
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Marcn IA, 1861
General Order No. 6.
l. Before general court-martial. which con-