The Irish standard., 1897-12-25
LIBRARIAN HOsMER RESPONDS.

A marked copy of the Irish Standard
containing a review of THE Story of
Liberty" by Charles Carleton Coffin has
been mailed to eaehy Of the members of
the public library and public school
boards. The first. response comes from
j. X. Hosmer. librarian of the public
library, who assures lis that he did not
know the strong partisan character Of
the book, which was In the library when
he was appointed tohis present position.
Not until now" says Prof. Hosmer has
there been any remonstrance against it's
circulation. l will call the attention of
the board to it at the first opportunity
and meanwhile 1 will withhold 1t from
circulation. 1t IFS my strong endeavor to
conduct the library with strict impair
TALLY, and regret that we seem to you
to be open to criticism here"
We are glad of the action taken by
him from all blame in the circulation of
the Objectionable volume The first
rcmonstrance against it's circulation in
this community emanated from the Irish
Standard, as the librarian states, and
knowing the high character Of the men
composing the library board we are sure
there will be no further occasion for
referring to the matter in these columns.
We desire to say for the instruction Of
the members of the library board that
SO far as Catholics are concerned no
harm would come to them from pursuing
the Migrant and glaring falsehoods mar
rated of their church and creed in ''The
Story of Liberty Az SOON as the
Catholic boy referred to in the Irish
Standard glanced over it's contents he
would know from his own personal
knowledge of the doctrines Of his church
that tho statements therein made by
Coffin were false and slanderous. If the
boy were. too young to have a thorough
knowledge of the tenets of the church,
his parents would inform him that they
were misrepresented by the author, and
in either case the young Catholic would
escape it's evil influence.
How would 1t be with the Protestant
boy? He is ignorant of Catholic doc
trnc and unable to judge of the truth
or falsity of Conin's allegations. He
takes for granted that everything the au-
thor says is true, for he is told in the
opening paragraph of the Introduction
that THE Story of Liberty" is true
narrative, covering period Of 500
years, and is an outline of the march Of
the human race from slavery to freedom.
His teacher informs him that she has
read it and found it quite Interesting
and has no hesitation In recommending
it to her pupils. The Protestant boy
takes 1t upon her Recommendation and
swallows fiction for fact He is imposed
upon by a lying author and an ignorant
teacher. who probabty never read any
thing else on tho subjects treated OF, and
the result is that the Protestant boy is
inspired with hatred against the stimuli
acrum which Coffin calls the Catholic
church The boy grows to manhood in
Il few years and his hatred Of Catholicity
grows stronger when he reflects on the
terrible story he read in his school days
about the Popes, cardinals, archbishops,
bishops. priests. monks and nuns of the
Church of Rome, as related in capti-
waiting style by the Boston. journalist.
The Protestant young man loves liberty
and tries to be liberal and broadminded,
but how can he respect Catholics who
are members Of such wicked institu-
lions as the Catholic church, is
pictured by Coffin? At last he meets
Catholic and upbraids him for his at
tachment to such church. The Catho-
lie replies that the church is all right
If Its adherents live according to its
commands. and that it has been grossly
slandered and illuminated as its divine
founder was while on earth. The Prot
estant begins to think that he has beer
the victim OF imposition and Immediate