The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-07-15

brought against the teacher, but the
Judge held that he was within his
rights in attempting to whip Popery
out of the child.
In Philadelphia, where the schools
were modelled after those of Massa.
chusetts, the same trouble ensued.
Catholic parents objected to having
their children read the Protestant
Bible and complained that it was an
abridgement of the rights of con-
science. Bishop Kenrick petitioned
the school board in 1874 to allow
Catholic children to use the Douay
Bible. His petition was Indignantly
misrepresented, and the shout went
up that Catholics wanted to drive the
Bible from the schools. The preach
ers took up the cry and fear for the
Little Red School House and terror
of Rome's Red Hand scared the Quak-
ers. The Native American Party was
then founded by the Philadelphia
Orangemen - all of them foreigners.
Meetings were called at which the
Pope was scurrilously denounced. In
the month of May, 1874, riots started
and the homes of Catholics were at
tackled. The Catholics defended the
property and some of the rioters
were killed. The next cry of these
stalwart heroes was, ITO the Nun
nery!" and at the word they rushed
to the house Of the Sisters of Charity.
This was fortunately defended by
Catholics and volley sent the COW
ards off. Bishop Kenrick issued a
card urging his flock to keep the peace
and his action emboldened the rioters
who, immune from civil prosecution,
feared only bodily harm. The follow
ing day they set fire to st. Michael's
church and rectory and then burned
st. Augustine's church. The days in
fanny was brought to a close by burn
ing the home of the Sisters who dur
ing the cholera epidemic had nursed
Protestant and Catholic alike.
About the same time a similar cam
paign was launched in New York, but
with different results. A school law
had been in force in the state of New
York since the early part of the Nine
fnnnth h,,t 1,nI
tended to the city. Beginning with
1872 the private schools were granted
Il portion Of the school funds and the
Catholic schools We're as matter of
course beneticiaries. The school funds.
however, were gradually absorbed by
an organization known as the Public
School Society. This society was
Protestant and its text books were
grossly offensive to Catholics. Cath.
Ollie children, therefore, could not con.
scientiously attend the schools and
the Catholics of New York petitioned
in 1910 for a return to the old system.
Their petition was vigorously opposed
by the preachers and after an excit
ing debate before the Common Coun.
Gil. in which the Catholic cause was
championed by Bishop Hughes, their
claim was refused. The Catholics
then carried the matter before the
legislature when the Public School
Society was abolished and the neutra
state system extended to the city
Such were conditions in New York al
the time of the Philadelphia riots
New York was then dominated by the
Native American Party, which hall
succeeded in electing to the mayoralts
one Of the Harpers, the publishers Of
Maria Monks book. Delegates from
the Philadelphia rioters having beer
invited to New York, mass meeting
was planned to welcome them and in
cidentally to start a row and attack
the Catholic churches.
Does the law of New York provide
compensation for damage done by
rioters?" asked Bishop Hughes of ar
attorney. Learning that it did not, he
exhorted those whoacame to him fol
advice to defend their own propert!
and issued the following proclamation
to the Catholics of the city:
''If. as it has already appeared in
Philadelphia, it should be part OF
Native Americanism to attack the
houses and churches of Catholics, thel
it behooves Catholics, in case al
other protection fail. to defend both
with their lives. In this they will not