A Specimen of Religious Intolerance.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
FATHER O'CONNOR, the ex-priest who is delivering anti-catholic lectures in different portions of the United States, attempted to lecture in Zanesville, O., last week, but was not allowed to do so. Here is the newspaper account of the affair:— “Before the lecturer arrived, fully 1,500 were present. The assemblage seemed orderly enough, but the instant O'Connor appeared on the stage he was greeted with a shower of stones, rotten eggs, etc. Confusion reigned. O'Connor hastily jumped into an ante-room and locked the door. Women screamed, and it was at first thought a general riot would ensue, when the Protestants in the house would have suffered fearfully, as the opposition was greatly in the majority. O'Connor's assailants were about to leave the hall, when somebody suggested a coat of tar and feathers, and were about to carry out their threat, when a detachment of police arrived on the scene and arrested O'Connor. There is great excitement over the affair. No arrests were made. The three daily papers, two morning and one evening, are afraid to publish the names or give particulars of the affair, as the Catholic element is largely in the ascendency.” When such scenes as this can take place in America, it is unnecessary to go back to the Dark Ages for examples of Catholic bigotry and persecution. It is an illustration of the saying that “The church never changes.” The statement that the lecturer, after having been a target for stones, rotten eggs, etc., was the only person arrested, sounds almost like sarcasm. Let no one boast too loudly that this is a land of freedom, when of three newspapers not one dares comment on the outrage. The truth is that liberty can never exist where the Catholic Church is dominant, no matter where the place may be. We anxiously look to see the Christian Statesman's unqualified indorsement of this suppression of free speech. Of course it may be expected to deprecate the violence, but the action was in harmony with the principles which it represents. In Zanesville, it is stated, “the Catholic element is largely in the ascendency.” Then, of course, they ought to have everything their own way. Nobody has any right to follow the dictates of his own conscience, unless he has backing enough, and the spirit, to enforce his claims. Such is, in reality, the spirit, not only of Catholicism, but of that party which is seeking to enforce the observance of Sunday, the distinguishing mark of Catholicism. Of the truth of this statement we had ample proof in the Sunday excitement that pervaded this State last year. The Statesman may, however, condemn the affair noted above, as it makes a great deal of difference whose ox is gored. E. J. W.