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About The American. (Omaha, Nebraska) 1891-1899 | View Entire Issue (July 27, 1894)
V THE AMERICAN A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER. "AMERICA FOR AMERICANS." Wt hold that all men an American wht Swear Allegiance to the United Statet without a mental retetvation In favor of tht Pop: PRICE HVE CENT VoLUMK IV. OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 1891. NlJMBKR SO, II A BEYOND ROME'S REACH Annie Devers Taken Out of the House of the Good Shepherd In Kansas City, Mo., lly Members of the W. A. P. A. and the A. I. A. on a Writ of Hainan Corpus. Habeas corpus proceedings were brought in the circuit court before Judge Henry, July 18, 1894, by mem bers of the W. A. P. A. and A. P. A. to compel the House of the Good Shep herd, In Kansas City, Mo., to release Annie Devers. Prior to this, Mrs. Rees and several members of the W. A. P. A. visited the house of the Good Shephere and asked for the release of Annie Devers, who was being retained against her will and at that time was of age, being between eighteen and nineteen years old. The nuns refused to give the girl up, claiming that the parties who sought her release had no authority to take the girl away even after Annie had expressed her desire to leave. One of the nuns telephoned to the police matron asking her if it was advisable to let the girl go out. The members of the W. A. P. A. argued that the girl was of ape and had a right to decide for herself, and that she should be released. Even after the members of the W. A. P. A. had proven that they were able to provide for the girl and that they would secure her a respectable home, the nuns refused to allow her to go away, claiming that it was too late in the day. The Romans could not be in duced to release the girl until action was taken as above stated in the cir cuit court. Annie was found penniless at Chelsea Park some four years ago and taken to this modern jail, the House of the Good Shepherd, where she has been working over a wash tub up to the time of her release. A representative of The American visited the girl, who ap pears naturally bright but haggard and worn. She has never been taught, in all this time, to read or write, in fact she does not know her A. B. C. How ever it might be well to state that she has been compelled to memorize the jRoman catechssm. The nuns offered I V as an excuse that, the girl was stubborn y and would not study. From the report - tiiat Annie gave, it is proven as often stated before that this place is nothing more or less than a prison. When asked, "Did the sisters say anything to you about telling about the House of the Good Shepherd?" she replied, "Yes, they told me not to toll any thing." "Did they try to teach you to read and write?" "No, sir." "What time did you go to work in the morning?" "After mass." "About what time was that?" "About four o'clock." She stated that the girls were al lowed to go into the yard after supper and remain until about dark, in the charge of the nuns. For punishment, the straight-jacket was used; also, that those offending the ruies were compelled to kneel and kiss the floor in a proportionate number of times to the ffense. From her statement it seemed that hash was the principle food. The girls all slept in the same room and were locked in on retiring. When asked if she ever desired to get out, she said, "Yes, lots of times, but they would not let me go. They told me .hut it was better to stay." "Do the priests often go to the House?' " "Different priests came every day to eay mass. Two priests were out there all day, two days before I left." "Are you glad to,getout?" was asked, to which she replied Jwith enthusiasm, "You couldn't 'get tre back there any more." She stated further that Hu mane Ollicer Maran took her to the place, that there were about fifty girls In the house, that the sisters eat sparely, and that the food is taken to the priests in the parlors when they visit the house. "How did you learn the catechism and not learn to read?" "She (the nun) would read it to us and we wouldhave to answer." "Did they ever 'give the girls books or papers to read?" "No, sir; if you got them they would take them from you." At this juncture a .e girl came in to see AnnieJ who had been in the House of the Good Shepherd, but who was taken out last May, af . r a resi dence of two years in that place. She verified Annie's story. She is now eleven years' old, and when asked, 'What did they give you to eat?" burst out laughing and replied in a comical tone-"Hash!" fiis p ; li i i i f f I ill lib ( MmWPm 7 W mmm. 4fe 11$ isfefiWil all ip ::;f l i b If 1 1: ' i; Mflr j v VJfe!i R April ' i I'M !j I In ' i, I'i m'M ' .:!';!. UNCLE SAM'S OVERGROWN PETS. Uncle Sam Those critters didn't look such onery cusses when I first took 'em, but gun handy while the varmints are around. "Did you like to stay there?" "No, sir." "What did they give you to drink?" "Water." "Did you have any coffee?" "They made me do without coffee until Eister." "What time did you get up in the morning?" "We got up at four or five." "Why did you get up so early?" "To go to mass." "What kind of work did you do?" "Wash and scrub." "Did you do washing for people who did not belong to the house?" "Yes, sir, lots of it." "Did you know this girl, Annie Devers, when you were in the House of the Good Shepherd?" "Yes, sir, her name is Cecilia." Both of the girls seemed to have a dread of the institution, and Annie would invariably speak in a low tone as if afraid someone would hear her. Her hands were caliced, which bore out her statement in regard to hard work. It is thought that steps will be taken to force this institution to modify its discipline and to bear public" scru tiny. The people are very much worked up over this recent affair. ARE LOYAL CITIZENS. The Swedish ISaptists Place Themselves ui Hecord as Americans. The Swedish Baptist church has placed itself on record in Minnesota for genuine and uncompromising Ameri can principles. At their recent con vention at Minneapolis the A. P. A. was discussed pro. and con. and the following resolutions were adopted without a dissenting vote: Whereas, Catholicism has develoed such a power, that the free institutions are threatened, Resolved, That we express our sym pathy with all lawful endeavors cal culated to cheek the jwlitical Influence of the Catholics, so long as they try to gain power as the faithful emissaries of the pope., and not as American citi zens, without the reservation; mental or otherwise. Resolved, further, That we enter our protest against the appropriation of public money from our national treas ury for parochial (sectarian) schools. And that we express our sentiments and desire that the law which exempts church property from taxation may be annulled as soon as possible: and that taxes may be divided on all property according to valuation. We also Recommend, That such influence may be brought to bear upon our legis lators that more stringent laws in re gard to immigration be enacted so that no one but those who have an honest intent and are capable of becoming citizens in the fullest sense of the word shall be welcomed to our shores. Now a word as to how the Swedish Baptists celebrated the Fourth of July. They gave a very pleasant picnic, and no flag but Old Glory floated to the breeze. When asked why the Swedish flag was not displayed, Rev. Mr. Lar son explained that his wishes were carried out by his people as above. In his opinion that on American na tional holidays and above all on the Fourth of July, no flag but that of the United States should fly. Foreign born citizens show no dis respect to fatherland by honoring our holidays as Americans. Hence it was his wish that no other emblem save Old Glory should adorn the picnic grounds of his church. Mr. Larson is preaching loyalty to the free and blessed institutions of this country. He is an ideal American although born abroad. We welcome and extend the right hand of friend ship to such citizens. It is not at all improbable that other Scandinavian churches will follow the example set by the Baptists. ZenIth. Duluth, Minn., July 17. Mexico in Krief. A few years ago she was our only next door neighbor. Now the Chicago merchant can read in his morning paper what transpired the previous day in all thecapitals of Europe. Ittook the first missionaries seven months to reach India. Now a ship can carry a thou sand passengers from New York to Liverpool in 5 days, 14 hours, 24 min utes. All the world is at our door, and we are at the door of all nations. Mexico has an area of T.jO.OOO square miles and a mixed population of ll,t!32, (KJO. It is no longer under the heel of the black pope. The government is not subject to the Vatican. The Jesui tical priesthood is stripped of its Rom ish prerogative, and the church of its proerty to the amount of $3(M);iK)i,(KK. Parochial schools are prohibited and public schools are fostered. There are 8 societies represented in Mexico occu pying 2fi9 stations. There are l.'lO for eign missionaries, 50 ordained, 80 lay 1 man and 79 women: 349 native work ers, 1")0 ordained, 32 teachers, 107 help ers; 223 churches with 13,2ii3 members, 135added last year:7,jHitSbbath-school scholars, 7 high schools with 180 pupils and 148 day schools with ii,683 pupils. Native Christians contributed $20.8t0 last year. Presbyterian church has 5 stations in Mexico, 18 missioraries, 8 ordained and 10 women, 99 native workers, 23 ordained, 4 licentiates and 52 lay; !H churches with 4,y34 members, 1,875 Sabbath-school scholars, 28 boys and 73 girls in boarding schools: in all 36 schools with 1,356 pupils. Native Christians contributed in 1892 $4,197. Dr. S. M. Davis. We are authorized to announce the name of W. F. Nicol as a candidate for sheriff of Jacknon county, subject to the decision of the republican convention. ' sr. Loris news. Another A P. A. Secretary Assaulted and His Hooks Stolen. Editor The American: Friday night, July 13th, T. C. Reeves, finan cial secretary of St. Louis Council No. 46, when returning homo from Council meeting was assaulted within one hun dred feet of his house by two men who had either followed him or laid in wait for his coming. It has always been customary for thofo living near by to accompany him home, but on this par ticular night they were absent from the Council meeting, consequently he was alone, although be had just parted from the president of the Council only a short block away. It had been his cus tom when coming homo during the day to go into his house through the back entrance and owing to force of habit he walked up the alley intending to enter from the rear. When a short distance up the alley he heard footsteps, but supposing it was some of the neighbors paid no attention but on turning round to see who they were, one of the men without saying a word held a pis" tol to his face and assaulted him over the head. Taken thus by surprise and being unarmed he made the best resi st ance possible. His package of books was in his left hand, and in trying to defend himself they dropped to the ground and he at once paced his feet on them and stood up against the yard fence, to prevent attack from the n ar. Finally one of the men seeing his tac tics walked off a few steps and then made a running lunge at him to knock him off the books on which he stood, hitting him twice over the left temple with the butt end of the revolver. The blows did not knoek him over as was expected but enough out of the the way for the other man to grab the bundle of books and both ran off. He followed them some distance, shouting for help in hoMs that some one would come to his assistance, but all in vain. That port'on of the city is thickly set tled, but stieets and alleys unim proved as yet and vacant lots here and there giving good avenues of es cape, They made no effort to relieve him of his watch or money, the rec ords being the only thing they were after and having secured thetc they made off. There is no clue to the par ties but it has leaked out since that certain Roman Catholic parties in the neighborhood knew something of the kind was to hapen, but when tbey did not know; and even while the tussle was going on a neighbor some doors off stK)d in his back yard and saw and heard all that transpired and never offered any assistance, and has not to this day made any inquiries as to the matter, showing conclusively that it was a well laid scheme, which, up to that particular night, had failed to materialize owing to friends' accompa now I'm glad to have this nying Roeves home. In running off one of the men lost a black felt hat which was pickod up at once by neigh tors nearby who refused to surrender it except to theowner who was known. The secretary still carries the fresh cuts on the side of his forehead, and had it not been for the stiff hat which ho wore he would have been more seri ously hurt judging from the cuts in the hat. No report of the matter was made at the time to the police, as it would have availed nothing, for two thirds of "the finest" are like our gov ernor, "agin the A. P. A." Putting the matter of theso two assaults (within a few short weeks of one another) together it is conclusive that there is a deep laid scheme to fol low them up and secure the records of other councils in the same way. On tho same night the above assault was made in tho northwest part of the city a similar plan had been in the south wovt part. At about 10 o'clock at night a call was made at the residence of the presi dent of Council No. 31 No one being at homo but the ladies of the family, and the caller asked if Mr. was at home. The ladies replied, "No, he is at lodge meeting." They were further questioned as to the time of his return and as to which street he generally c:ime home on, and other questions of like nat'ire, but they received no satis factory n ply. On leaving the Indies ank -d his name and where he could be seen the !:ext day, supposing of course calling at that hour of the night, his business was impor'ant. He replied that ho was not acquainted with the party he called to see and it wa of no consequence. The party called on is quite active in Patriotic Orders and pi-sibly a scheme was being laid to assault him at some time. There is quite a boom in the forma tion of Continent! Leagues in this city and they are being organized in every ward, and the membership is in creasing very rapidly. This is the great anti-A. P. A. order. J he leaders of the League give it out quietly to those not affiliated with the A. P. A. that they projHjse to give that order the "blacket eye" it will ever receive, at the coming November election for city offices, judges of court, etc., and rout the A. P. A., horse, foot anddiagoons. "On with the dance," say the A. P. A. The fight will be a hard one and all sorts of trickery will be resorted to to enable Home once more to get in her work, and control things and jerhaps follow it up next spring for a final vic tory in St. Louis X. "Let the public school system go to where it came from the Devil." Free man's Journal. PAPAL DELEGATE AND PI! I EST. Prlext Sniithieniiiiees Stittilll's Heels Lln-"I Heii't Hclicu' a n ttjt KTrue." During the last Ix'nton soan Bishop Watterson, ofkColunibus, O., addressed a letter to the clergy and laity of his diocese, dealing wholly with the tem perance problem. In it ho said: "I hereby withdraw my approbation from any and every Catholic society In this dlocen that, has a liquor dealer or saloonkeeper at its head, or anywhere among its officers; and 1 siiskmh1 every such socii'ty itself from the rank and privileges as a Catholic society until it cease to Wi so officered. No one who is engaged either as prinriuii or agent in the manufacture or sale of lntoxlnat lrg liquors should 1h admitted to mem bership." One of the societies laid the matter formally be fori) Monsignor Sutolli, the papal delegate. To this appeal be has just responded, sustaining tho jtositlon of Bishoji Watterson, and saying; "The liquor 'traffic, and especially as conducted hero in the I'nited States, is the soureo of much evil, hence tho bishop was acting within his righta in seeking to restrict It. Thcrc'oro the delogiite apostolic Nustains Bishop Wattersorv's action and approves of his circular and regulation concerning saloons and the expulsion of saloon keepers from membership In Cathollo societies " This decision of Monslgnor SatollI will create a lively controversy among tho followers of tho Catholic church of the United States. Priest Lawrence Smith of the Church of tho Immaculate Conception, of Fort Smith, Ark., wag hoc n by a rejiortor of that city. "What do you think of Monslgnor Satolli's ruling?" asked tho reporter. "I don't believe a word of it Is true," was tho quick resjMHiso. "Such a de cision would be tho work of a fanatic and SatollI is neither a fanatic nor a fool. In tho first place," ho continued, with considerable animation, "the doctrine of the church does rot dictate to a man so as to interfere with his in dividual rights. A liquor dealer, who docs a legitimate business, has as much right to membership in our church as you or I have. For my part, I wish there wasn't a drop of liquor on the face of tho earth, but no power of church can or ought to prevent my keeping liquor in my house, if my system re quires it." "Then you think the report of Sa tolli's decision Is false?" "I do, most emphatically, because It would be contrary to the doctrine of the church." HOME IN WASHINGTON. Congressman Linton Has Iiifllrulty In Seem ing Statistics on the Indian Ques tion. Congressman W. S. Linton, of Sag inaw, recently made a speech in the house of representatives in opposition to appropriation of public moneys in aid of the sectarian schools among the Indians. The bill has since passed the house Before making his speech, Mr. Linton's clciV -,iplled to the proper department ior information, but he says his clerk was informed by the as sistant commissioner, who, I am told, a zealous member of the church which has its headquarters upon tho Tiber, that "it could not bo supplied " Mr. Linton say he made a second requisition for the information, de manding a "reply in writing" to his letter, and this time receiv d a tab ulated statement, which is printed in his speech, it appears U at the total Indian appropriation on account of schools is $5t4.x.'Cl, of which amount 0.48, or 72 per ce t... gi,e- to the papist schools, while 'nit f 154. 345. or 28 percent, of the whole, are divided be tween th-i public an ! ill her denomina tional school. The bill as ('one to the senate, and ought to In; defeated. The government ha no 'uismes to be paing out public funds tn sectarian schools. It is contrary to the spirit of the constitution. The f.irther state and church can be kept ijcparated. the bet ter. Opposition to the appropriation of public funds to sectarian institutions is no attack on anyone's religion. Such appropriations should cease in national, state aud municipal governments every where in these free states. (Iraml Home Loairued With Tammany. Dr. McGlynn, in his celebrated speech, "The Pope in Politics," de livered in Coojier Union, New York, January 8, 188, to an audience of 2,500 sympathizers, said: "Seventeen years ago there was a league between Tam many Hall and the Catholic authorities ratified one Sunday afternoon ixteen Peter P. Sweeny and Archbishop Mc Closkey. This was to rob the public treasury by means of clauses to be in serted into legislative acts by Sweeny to secure money for Roman Catholic schools. The so-called Catholic Pro tectory has al-vays been besieging the doors of the legislature, promising sup port to those who voted it money."
