People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1893 — That Religious War. [ARTICLE]

That Religious War.

Since facts are beginning to come out in regard to the Catholic scare in Newton and parts of Jasper county, those active in circulating the reports are beginning to feel very foolish. The foundation of the whole matter lies in a campaign document which had its first circulation last fall and seems to have been quite recently started on it® rounds again. The A. P. A. society is supposed to be nb the bottom of the agitation. The Rutland Democrat republishes Our article of two weeks ago and adds the following:

“It appears that Mr. Harris I West to Brook and started the same alarm the Vo, and stated that One of dill' leading business men was in jail hero for bringing fire arms to, this pHe©, to be used by the Gathdltert iff murdering. Pf’Obefctft.nts. About that time Ohe of our citizens had occasion to go to Brook on business, when he was confronted with the report, but he knowing the peaceable fooling existing between the different denominations at this placd» soon convinced them them that it was a false report. At the same time, however, there arrived at this place a couple of boXe* that were taken to the St-. Joseph church. This aroused the suspicion of some, and similar remarks, about it being ammunition, w’ere made. Investigation proved that all was as false and groundless here as it was in RensnelW. The contents of these boxes were the new statues and brackets, that were erected in thi sanctuary of the church last week-. The foregoing is certainly the silliest alarm ever put into circulation in this country. The idea of a religious war being started by the Catholics in this community, where they have ever enjoyed the privilege of free and public services; where the best of friendship reigns between the members of all denominations, where people of one creed work with or for people of ahother. It is a happy thought to know that no such reports can molest the present good feelings.! between the different creeds, and that everything is going on, at the places concerned, as before the incident occurred.” The Morocco Courier also published in New’ton county, in its last issue has the following in regard to the matter: “The story circulated about tovrn last week to the effect that ammunitions.of war were being shipped to Rensselaer had for its foundation the fact that some old brass muskets had been shipped into the Indian school to be used in drilling the young Indians. The sixty jugs of powder were sixty cans of powder shipped' on an order made for six cans by one of the Rensselaer merchants. It is a disgrace to an intelligent community to allow such flimsy foolishness to gain a moment’s credence, yet there are men in this community who set themselves up as leaders who are passing inflammatory circulars round among the people. These very men who to-day are trying to influence the minds of the ignorant against the Catholics, if cholera would break out to-morrow in Morocco would fly for safety and leave the care of the sick and dying to the Sisters of Charity and the Priests.