" THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR."

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 74, 26 September 1874, Page 8

" THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR."

During a debate in the American Congress on the Sundry CiVil Appropriation Bill, wlieu the item of 25,000 dollars for "The Littl» Sisters of the Poor " came or. for consideration, the most strenuous opposition was shown to the passing of the vote, and it was rrjeeted notwithstanding a similar amount had been voted to the Women*! Christian Association. The same question, however, came before tiie House when the Senate's amendments to the Bill were considered and during the discussion winch ensued, the following eloquent aDDeala were made in favor of the bestowal of the vote. Mr Parker of Missouri, said :-'« I am no Catholic, and practically, 1 am not much of a Protestant; but, sir, I want to nail the atientiou of this House to one fact, and especially tint of my friend from Ohio (ATr Garfield) but galluntly ed one of the divisions of our army during the late war and tii&t is, when the uoble women of these different orders were unon the battle-fields of our country, gathering up the wounded and the dyinir and pouring consolation into their souls, moistening their lips with cold water, talking to them of home, mother, and friends, cheerinotheir dying moments by leading their minds to the mercy of that God who was so soon to judge them— when they kneeled before our brave soldiers upon their dying beds. diU the gentleman or the loyal neonle ever stop to inquire what was the religious faith of those people ? Did they stop toinquire whether they were Catholic or Protestant, Jew or Gentile ? When the white-bonneted nuns were seen can-vine consolation tc the gallant; soldiers of the Republic upon every battle-field where our patriots struggled for the national existence, they were not asked as to their religion. Now, for the Americau Congress, made ud of distinguished men from alt parts of the country, wedded to our institutions, devoted to the cause of liberty, after what we have done already here today, to refuse to give this institution what U asked here, must be done upon grounds which we cannot justify. It is too narrow a view to take of it. Patriots and gallant men caunot do this No citizen of this Republic can undertake to maintain any such uosi* tion as that. The title to this property is in these people This

society of the tc Little Sisters of the Poor " was organised in 1840. It •was chartered in this District on the 15th clay of July, 1573. The ■work of this order is to care for poor and aged men and women. No one can be admitted who is not over sixty years of nge. There are now Gfty-fhree persons in (his institution, and if they uo nol care for these aged paupers the District of Columbus will have to do it, vnd it •will cost the District 8000 dollars to do if. It is therefore a saving of ■expense if we vote in favor of this approprialion. Do you know, Mr Speaker, that it is a fact that these '' Little Sisters of the Poor " are not permitted under the obligations of their order to partake of a single mouthful of their food until the inmates of their asylum are first fed ? Do you know they go to the hotels and restaurants, and where■ever they are permitted to go in this city, and gather what is left of the crumbs which hare falle-J from the tables for the purpose of feeding these poor aged outcast men and women who are nob able to talc •care of themselves ? I ask the House to stand by this appropriation I ask the House to give this amount of money to this worthy object."' Mr Butler, of Massachusets :—": — " I desire to acid a single word ; 1 will detain the Houso but a moment. This question came up before in another form. I carried to New Orleans six thousand men. I had but six hundred Catholics among them. When these men were dying in that inclement climate of fever and of xnalaria from the swamps, they were taken care of in the hospitals by Sisters of Charity, and the question never was asked, ' What is their faith ? ' The only question asked was, • Are these men sick and djing ? ' And when that question •was answered the soldier was taken in and he was treated as well and as carefully as if he had been of their own faith. Now, sir, with that knowledge and with the remembrance of my friend from Missouri (Mr Parker) has called to my attention of how glad our boys used to be to see these white bonnets coming upon the bottle-fields and into the hospitals where they nursed the sick and dying, I would cut off my right hand before I would strike down this appropriation in behalf of any prejudices against their religion. My friend from Ohio says nobody but a Catholic can belong to this association. That is true in -this sense : nobody will undertake the self-deuyiog vows, that entire devotion to charity, but those who have been driven by stern religious faith : but -when they have once taken their vows they go forward to take care of the eick and dying without a question a? to their religious faith. I hope and trust we will vote for this appropriation without any division." _ When General Butler ceased speaking, the cry of "vote ' was raised, the House having evidently made up its mind on the question. The vote was accordingly taken, and the motion which the House had rejected a week before, was bow agreed to by 102 to 43 Totes. J