any place of
worship, or maintain any form of worship against his consent; and
no preference shall be given by law to any religious society; nor
shall any interference with the right of conscience be permitted."

If the Geghan bill is merely a reenactment of this part of the bill
of rights, it is a work of supererogation, and it is not strange
that the legislature did not, when it was introduced, favor its
passage. The author of the bill wrote, "the members claim that such
a bill is not needed." The same opinion prevails in New Jersey,
where a similar bill is said to have been defeated by a vote of
three to one. But the sectarians of Ohio were resolved on the
passage of this bill. Mr. Geghan, its author, wrote to Mr. Murphy,
of Cincinnati:

"We have a prior claim upon the Democratic party. The elements
composing the Democratic party in Ohio to-day are made up of Irish
and German catholics, and they have always been loyal and faithful
to the interests of the party. Hence the party is under obligations
to us, and we have a perfect right to demand of them, as a party,
inasmuch as they are in control of the State legislature and State
government, and were by both our means and votes placed where they
are to-day, that they should, as a party, redress our grievances."

The organ of the friends of the bill published this letter, and
among other things said:

"The political party with which nine-tenths of the Catholic voters
affiliate on account of past services that they will never forget,
now controls the State. Withdraw the support which Catholics have
given to it and it will fall in this city, county, and State, as
speedily as it has risen to its long lost position and power. That
party is now on trial. Mr. Geghan's bill will test the sincerity of
its professions."

That threat was effectual. The bill was passed, and the sectarian
organ therefore said:

"The unbroken solid vote of the Catholic citizens of the State will
be given to the Democracy at the fall election."

In regard to those who voted against the bill, it said: "They have
dug their political grave; it will not be our fault if they do not
fill it. When any of them appear again in the political arena, we
will put upon them a brand that every Catholic citizen will
under