Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-02

] dice OF very I0FmludoC nature o5ai"o' "'
In Belle lettres, the same consequence was
insured The mythology fthe Heathens was
explained by an exhibition OF its anology win
our creed; we were represented as the enemies
of taste, the lovers Of ignorance, the destroyers
of the fine arts; worse than Vandals and more
ferocious than Goths. Geography as with an
English tongue she described the nations OF the
earth, was always sure to dwell upon the wees
and the crimes and the follies of every nation
| in which our religion was established or pre-
vailed, and she became hyperbolically eloquent
as she. gowed in her description oil the virtues,
the gIories, the wisdom and the superiority or
| the few Protestant states that concentrated IN
themselves every real and imaginary good
which the mind could conceive. Even Protes-
tant England. never prosecuted, and Catholic
Italy bazed with the fires of the lnquisltion.
am tired OF the enumeration. My object
was 10 show how il was morally, was about TO
say physically, impossible for any American
Protestant, however high his rank, exalted his
mind, extensive his reading, or comprehensive
his charity, to be free from violent prejudice
against Catholics at the period OF the revolu-
ton, just fifty years ago. My friends, ii we
were placed in the same situation as they were,
would not our preJudices be what theirs were!
would now bring your attention 10 another to-
pic. We say they did not know us; but the
present generation ought to know what we are.
| This, contend is an error. 1t is impossible
that as yet they should know what we are, and
therefore Wills. we regret the prejudice which
even yet as extensively exists 10 our disadvan-
tage, we should rather endeavor by proper
means 10 remove ii, than to blame those who
are its victims, because they cannot do what is
impossible shall shew you briefly the obsta-
Giles which are as yet in their way.
They are still subjec, 10 the operation, to
certain extent, though thank God, greatly di-
minished, Of that prejudice which springs from
family affection; TO which is added the preJu-
dice which springs from that pride of adher-
ence to party, to which we are all subject, from
which it is extremely difficult to become dis
engaged. They are yet liable to nearly the
same extent 10 religious prejudices, with tbs
diminution that is caused by the greater eau
ton ofmaking an attack where reply and
retort may be expected, and in some places, but
not very many, the opportunity which is afford
ed for correcting mistakes They have still
the same distorted histories, to correct whose
statements so little has been done, and that lit
tie so lately as 10 have yet scarcely excited Gu
rloslty, much less research, much less change
of opinion. Scarcely a change has taken place
in the mode Of abusing science literature,
for the purpose of injuring us. l have once,
not very long since, felt kind of melancholy
amusement, in which however my reveries
were occasionally disturbed by glow of nvo-
untary Indignation, at contemplating one of
the first graduates at the annual commencement
ofthe College of this State, pouring out CO.
pious collection Of black vomit against our
creed as il. he was upon the point of expiring
Of a religious yellow fever The poor creature
could not be SO much blamed, for he had pro-
badly been infected in the library, if not tainted
from his childhood; but can vouch that no
professor of that institution was guilty of crea-
ting his disease, nor had the simpleton himself
the slightest opportunity ofbecoming acquaint-
ed with several topics upon which he raved;
but the books too often contain what the teach
er would not have written. How many volumes
ofreAgious tracts, how many Gospel and Evan
gelical and Christian periodical publications
teen with misrepre sentation and abuse of our
creed?-NAy, look al the common newspapers
of the day, whose editors boast of their liberal
ity, and couhrm their claim to the title by most
copious and liberal quotations from every Bril-
fish hireling or malevolent In6del; in the midst
OF all this, how is it possible for us 10 expect
that we should be held in Just estimation by
our fellow citizens? 1t is then duty which we
owe 10 them and to ourselves, to attempt our
vindication. AS we cannot assemble as body
to do this; as our Bishops do not find it conye |
nlent or expedent to act as the Irish Bishops
and English Wears have done under similar
circumstances, an individual has taken the Ii |
berty of addressing to you his sentiments upon
the subject. | shall therefore examine the |
charges made upon US, and give the best an
swers that can, in hope that some of our Pro-
testant fellow-c citizens may examine the accusa-
ton and the defence, and that may thus hap
PLY, at least lessen the amount Of that preu-
dice which | cannot hope TO destroy. | shall
begin by examining the charges made by the
Rev Joseph Blanche White, because observe
that his work is particularly lauded by the cer-
gy of the Episcopalian, Presbyterian and Meth |
odist churches of the District of Columbia, and
that strenuous efforts are now making to dis
seminate the same, for the purpose of adding
to the pre- udce which unfortunately exists.
know that undertake weighty task, but la
bour does not discourage me. These pieces
shall appear in the Miscellany addressed TO
you, and should find that you approve Of them
by 2atronizing the paper, and that they are
thOupht by nv Protestant fallOw-citizenS IN |