Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-04-01

when :. the great and gOod'' DE La FAYErrE, a
Catholic Peer of France, headed your columns on
the field of battle, and, when success had crowned
his exertions. waved his sword in triumph as he
shoued. Victory pat that time, say, it was new
err thouuht Of that the Catholic Church ,cas NOR
tally opposed to Grill as ,ceH as religious liberty
In Justice to ourselves-to the religion which
we profess-it is nothing more than right, that we
should put YOU in mind of what Catholics have
done for 6: civil and religious Gberty;'' and l
do it at present for the pleasure and qualification
of those who know how 20 appreciate Catholic
allegiance, and who have acknowledged their
firmness and intrepidity in the most trying cir
cumstances-and for the shame and confusion OF
those who. instead of making Acknowledgements,
instead of expressing their gratitude for past IA
vors past services (in imitation of those against
whom their fathers fought reward services
through the medium of persecution.
What sheets have been filled, what multitudes
of speeches have been uttered, against the into
lerant, prosecuting, tyrannical system pursued
by Protestant England against Catholic Ireland =.
We have seen societies organized inalmOst every
town of this extensive Republic, for the avowed
purpose of raising funds in order to assist the
Catholics of Ireland in their struggle for civil
and religious liberty: and now we are told that
the Catholic processes a religion g nortafly OPP
posed 10 cirH as ueNas religious hberfy." Anne
RIGA rejoiced when Catholic Ireland was freed,
and the example was set by the public reJolclngs
in the great Commercial Metropolis of the Union;
and now. from the same city, libel against Ca
tholics is sent throughout the Union, that the
Catholic Religion Is n,ortaily opposed TO ciuil
as weN as religious liberty" During the great
struggle of America, never heard of one Catho-
lie who was traitor to the glorious cause of
s. civil and religious liberty;' but have heard
of an ARNOLD.
believe that the strength, the stability, and
the energy of nation, depend upon the union of
the citizens, directed to one common end-the
public veal. In proportion as the character OF a
nation is raised in the estimation of other nations
is not only the public interest increased, but pri
vate fortunes multiplied. In proportion as that
character is lowered, does the national treasury
feel lido private families suffer. Shall it be
said of America, that, after having subducd her
external enemics-after having set a glorious eX-
ample to the world, and proved to other nations
that her prosperity is the result of union-that,
no matter what NAV be the creed of the indivi-
dual--no matter what may be the form of the al
tar before which he adores his God-no matter
whether he prays aloud, with the Pharisee, or, in
the grief of his heart, strikes his breast, with the
Publican, and says, IS o God be merciful to me
sinner!!"-no matter. if, like Mary Magdalen,
he wrinSs his hands, in agony. at the foot OF the
Cross, as he contemplates the sufferings of his
dying Redeemer, or, like the Jews, who Knocked
their dying God, and looked upon the Cross as a
scandal-no matter if, like Universal Nature,
which burst with grief when the God of Nature
died, or. like the Jews, who laughed in derision,
and called their Messias an impostor-by her
laws he is protected, since, by the Legislator of
the Universe is he to be Judged: Shall it, say,
be said of America, that she will authorize the
seeds of religious dissentiOn to be sown, and,
Philistian-like. arm one brother against another!
Believe me. nv friends, as nothing tends more
to the destruction of civil liberty" than the for
nation and subsequent action of political factions,
or parties, as they are called, mustered in array
against each other, and bent upon each others
ruin-for they separate the energies of the coull-
try, which requires an union of interests-each
party endeavors to inhame the public mind in its
own special favor, and substituting passion and
defamation for reason, rends the empire asun-
der, instead of contributing to its permanency;
so in religion nothing contributes more to sap the
foundation of religion. generally speaking, than
party spirit. Two individuals when say
two, mean the opposition of as many tioo's as
you please,-begin. like politicians, to discuss
the merits or dement's of their respective opinions,
and, like politicians, always end by quarrel of
some shape Or other. When the passions become
heated, personalities are resOrted to. and mutual
denomination and abuse are substituted in the
place of COOL dispassionate argument; so that the
object which, perhaps, both had in view at the
| Observation-Disclosures lost sight of altoge-
Their, and anotheris contended for, viz. how to IT.
ritate and infame each others passions. The
foundation of all true religion must be based on
Charity. Where there is a want of charity such
as Christ himself practised. there can be no true
religion. So far from being opposed to discus
sions upon religious subjects, most cordially
approve of them, when conducted with decorum,
with charity, and with sincerity-with an UMPIRE
JUDGED determination of listening to disposition
ate reasoning, and to benefit by it; but if any
man be predetermined not to believe any thing
different from what his former impressions were.
let me ask you where is the object Of entering up
on what are very profm'ely called " religious dis
putes''-for the object of religion is truth accom-
panied BY charity, and this object can only be OBJ
tanned by the mind Invested of every thing like
ureiudice mr. nrenoSSpcsion With sentiments