The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-24

such belief should exist among theIh- now and'
that Of all the kinds Of dogmatical belief, th.,
most desirable appears to me to be dogma'ioai
belief in matters OF religion"
And again he says:
This, then, is the subject on which i IS
NEST important lor each OF us to entertain hxed
ideas, and, Nnhappily, it is also the subject ON
which it Is most difficult for each Of US, left to
himself to settle his opinions by the sole force OF
his reason. None bat minds singularly free from
the ordinary an1ietes Of life, minds at once pen
etrating, subtle, and trained by thinking, can,
even with the assistance OF much time and care,
sound the depths Of these most necessary truths
Ard again:
"Studies of this nature are far above the
average capacitv of men; and even if the ma
.o17ty Of mankind were capable of such pursuits,
It is evident that leisure to cultivate them would
still be wanting. Fixed ideas of God and human
nature Indispensable to the daily prai'tIce OF
me7l's lives; but the practice OF their lives pre-
vents them from acquiring such ideas"
He then proceeds to say, that general ideas
respecting tod and human nature are therefore
the IDEAS above all others, which it is most suit
ableto withdraw from the habitual action OF Pri
vate Judgment, and in which there is most to
gain and least to lose by recognising principle
OF authority"
We beg the reader to bear in mind that De
Tocqueville IS a statesman and philosopher.
That the charge against Bishop England is, that
he is an emissary of the Holy Alliance, who de-
sires 70 overthrow republican institutions, oy
ENGRAVING upon then the Catholic religion. The
only argument which has been aaduced to quiet
the apprehension Of Protestants, is that tits ridi-
culous, because it is impossible Now hear
what De Tocqueville says of this subject What
he says is SO very important that we quote him
at large, and all that We ask is that the friends
of civil aud religious Liberty shall remember
who it is that writes thus; that he speaks truly
when he speaks Of the power OF the majority, and
that there IS nothing in our constitution or laws
to prevent the establishment OF the Catholic re-
ligion, and the inquisition, by changing the con
situation and laws of any State in which they
NAV obtain control OF the legislation of the
State. It Is clear that the Catholic clergy Of
this country entertain the same opinion as De
Teeeuevilie, where he says in the chapter be-
fore US;
eli Catholicism could at length withdraw it
given rise have hardly any doubt but that the
same spirit of the age, which appears to be SO
Opposed TO il, would become 80 favorable as to
admit Gifts great and sudden Advancement
Hence, while Bishop England is exerting his
influence to bring the whole foreign Catholic
vote into the support Of MIR. Van Buren,, we fird
Bishop Hughes, and oshers, exerting their ineu-
enee te get possession of the school funds in New
Il
gagged in writing anew that part of history which
displays the bloody prosecutions Of the church,
and which have aroused the ''poIitieGl Gnip.OS
ities,7 of which NJ. De Tocqueville speaks.
And we have a striking instance of the progress
they have already made, La the facts that
the directors Of the school in New York have
gone so far as 20 mutiiate their school books
and ialsify history, by eXpunging from them
so much of the historical Lessons as were often
sive To Catholics, and that the u. s. Gazette,
edited by a New England Protestant, now be-
fore us, contains studied eulogy of book ad.
mitted 10 be one OF series intended TO vindieate
catholicism from g political Gfaosities to ,oiach
Il hos gicen rise
These remarks seemed to US to be ar apfro-
pirate introduction TO NJ. De Toceueville's sixth
chapter, which he entities:
aOF THE PROGRESS OF ROMAN CA
THOLICS IN THE UNITED STATES"
'EAmerica is the most democratic country IN
the world, and it is at the same time according
to reports worthy of BELIEF the country in which
the Roman Catholic religion makes most pro-
grcss. At first sight this is surprising.
s1'wo things must here he accurately distin-
gnished: equality inclines men 20 wish to form
their own opinions, but the other hand, 1t I'M
bues them with the taste and the idea of unity.
simplicity and iRpartiality In the power that
governs society. Men living IN democrats ages
are therefore verv prone to shake Oft all religious
authority bat il they consent TO subject them |
selves to any authority OF this kind, they choose
at least that il should be single and uniform. Re
ligious powers not radiating from common cen
tire, are naturally repugnant to their minds; and
they almost as readily conceive that there should
be no religion, as that there should be several
cat the present time, more than in any pre-
reding one, Roman catholics are seen to lapse
into infdelty, and Protestants to be converted
10 Renan Catholicism. If the Roman Catholic
faith be considered within the pale of the Church,
Il would seem to be losing ground; without that
pale, TO be gaining it. Nor is this circumstances
difficult of explanation. The men of our days
are naturally little disposed to believe; but as
soon as they have any religion, they find within
themselves latent propensity which urges them
towards Catholicism. Many OF
The doctrines and practices OF the Romish ChuIch
,stonish them; but they feel secret admiration
for its discipline; and its great unity attracts
hem, IfCatholicism could at length withdraw
itself from the political aninosities to which 1t
has given rise, have hardly any doubt but that
he same spirit of the age, which appears to be
% opposed to it, would become SO favorable as to
admit its great and sudden advancement.
e One Of the most ordinary weaknesses oil the
human intellect is to seek TO reconcile contrary
and to purchase peace at the expense
of logic. Thus, there has ever been, and will
ever be, men who, after having submitted some
portion of their religious belief to the principle
ii authority, win seek to exempt several other
parts of their faith from its influence, and to keep
their minds floating at random between liberty
and obedience. But am inclined 70 oeleve that
he nnmher Of those thinkers will be less in de-
mocratic than in other ages, and that our pes
terity will tend more and more TO single divi-