The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-19
THE CHARGE OF INTOLERANCE

We occasionally hear that the charge of in
tolerance is brought against us, because we are
not willing to remain silent when prelate OF
the Roman Catholic Church abandons his sa-
cerdotal office, and steps into the political arena
for the purpose of influencing presidential
election. Those who bring the charge, do not
understand the meaning of the word 'fintoler-
ance," We deny to no man the liberty of upin-
ion, nor the liberty of worshiping God in any
form that his conscience may dictate. But when
religious denomination, through its accredited
organs, openly interfcres with the political af-
fairs of our country, then a solemn sense of duty
requires that we should warn the people of the
dangerous foe to their Liberties existing in their
very midst-that we should warn them of the
encroachments of spirit of Intolerance. We
wish this thing to be distinctly understood We
know that those who read our articles with any
freedom from binding prejudice, VIII at once
acknowledge, that we do not interfere with the
Catholic Church in its application of faith to
a religious life-we consider only its political
tendencies, and the very manifest endeavor there
IS In some of ITS prelates to gain political as
tendency in this country. Soemnly believing,
from evidence that we have already adduced,
that there exists settled plan in the Catholic
monarchies OF Europe to subvert, through Ca
tholic influence, the liberty of conscience, the
liberty of opinion, and the liberty of the press
IN this country, we have lifted a voice of warn
lug, and no false charge of intolerance shall
make us waver in our purpose We shall 90 on
to prove, that the ''Unchanging Church, )" when |
ever and wherever it has had the power, has
prosecuted, even unto death, all who opposed an
independent expression of opinion to its dogmas.
We call upon the American citizens who
are members of that church, in behalf of the
country, TO examine well into the subject of
their connections with the Pope When it is
found, that he has set Of opinions for the free
people of the United States and another for the
inhabitants of European despotie Governments,
totally at variance with each other, is it not a
question of moment to know which are his true
sentiments And may we not reasonably infer,
that where he has the power and authority, he
will act out, as he does in Catholic monarchies
his real opinions? When we hear him, in his
Encyclical letter, launching out his denuncia-
tons against free press, against liberal opin-
ions, and the advancement OF general know
ledge, and calling for the extermina ton of them
by fire and faggot, have we not real cause of
alarm, when it is remembered that this same
Pope exercises powerful influence in this coun-
try' The more carefully we examine this sub
Ject, and the more extended our knowledge of it
becomes in all It's relations, the more deeply are
we conscious of its momentous Importance to
the people Of the United States. Like others,
We have been Indifferent to the growing power
If the Catholic Church in this country, because /
We were ignorant of the secret organized plans
dread, and the anxious zeal manifested by Eu- ,
'opean Catholic Governments, for its advance :
nent among US. But we can no longer make
ignorance cloak for Indifference: and under r
leeP sense of our duty to the people ofthis coun
ny, we have entered upon the discussion, and :
lnder the force OF that obligation we will con- I
inue fearlessly our expositions. h