The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-07-07

State OF Affairs in Observation-Disclosures
Catholieity.
We publish in another column the latest
and authentic intelligence respecting the trih-
ingl excitement in Philadelphia on the 9th inst.
The rumors of serious disturbances which were cir
culating in this city yesterday, and to which addi-
tional exaggeration was given by silly extra
issued by one of the penny papers, are thus shown
to be quite unfounded. The attack on the tents Of
the "natves" turns GU, to have been merely freak
Of some drunken rowdies, and the muskets found
in the church belonged to the State Arsenal and
had been deposited there by the order Of the autho-
rites.
Whilst, however, We are thus happily enabled
to dispel the fears which had been excited by the
reports Of fresh outbreak in our sister city, 1t IS
useless to conceal the fact that the popular feeling
In Philadelphia is at present in a most excited
state, and that the slightest spark may at any
moment wrap the community IN flames In Phila-
delphia they have no police-no influential public
press-no great embodiment Of sober public opinion
to counteract and crush the rioter or incen-
diary. The fierce spirit of faction still lives.
Bigotry prejudice, revenge, and all the dark pas
sions of the human heart are brooding over the
past, and anxiously await some opportunity Of
bursting forth in all their maddened fury. truth,
the struggle Of which the late melancholy riots
were but as the dust which betokens the approach
Of some advancing army, has only begun. The
seeds sown by Bishop Hughes are only in the
blade. Only by the exercise -the timely exercise.
Of the greatest wisdom on the part OF the true and
intelligent patriot, can that portentous growth be
nipped in the bud. Hence the propriety, nay, the
duty Of keeping the public mind awake to the true
merits of the case, and the real causes Of it's present
threatening aspect.
Catholicity, as religious sect, is az harmless as
any other. Catholics, as such, have an equal right
to political privileges with Episcopalians or Pres
byterians, or Quakers. In community composed
of Catholics and Proestants, it is perfectly clear
that the political power should be possessed by
Catholics and Protestants. We do not believe
that religious tanaticism has yet grown SO infuen
tal this soil to require any formal exposure on
the part of the directors Of public opinion, Of the
doctrine that we should have an only Protestant
Government, which is about as reasonable doc
trne as that we should have only Protestant sys-
tenn OF Agriculture. But whilst Catholcity is thus,
as religious sect, fully entitled to occupy precisely
the same position as any other system of religious
faith-but when Catholicity assumes the character
of political agency-when it assumes to dictate
the conduct which its followers are to pur-
sue as citizens or subjects-then it occupies
an attitude Of hostility to the liberties Of
men, and earns the just indignation and
earnest opposition of all true patriots
And such, alas has been very frequently the cha
racter Of Catholicity. Such has been the position
into which it has been forced in this country by
Bishop Hughes. 1t was the attempt to the Catho-
lie Church as great controlling political agency
which awakened, and very naturally awakened,
and happily awakened, alarm in the minds of citi-
zens Of an adverse faith, and led to that powerful
and excited manifestation of opposing feeling,
which can never he restrained within proper limits.
The Philadelphia riots and their causes, have ex-
cited many interesting and instructive reflections
in the leading journals on the other side the
ter One Of them, the London Standard, has an
able article on the subject, and makessome remarks
which are in great degree accordant with those
we have just offered. They are suggestive and
worthy of attention atthis moment:-
The Church Of Rome il a religious sect. perhaps,
though ts doctrines have not generally maintained that
uniformity which has been maintained by most other de-
religious sect, the Roman Catholic Church il also
secular political institution, and its religious profession
is little more than mean, Of collecting secular subjects,
and organising s political power The Roman Catholic
Church IL empire pervsdng the several states Of tho
world and exercising precisely as much power the
frequently wrangling wi the local sovereignty for the
less Of power. It is empire exercised by
olgarchy Of priests whose prncpa! seat is at Rome bur
which denounces any other local allegance the part
Of its subjects. What may be the objects Of Romaism
we learn not only from history bu. from what we see
Romansm destroyed the French constitution in 1929 and
expelled the King Of the Netherlands from half his dom
mons in $780, Romansm sought to raise rebellion in
Prussia few years later; has kept span in II
savage civil war for Il years. and Ireland in state Dor
rgung to dethrone the family Of the Best and wi.est
King that France ever possessed seriously dsturbs
France and h unnecessary to say what It Is doing in
dslphia an judicially numbering them in Madcira.
Proper allowance is to be made for the intole.
rant spiriJof the Standard, but are free to adj
init that there is much truth in the remarks we
have quoted. On the head Of Bishop Hughes rests
the fearful. responsibility of aroasing against his
church, In this land, all the violent prejudices
which have SO long nfamed the Protestant mind.
He discovers no disposition to rerace his steps, and
we repeat what we urged some time ago, that the
enlightened and liberal members Of the Catholic
church should unite in expressing that dlsapproba-
ton OF his conduct-which we know many OF
them iceland in endeavoring to free their faith
from the odium which now rests upon it. This
will be ultimately found to be the readiest method
of subduing the bitter animosties which have been
engendered by the foolish condsct Of this foolish
prelate.
THE VIRGINIA DUEL.-t is stated in the Norfolk
Herald, that John iTyler, Jr., and H. Pleasants,
editor of Richmond paper, went to Margarets-
vile, NJ c., on the 4th inst, in order to fight the
talked of duel.
GREAT FIRE IN ToRoNTo.-lt is reported by gen.
tlemen who arrived here yesterday morning, that a
great fire was raging in Toronto on Tuesday even
ing No other particulars.
FOURTH OF July FRosr.-We learn that there
was considerable frost last Thursday night along the
line Of the railroad, and in the vicinity Of New