New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-03-12
THE TRIBUNE.
Sew Year. Letter from the Catholic
Priest, RonSe.
Translated from the Deutsche schnellpost.


Some weeks ago was translated into many OF
our journals the noble protest Of the Catholic priest,
Johanne. Ronge, against the gross action OF his
associates on the superstition Of the people, in ex-
bisiting piece Of clothing, which they pretended
n he The garment of Christ for the Of diseases,
and other miraculous purposes. Hundreds OF thou
sands focked 10 see this pretended relic, and all
the foies of the dark ages were repeated IN their
eosrsest form. Against this shameful abuse Of the
confidence Of the people, the priest, Ronse, raised
his voice in the cearest tones OF truth and night
cots Indignation. His words must still be fresh IN
the minds of many readers. :" To his disciples,
he says, "Chris bequeathed his spirit-the word
which he had given in spirit and in truth his
garment fell to the lot of the exccutioner." The
protest OF Ronge has brought upon him the bitter
est persecution from those who had shown them-
selves capable Of that worst treason perverslon OF
pous though unenghtened hearts for The service
of their ambition and avaricc The following let
Ter he writes in reply to some VI his assaants.
I 4 .co,dto The Romanists Of Germany, md 10 those
only, The MN Fear Of lSi3.
You Of the Ron,ish hierarchy have stood
among you and seen what game you play with
human nature what your purposes are The
word TRUTH is heard from your lips, but she dwes
not III your hearts; compassion and love you have
upon the tongue, but rot IN the BOSOM
The pharlsees, as depicted in the Gospel, are
mere children compared with you, Jesults and
spiritual tyranis, For the hlgh-prlests and Levltes
OF Jewry consumed only one nation, but you have
the misery Of many nations OF Europe 10 answer
for Through whose fault was German blood
poured ohl under the Fourth Henry, and IN the des-
dating thirty years war; Through whom sank
Poland in bloody ruins! Through whom was the
Hesh torn from the bones of France and Spain but
yesterdayi Through the ambition, the avarice,
The immortality and the intrgues oil the homlsh
hierarchy, whose creatures dare to style thense Ives
fathers aud teachers of the people. One who mad
not studied and through these beings, might wei
believe from their sweet words, that among them
would De found angels of light, those who bring
oeace and salvation. But where is the blessing
that they spread abroad what peace Is It that FOL
lows on their steps? what is their morality! what
mean they by their taticrlng words ! what sort oil
religion sh ali bless the nations from their hands :
But the clouds are scattering and mental cnalas
breaking That mark you well That IS what
i causes this loud outcry. Yes IT IL done. 10 those
Z who do not yet know and feel that the empire oil
nposture and superstition is at an end Will prove
il. See! since came forth against you, ana win
simple words, exposed your perniciohs cohaucl'
what has been SAID, what been done by the ma
tions not only the German, but foreign nations
You know with what ardor they spraug up; you
hear, YOU see il now. And what did ye called
down maledctions from the pulpus, cal lied Tor The
shears OF the Censor 10 clip down thoughts, (thls Is
gonr sad nveullon) before they could pass through
the press. Imprisonment or worse punishment
threatened from the back srounG,-ahd against
whom? Against me and all others who dare give
ulterance 10 the truth; who to abused religion and
the long suppressed lamentations and complaints OF
the people dare give uterance Iruy, IL II ue-
pended on YOU, who arc pleased TO style yourselves
apostles of love and light, and many others would
soon cease TO see the light.
You cali me a false prophet betrayer, Judas, for
Iat-t -DTf
knows what else. You call NE by these names IN
your ecclesiastical journals from your consecrated
pulplis YOU pour forth your calumnes but what
harm does this do me! None at all; ratherlt harms
yourselves. And who am !, opposedto you \ pam
man, without riches, without power, a man VINO mas
no home except in the hearts OF his trends ana the
greater part of the people whom you abuse.
man who would shrink with horror from decel'ing
the people, who would blush TO be hypocrte, VINO
would refuse your benetces. A man VINO spoke
few sincere words for the sake OF abused religion,
and deceived man, and whom you have, on mat
account, degraded from his Office, and eXcommu
nicated as criminal from your churches BAT
what can you do against ME! Nothing, nothing al
all. The people no longer believe those who have
so often deceived them. The greater part OF the
nation is on my side. The small portion that you
still influence through your riches, your arts, and
their own fears, will turn against You so soon as
thew see that ii is for them we fight. For tho fight Is
for the decelsedpa of the nation, injured IN
ured religion Their voice will be, so well as
NAV and 40 long as can, and feel the courage OF
victory in my breast. would enter the lists against
you, degenerate servants OF hohss were you sun
more numerous than you are 1hink YOU ieaf
your threats am ready 10 die. The cause IN
which engage is worth the life OF man II is The
+ cause oftrcedoH from Rome. Did you fancy you
could turn me from the path of virtue and right
As well might YOU try 10 turn this planet rom her
course You have devised caumnies against me
personally 10 diminish my lniisence, knowing II
was vain TO deny the truth Of what have SAID
Again, in vaini Men know that you say what Is
false; need not answer these calunhes
wished 10 defend myself | would not take The way
you have 10 assail me- But if did choose 10 speak
Of the sins with which many OF you are laden, SINS
public and private known by public ramor and IRE
irsgable testimony, should here give catalogue
Of these, how would you bear up against Inc Dur
then
Some have entered on the idle task ofjustityins
The idolatry, but this is beyond the power OF man 10
dc. That pilgrims have SAID " Holy garments,
pray for us is and remains fact that the simplest
countryman that can think must see IN lis true ilSht
LetDr Ritter give his catalogue of reliques, not
merely from the time of Christ, as he has done, out
from the creation of the world down TO the present
DAY. He canno, deny that at Treves they sang
Holy garment, pray Tor u.s. and that fAis was
0nchrstian.
Let this or tina, deny that was the author OF
my letter and invent what they will concerning IT,
The hearts and minds of millions ofmen are not to
be deluded; nor need fear TO love the reputation
oiauthorshp: you will too often force me 10 repeat
what have said. Let the Canon Forster wIite
his ten thousand sermons in defence OF the idoialTy
1t is Ill labor lost You have yourselves prognos;-
Gated yoar fall Romish Doctors, with and without
poetry and wit, with and without cunning; . you
will repent the sins of your age if you go on. you
have began The foolish play is played TO the eng!
What would You continue 10 be teachers OF reil-
SON when Won have acted the usurer with It as
matter oil traffic? What. you would be preachers
1 10 said
whip OF small cords, went into the temple, and,
diving on; those who bough, and sold there, cried,
. My fathers house is house of PRAYER, bur you
have made il $ den OF thieves And you dare to
defend a Bishop who has, in this way, wiled their
mercy from the poor creduous multitude What!
you wosld be teachers of the people, the repre-
sentatives OF culture, manners and humanity,
and you defend this odious folly Of adoripg a
piece oil cloth, piece OF cloth Of which you your
s,ch sc.,rn c.nno1 with ;,,. he 60 =. -