The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-09
THE EUROPEAN WORLD.

church upon Ireland-rhe squabble l. bat one for
place-The ontcriers care not for principie-Tbc
strange alliance In intolerance between the Dssen-
tiers and their oppressors-Th hedge prcachcrs-The
church Is alarmed for the preservation OF the
Queens spiritual authority, which, by law, is of
force over the Disscnlers of England, aud for the
preservation OF her ill-gotten revenues.
New York CITY, January 4, 1851
To the Editor of the National Era:
The Baltic's mails tell us that the Church
squabble in England continues to rage with una
bated virulence Yet, with the exception of
very few really liberal newspapers, nearly all
who make public demonstrations on the subject
agree in condemping the act of the Pope in fig
uratively re-dividing the British Kingdom into
bishoprics, and appointing Cardinal Arch
Bishop over the whole This, be it remembered,
is the extent of his insult against the majesty
Of the Queer" who, by the laws Of England and
the grace of God, is the only person in the realm
competent to the dispensation Of regulations to
80 .. a l.a7,s;csas>lft, ~ ~..a .lG..Ny
month or two ago | took occasion to call the
attention Of your readers to the fact that the
Pope has been in the habit of doing in this coun-
try that which, when 80 lately done in England,
has generated all this great hubbub Your read
ers will therefore understand, that, after ALL no
real, tangible, practical aggression has been per-
petrated on Britain by the Bishop Of Rome. 1t
is altogether imaginary; wholly so. The Pope's
Council resolved on the change, doubtless with
the view to increase the sway of their church
the minds of Englishmen. Or, to use the phrase
of the day, to "gather" more sheep into the Ro-
man Catholic foldn-just as the Unitarians,
Methodists Presbyterians, Baptists, &c, are now
constantly taking measures each sect to increase
the number Of its members and the sphere of its
usefulness
With these few preliminary remarks, which
unfold to view the gist Of the controversy shall
proceed to write plainly concerning the exciting
extraordinary condition of the public mind, in the
country which is constantly Boosting itself to be
the most liberal and enlightened on earth, that
this dispute reveals to the gaze Of all searchers
after truth. The ado unto others as you would
they should do unto you" principle is at the bot
tom of all sound liberalism. IL is the alpha and
omega Of all sound reform. Changes, nominally
designed for the public good, which violate this
condition of things, designed for the benefit of
classes-reforms wrung from the tightly clenched
hands of hard masters who yield part that they
may the more surely keep the balance of what
they hold unjustly from its rightful owners. For
such reforms the people owe gratitude, not to the
donors, but alone to those whose courage suffer-
ings, and perseverance, have wrung them from
the unwilling privileged few.
The doings Of the English Church Hierarchy
in Ireland furnish glazing example of the n.y.
pocrisy and the wanton violation Of this great
principle of reform, above stated, by the party,
the Anglican Church, now clamoring so vehe-
mently against this act of the Council of Rome
The complaint is, that the Pope has dared to APP
point spiritual governors over people who
acknowledge no allegiance to the Church of Rome,
granting them titles which, being territorial in
yolve, they falsely declare, the impression that
they look to the eventual realization of the tenn
poral possessions which, before the Reformation,
were incidental to the enjoyment of these revived
stations. The Church of Rome, on the contrary,
has merely appointed for its Omn people, spiritual
officers, honoring them with titles which all are
free under the law to accord or withhold and al
lowing them to accept Of revenues which, unlike
those Of the English Church. are entirely the free
gV Of their people. But, as ! wrote above, the
example Of the Anglican Church in ireland in
the complaints now being uttered by the Church"
in England. The latter has not only installed re-
ligious officers over the people Of Ireland whose
authority finds no response in the consciences of
the great mass Of the Irish but has endowed
them with titles large territorial possessions, and
enormous revenues, all wrung from the half
starved and brutalized Irish masses. Whose act
should be most reprehcnded by thinking and feel
ing people-that of the Church of Rome, or that
Of the Anglican Church But that the hubbub
has been raised wholly for the preservation Of
exclusive privileges, is evident from the train of
argument which the orators and writer's, lay and
clerical against the "papal aggression" invaria-
bly, fall into Thus, one rarely reads in their in
Weighing aught concerning the necessity for the
preservation Of the principles Of the Reformation
nor is it possible to discover in them sigh of
aspiration for civil and religious liberty. On
the other hand, they are but tumble about true
sacraments, holy apostocal traditions, apostolic
cal succession, the Church." &c, which alone
appear worthy Of the abors Of these self-consti-
tuted guardians Of Christian truth. They fight
but for the Parliamentary God-tbe State reli- |
gion.
The truth is, it is, after ALL but squabble for |
place. The religious titles given by the Queen |
in the British realm, bring not only honors and
great and direct political power, but In the aggre
gate to all the officers Of the Church, from the
Primate Of England down TO the poorest curate, |
starved that his rector may squander thousands |
in dissipation, full thirty millions of dollars per
annum-no mean perquisites for the retention OF |
which to struggle Now, 1t is extremely danger |
Gus to such system to permit citizens to set up |
q rival hierarchy without the attribute Of polti-
cal power, and without the recognition Of the /
State yet in imitation Of the State establishment
with Offices and titles Of honor. The danger is |
TO be found in the fact, that II permitted, public
opinion-popuar recognition may in few |
years give to its own creation, an importance at
least equal to that which the law lends to Its
rival; which would reduce the distinction be-
tween them only to that involved In the money |
taken from the people by force, and given by |
them with grudge to the Church establishment
Of England. The Church breads lest lie flock |
may come To understand that 1t has but TO will |
that II shall depend wholly on the strength Of
it's hold upon their oonsciences, to bring about
that most desirable state Of things The Church
does not want the people to understand that II
with It's vast resources, II were cut adrift from
the State, and made thoroughly responsible and
subject to the people ~ all churches are supha.i