New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-04-08
som anism and RepubIicanism Incompatible
LECTURE-By REV. w. s. BALcH.


sered lecture entitled as above, and intended as
an answer TO the late discourse OF Archbishop
Hughes on 1.-THE Catholic Chapter in the History Of
the United States" In spite OF the severe storm
which mace the night one Of remarkable severity,
the large edifce was filed in every part by highly
intelligent audience who testified their appreciation
of the speakers sentiments by frequent Interrupt
tons Of applause. We have only space to notice the
more prominent features Of this Lecture.
MI D. began by saying that any cause which will
not bear the test of rigid investigation is unworthy
the counteDance and support of independent minds.
Truth never shuns the light it asks no shield, wants
no panoply it courts inquiry and answers every
honest question like virtue and beauty, it is lowell
est when unrobed like its great Author it needs no
sword Of power priesy robe to give 1t force and
vitality in the execution of its mission its law is
liberty 1t gives freedom to all who embrace it an
TO no decision Of numerical strength IL enthrones
itsef in the willing mind spurns human authority,
shuns the great, dwells with the humble, calls
fishermen from their nets and publicans from the
receipt of customs and sends them forth to over
turn thrones and systems, and teach all men the
way of salvation. Christianity is compatible
tic it is based on the sovereignty of God and
the individualism Of Man ackno Wedges no DIS
tncsion admits 10 excuse to justify wrong but re-
quires obedience from all 1t has the same duties,
tive duties for all who accept IT. among Others to
contend earnestly for the faith to stand fast in the
liberty wherewith Christ has made US fee. In com.
pliance with these duties and in the spirit of free
insii,utions-as CHRISTIAN and Republican,
stand here to defend doctrines which believe to be
true and of vital importance to the peace honor and
happiness Of the world. am here to warn you of a
DANGER which threatens not only the subversior of
our free institutions, but to send back the sun of
Truth, Freedom and Civilization many degrees In
the dial of human progress. l am here to review a
h. thA gto oh
CLEANS few faint rays and weaves them into beam
Of light to dazzle the eyes of unsuspectng honesty,
that the food OF darkness may not be perceived until
let in with such force that 1t will sweep away the
last monument Of Religious Liberty from the land -
The speaker said he came q simple Christian Re-
publican without titles or hOnGrs any fictitious
claims to attention he came not to speak Of things
too high for him nor was he there as the exponent
OF sect or party-the world was his country, man
kind bis brethren. He would examine this Chap
tel" with the rest of the volume since it was evil
IDENTIFY the design of the Archbishop to convey the
impression that the remaining Chapters III our His
tory were quite as favorable to Catholicism as this
one else, why his assertions that this is no more
Protestant than Catholic coun!ry--that Catholics
are not here by favor but by rgh,-tha! they have
shared in our suferipgs, &c, and neither the first,
last nor middle page OF our history would have been
what 1t is without them-that they were numerous
enough to leave lhelr bark on the battle grounds of
Freecom and Cd the Declaration OF Independence :
Why this Chapter" at all, if it be not TO pave the
way 10 more prominent and powerful influence IN
find necessary to issue this studied effort to sho "
that Catholics are good Republicans and have a
neht here Has any one asssiled Their ignts Has
any demanded an exposition OF the vie VS. OF this
Church In regard TO government! Have Protestants
found it Necessary TO assert their Republlcansm and
their rishts7 No. The Past is their voucher every
chapter and OF History speaks for it IL II has
erred in few cases, by following the bad example
OF tie Church 1t left behind, such cases are the
ception and not the rule. Who ever doubted the fit
ness of Professionalism to flourish in the soil OF Free
hn nUnr eEAdf nlslfIn 01ffn
dd fe, a censorship Of the press, a sitting OF free
speech, OF liberty OF thought, hiding OF kno Wedge
from the people Only those who dreaded an ex-
posure OF their inquiries, restraint of cesp0tic
bower, or the extension of equal privileges TO all
men. The past ten centuries tells US the tendency
OF RomaDisIn. Every chapter in its history, from
the rstIevolt uader Leo IL. down 10 the blessing
bestowed upon that pef1ured traitor, the Nephew
OF my Uncls, bears evidence Of what 1t has done
and will do when lie to itself Does any one doubt
Some did, in lsls, when this house rang with ap-
pause for Plus TX. for his promises OF liberal re-
Therapeutics never fulfhed. Then Protest.
ant Republican lips were eloquent In laudatons
of" His HoliBess," whom the Archbishop called the
Man OF the Age" and even paps1s kindled at the
hope that the Old Church had at last burst the shell
OF conservatism and started on new and progress
i've career. Democrats and Wings cried "HOly
Father and the Bishop and his prelates, sitting on
this platform, with jesuislcal smiles said amen"
L. too participated and sat here with the host o. the
Pope's Few admirers, almost bewildered with an
event which promised so much. Yet had my
doubts, and my dreams have BODIED all too rgh! !"
Il ask, now, what is Republicanism It's the gov
eminent Of the people, deriving its Just powers
from the consent Of the governed" What is Ro-
manism I The Papal Church claims the night and
duty, by special Divine authority, TO step between
man and his Maker, and take from the former his
rights to speak 10 him in GODS name, and bid him
surrender everything into the hands Of his spiritual
directoI-his life, liberty and pursuit OF happiness"
everything for time and for eternity; and 10 DO W
absolutely the dctation Of the authority vested in
the priesthood Of that Church Romanism admits a
SPIRITUAL and temporal chief and says he is absolute
and nfalhble. This chief assumes the right to rule
IN Gods name, with full power TO bind on earth or
loose IN heaven RoInsnism claims the right of uni
veIsal dominion, both In faith and in temporal
en-, over all the world, over all men, from Nova
Zsmbla TO Patagonia. Ii is a vast hlerarchy-a
moral, spiritual, and political despotism. On
the Pontf's viii, hang ali the privileges OF its
sdheIsnts from him Issue all mandates regulay-
iIg the external government and internal con-
duct OF ihe faithful. This authority, descending
through cardinals, primates, srchbishops, bishops,
sutiSgans, Wears and prssls reaches the humolest
roiaIy through the confessional" where each
pliesI deals with the trembling peai.eat according
to direction, plying into every secret thought, de-
InSneIng full exposure on palh OF mortal SIM and
debating in return all matters wAich concern the
Church there it fastsns upon the soul the last link
OF the chain which leads direc! to Rome. The pen.
ileDt bias 10 will, no conscience OF his own and taus,
according to theI own authorities, the fIsS great act
OF Catholic life IL personal death after that. every
thing Ia expressed ~ the term Obedience. Now, Is
there Eot direct AID positive incompaiiblfty be.
tween Romanism ard Republicsnismi Ia the one
Gaze, power ssoenos from The People to tne Ruler,
no Is no more tEan ali agent, responsible to his
ploJer, in the other, power descending, in such a
measure SIS he may deem proper, nom an ire
sponsible governor to apoSerless people. One is
Republicspism--the other Is Despotism. And Re-
pubcanisrn and Romsrism not only are but mus:
foIeVer Ieman sntas oristie, for thar principles,
theories practices, purposes, are Numerically oppo-
ste TO each other The success Of one Is tho certain
failure OF the Other. Cases arise where may ia
yor OF see to favor the ether but this is for re
porsiy advantage. and has no further significance
than that 1t 10 departure from the rule, memen-
tary violation Of fundamental law But this attn
bs,e not 70 Catholics per sc, but to Catholicism the
aui, 10 that OF the law and not always OF the actor
Many have and trust will throw of the yoke, ap.
seslns - old those of old, whether We ought to
obey GOD rather than man. judge ye" do not con-
TEND against men. but against measures-I proclaim
nv IeapAct for the man Iohn Hus hes and Gan axn