Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1852-09-08
Gen. Pierce and the Catholic Test.

The presses which have determined to lie
this campaign through at all hazards are stili
publishing the oft refuted SANDER that General
Pierce ia bigot, and in favor Of the religious
test in the New Hampshire constitution. They
adhere to this particular charge with unaccoun-
table tenacity ,as il they thought catholics we're
not too we'll informed to be caught with such
shallow ar.ifccs-. such contemplate gull traps;
| as if they were not aware that bigotry was
greatly on the wane and that liberslity and re.
| ligious liberation keep pace with the progress
Of Intelligence. The political knaves who are
perpetra'ing this insulting reflection upon such
a large and influential class Of American citi-
zens will learn . their sorrow that such arii-
fees are bound to xrcol upon their own heads.
That Intelligent voters are not TO be approach.
cd in that way.
The following. which we extract from long
editorial in the Boston Pilot too long to insert
cntire,) are the most sensible remarks we have
seen upon the subject. They are clear and
comprehensive, and ought to be satisfactory
The Editor says
We are sorry that this question was raised
at all. Not on account of Gen Pierce, for the
lies circulated about him will do him no harm,
as they have bee; so promptly exposed by the
! Catholic press-the party naturally the best in.
| formed upon the matter But We do not like TO
see the Catholics singled out from the body of
American citizens, and made the subject of
electioncering experiments. We dislike the
politicians who do not know us at all after the
election IL ever. rN1N)the Wings have been
guilty of this capital error, and in our opinion
it will not end to their good. They have sud
| denly discovered that Catholics are an inter
estng class Of perso rs; that New Hampshire
docs mt treat them we'll: that Gen Pierce must
| be to blame for this, and therefore ought not
to be President; that Gen Scott treated Catho-
lie soldiers well, respected Catholic churches,
was present at Catholic professions in Mexico,
and therefore ought to be President. This is
not the way in which the contest should be
conducted. The true question to be settled -
which is the best man winch candidate stands
on true American ground which man il the
enemy Of free. soilism, Fl ibusterisin, interven-
ton, domestic anarchy, or radicalism? Which
man is for the Union. the Constitution ,-inclu
ding the slavery clause and for the Laws
including the laws against treason and viola
! ton OF international treaties? These, and sim.
liar questions are the questions which should
ke asked. The policy OF singing out the Cath
olics IN this way, being anti American, is fool
ish, for America has not, and cannot have
state religion. The religion, or religious pre-
ludlces, or want Of religion in President can
not effect Catholics or Protestants rs such
And it is very foolish to misrepresent a candi
date, as some Of the papers misreprcsent Gen
Pierce, IN order to prejudice Catholics against
nm, when the misrepresentation is SD easily
exposed. The authors Of this falschood about
Gen Pierce forgot that there are Is Catholic
papers in the 5, all of them independent of
politics, and none of them disposed to allow
even one of their readers to be hoodwinked
Ii will be well for Gen Scott, if he can clear
his skirt. of Na,ivism as easily as Pierce can
fling back the charge of opposing Catholic in-
teress.
All these things are we'll understood here at
the East, and We smile at the etfurts made to
secure our votes because this candidate was
supposed to he friendly to the Catholics or be-
cause that candidate was born in Protestant
state. But we learn that unremittiny efforts
have been made to range the Catholics of Wis
consln, Iowa. and other Western states against
Gen Pierce, on the legged ground that he op.
poses Catholic interests. We write this article
to let them know the merits of the whole story,
and TO show them that the story is a very clum.
sy lie. After that is settled, they can vote COR
whom they please, but il is not right that either
party should single us out partcu arly and try
TO secure our votes upon false issues. Let us
stand upon American ground, or none at all
We repeat that We hope that this subject viii
never again call for a remark from the Catholic
press. We have treated it from the beginning
with reluctance, because it Is really humilia.
ting to know that politicians think so meanly
OF us, Catholics as to suppose that such con-
sldcratlons aS these can sway our votes. If
the time ever was that they could, it is gone,
and the sooner this truth is appreciated the
better 1t will be for all concerned. Meanwhile
our readers will accept this article IA a fu FL
ment OF our promise TO expose falschoods and
false issues raised against either candidate,
from whatever quarter. Our Independent po
sition obiiges US 10 do this, to say nothing of
the ialsehoods told about the New Hampshire |
affair, and the silly issues predicated upon ii |
were such as especially merited rebuke from |
the Catholic press of the United States Give |
the candidates a fair field tell no lie, about |
them discuss their Claims honestly, and that |
is all that either can ask