The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-03
KOssuth ana the CathoIIcs-Reply OF
Bish0p O'I0nBOr to KOssuth's Speech AZ
the PlItsbNlE EealiYnl.


the PittsbuBg Festival.
To THE EDITOR OF THE COMMERCIAL JOURNAL
SIR1The portion of Mr.. Ko,suth's speech de-
livered last Monday, in which he refers to the Ca
tbo6cs of the United States, calls, think, for
some remarks from me. i would have presented
them sooner, but first saw the speech while in
stage going out from the city, and have been
allie 10 attend to the matter up to the present mo-
nent.
believe tits true that the Catholics of the Uni.
ted States generally, have shown little sympathy
for Mr.. Kossuth. We must thank him, however.
for proving that We have no interest to bind us to
tho Gar. 1t is we'll to have it on such high su
thorty, that Nicholas has secret plan for propa-
eating Catholicism, else, perhaps, when the anti
Russia fever arrives at its height, some of Our enc
mics, with their wonted ingenuity, may give it an
anti Catholic direction endeavoring to shov that
We are but the agents of that power; 6rst for the
establishment of Catholicism, then for the over
throw Of the republic.
Be it RENE INBRED, then, that on the authority of
Mr. kossuth, /" the Gar is tie relentless prosecutor
OF Catholicism, who forced the United Greek Ca.
thocs, in the Polish Provinces, by every imagin-
able cruelty, to abjure their connection with Rome.
and carried out far greater expenditure Of humaa
life than Ferdinand aud Isabella, or Louis XIV,
the most stupendous proselytism which violence has
yet achieved"
Certainly moro than .loO, 900 human beings had
died Of misery, under the lash, in the manner In
which the unfortuna C Minsk nuns we're proved to
have died, fore he terrified these unhappy millions
into submission against which their conscience re-
VOTED.
1t may be well to add to this, that the only manly
rebuke which this tyrant probably ever received
was from the Old Man at the Vatican who sum-
moned him to the bar of Divine Justice in accents
so terrific, that he, before whom millions trembled,
is credbly related to have gone staggering to his
carriage, stunned at the blow
To what Mr.. kossuth said Of Russia, he might
ave added, what would have strengthened his ar
ument, and equally relieved US of the charge of
cling agents OF Austria-that of oil the govern
melts not openly avowing persecution, there has
not been one on earth whose diplomacy has been 80
hostile to CatEOlicitv that of this m
for near three quarters of q century, and do to
the last two years For it only within the last
two years that the Church obtained from this power
freedom which Roman Pontif had in vein
crossed the Alps to sue for ct Vienna.
Nor is it opposition or Indifference TO Hungary, rs
nation, that could have led to the feelings ia
question.
country, the half Of whose population is Ca.ho.
! lic the brightest pages Of whose history are
acorned by names as conspicuous for devotion to
the church, as for genuine patriotism, tho country
Of st. stephen and st. Elizabeth, must have
place in every Catholic heart Few of US ore
sufficiently acquainted with the grounds of the
late struggle for independence to form opinion
Of its merits in which we could feel full confidence,
but there is not one of US who does not wish that
land, an increased measure Of happiness and glory
even beyond that which it enjoyed from the days Of
its sainted Apostle and King. Gladly will We hear
Of its prosperity as our sympathy in its misfor-
tunes has been deep and heartfelt.
What then is the explanation of that Indifference
opposition to Kossuth, which is, perhaps not I'M
justly attributed to the Catholics Of the United
States! | will state them frankly as they OCCUR
to me.
First, then, we end him making common cause,
with those who either openly avow or can be easily
convicted OF aiming at the very destruction of the
church European socialists and red republicans
are the leaders in this war. kessuth. know, has
himself disavowed their principles, and denied that
their establishment is aimed at in Hungary In this
! am convinced he is sincere. But he has, at least
made common cause, and protested community Of
interest with them, and was accordingly, hailed by
them as a brother, at Marseilles, and in London.
IL Is well known by every intelligent man amongst
his opponents is understood by his supporters
that the FIRST blow of the new crusade will DO aimed
at the Pope 1t is well understood also, that it is
this feature OF his policy which has gained for him
support and enthusiasm in certain quarters, where
silence reigned when civil and religious liberty were
being troodcn out in other nations, more nearly
allied 10 US than Hungary. 1t was only whom the
Pope was TO be assailed, that grape shot was
handed from the pulpit to the champion ef the
libel ty that was 10 be
Mr.. Kossuth could not expect to have been able
to give a hint that would be Ineligible to the
apostles Of the bible and-grsps shot, without ex-
posing himself to the danger Of being understood
by Catholics also II il paying us but poor COM
plment TO suppose that we SO obtuse not to
understand him, or so Stabilized as understanding
him to- DIN him
1t may be said that the overthrow Of the Pope il
also intended as a means of establishing liberty.
III line words would make men happy aud free, it Is
certain that the reign OF the red republic wonld be
another Elyisum. But the tyranny SO often prac-
tise in the name of liberty and the people, should
mak Ike any wise man look beyond words aud profess
sions before he committed himself to new cause
on the mere strength OF these names; and if we do
look beyond professions what may ask, are We to
expect from men who have discarded God and his
reyeiaiion-wbo have pronounced property but rob-
berry, the stability Of the marriage bond insult
ierable and Unwarrantabe yoke, religion a
mockery-who aim at establishing and legaiizing
not only Capitalization Of governmental powers,
such as that SO justly denounced by kossuth him
self, but a concentration that will absorb in the
governme the rights Of the father, the husband,
the owner OF property; putting every thing into the
hands Of the central power, making that power tho
organ, not of the masses-for these our socialists
dcsIise as unenlightened herd-but of the better
portion OF them, IS they understand these terms,
aid by which we may rest assured they mean
themselves They may call this civil and religious
Liberty, or any thing else they please. but think
you will agree with me in pronouncing it tyranny
compared TO which that Of the Czlr, or any other
depot, is sweet yoke.
Yet he himself may not patronise these doctrines,
but il he league himself with thoir supporters-it no
blsh solidarity Of interests with them. in
which they will necessarily form the majority, and
have preponcerating influence, he must not be
surprnedn we look upon all with analogous aonti-
ments
Were the aims Of those who are laboring to
change the governments Of Europe more pure, a
question OF morality would still arise regarding
the means by which the object should DO accom-
phsbed. Catholics who consult their cooscenees
could never adopt the programme Of universal
revolution which NJ Kossuth proposes.
However, am now treating merely Of the spo-
cial reasons which have 10 the Ca.hoiics OF this
country sbo ~ indifference to himself
Besides identifying himself with tho socialists or
Europe, to gain English support, he has stopped
applaud tie government Of that nation to degree
that must necessarily ALLEVIATE US II ad he con-
hne6 himself to speaking of the character and the
deeds Of the English nation, he could have found
enough to justify the Isl ample eulogy, and to
turn adequate thanks and compliments for the
tavors received But not satisfied with this he I'M
dertook to praise government whose crimes
written in the darkest pages of the worlds history,
and are fell in tho they have spread over many
q land
The sods are not yet green over the graves of
moro than million victims Of British policy, and
the haggsrd countenances of other millions yet pro-
tracing n miserable existence, cry 20 heaven
against a govern ment whose made the life or
death of nation hang on the success or failure Of
n single root,