Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-08-08
CATHOLIC RULE.

We consulted Roman Catholic, yesterday
as to the meaning Of BrOwnsOn, when he pro.
claims in this country, through his Review
with the consent Of his Bishop, what amounts tc
this - That the rusty old Pope ut Rome, has Q
right to dictate who shall be our Presidents
Governors, Senators, Representatives, &c., and
that to him truly belongs the power Of impeach'
ment or, that to him belongs the power Of de.
posing our rulers. The answer was, that If the
Pope were to land in this country with an inva.
ding army Of hundred thousand men, the Ro'
man Catholics would be foremost in resistance
The answer was an evasion, for it contemplated
contingency improbable enough 10 be impossi'
bic. The work is TO be accomplished by the aid
Of power which is in this country mightier foi
than gun and sword--the majority at the ballot
box an army with priests for captains, majors
and generals, and the Pope in the distance, fol
Commander-in. Chief We are honceforth, &C
cording to this new political party, just budding
to be governed by foreign power, the Roman
Catholics in this country to be the agents, the
balot.box the means. The following paragraph
from the Shepherd of the Valley, published in
st. Louis, and endorsed by the Archbishop oil
Saint Louis, shows that the hope of the Roman
Catholic leaders is to overturn religious freedom
in this country, by an army Of UoterS:
"If the Catholics ever gain--which they sure
" will do, though at q distant day--an immense
numerical superiority, Religious Freedom in this
country is al an end"
The following, from BrownsOn's Review
the leading Catholic paper in this country, shows
that the Catholic voters are not expected to act
independently, but in submission to the will oil
the Pope:
"In the most Christian States, there is always
party who never regard the Church as the
Kingdom Of God, set up TO govern SAFES and in
dividuals. In our times, this is the great trutl
10 be insisted on - that the Church is a power
universal and supreme; that the authority Of the
Church extends to all things concerning which
there can arise any question of right or Vrong
that it is hers TO apply the laws Of God - tC
Kings and States, as we'll as TO individuals. The
Church has right 10 pronounce when Prince
has forfeited his trust and lost his right to the
allegiance of his subjects she has the right t.
pronounce his sentence, it rests with the tempo
raj order to carry it out
This dcpOsing power is simply the power Of
the Kevs Bossuet denies it, but St. George VII
afIirms it, and his authority is supposed to bC
greater than that of Bossuet. Popes have
claimed, have exercised, have never disclaimed
the depoSing power, and have always deduced il
from the power Of the Keys. Reason shows
too, that Christ, who gave the Keys 10 Peter, L
rule over the Kingdoms Of the world, must have
given him, with them, the right to use all neces
sary means TO gain this end"
The above sentiments arc not very dangerous
for, in this country to publish error is to kill it
We should have noticed this subject lonl
since, but have not had time 10 write or thinl
about anything. Indeed, nothing that appears il
this paper to-day as editorial, has been writtcn
but the type "Set up" at case, without copy
We state these facts as a sufficient excuse fol
any shortcomings or blunders in the edtOria
department. No printers TO be got hold of fOr
" love or money"