Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-08-11
Wanted !
At this Office, TWO COMPOSITIONS
CATHOLIC RULE.

ShIhuL1O RULE.
Wherever there 10 Catholic rule there 10 blight.
Look at Catholic governed Spain; once the
first OF monarchies, now in the lowest depths Of
degradation; her people dying by dozens in the
mountains, Of starvation her streets filled, and
her priests surrounded by gaunt, begging, corpse
like figures. All the resources of her exhausted
government are not able TO save multitudes
of her people from starvation, or the great mass
from misery. History, during the last three
hundred years, sets the seal of condemnation
upon Roman Catholic rule. Compare Italy and
Scotland four hundred years ago, and compare
them now contrast the country about Rome
under the immediate control of the Pope, with
that around Edinburgh, q country redeemed from
barbarsm and made great by Protestants, while
Italy, once the boast of the world, has been re.
duced to nothing. Holland, though laboring
under many disadvantages, has been elevated TO
an extraordinary position, considering her linn
tied territory. The difference is marked and
greatly in favor Of Protestant rule, when You
compare Protestant and Catholic German princi-
palities, Catholic and Protestant Swiss cantons;
Catholic and Protestant Irish counties. On this
side the Atlantic we find Lower Canada, Mexi-
CO, Peru and Brazil, buried in lethargc slumber,
while the neighbOring Protestants of the United
States, are progressing with amazing rapidity.
Roman Catholic rule was beneficial in the
Dark Ages, but politically ii has served its time;
in this age, its effect is deodenng. Then, all
the learning was centred in the priests and of
the laty, not one man in five hundred could
even spell; therefore it was well that the people
submitted to the will of the priests, for the latter
were wiser than themselves, less barbarous,
more disposed TO encourage peace and broherly
kindness. But, when knowledge became gene
rally disseminated, and the distinction with re-
gard TO wisdom and learning between the
priests and the people, had been obliterated, such
submission became servility, and 10 exact it was
tyranny. The Church saw that this general
dissemination of knowledge was uniavorable 10
her political ascendency, and hence her influence,
which had hitherto been usually favorable to
science, civilization and good government, was
reversed, and, during the last three centuries,
her efforts have been aimed to stunt the growth
of the human mind. Every advance in freedom
knowledge and national wealth has been resisted
by her, where it was possible for resistance to
be effectual And now, after Protestants have
redeemed this country from wilderness inhab-
tied only by savages and wild beasts, and placed
it in the foremost ranks of nations possessing
knowledge, liberty, wealth and power, the
Church of Rome essays to stretch over us her
icy hand, and bring upon us everlasting winter
and barren desOlation.
What the Pope of Rome 10 be made supreme
ruler of this country, when there are hundreds
aud thousands Of men in our Union as wise and
learned as he, independently of their intimate
acquaintance with peculiar political causes and
effects among US
The Church of Rome forgets that she is of
this age; her dreams are of past grandeur.
Surely the mass of the Catholics of this coun-
try cannot be misled by the babbling absurdties
Of Brownson's Review and The Shepherd Of the
Valley.
We do not attack the Religion Of the Church
Of Rome, but her Politics.