New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-03-21
RELIGIOUS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

The recent celebrations of st. Patrcks Day
in our own and other American Cities were
mainly notable for the uniform and enthusiast
tic devotion evnced therein to the principles
of Civil and Religious Liberty which form the
base of our Republican institutions. We have
not observed dissent or demur on this sub
ject, and our columns bear witness that the
expressions on the side of unconditional Free
dom of Religion were emphatic and remark.
able.
Though deeply and we have thought Excess
sively sensitive to attacks on their own Faith,
We have known no men less disposed than the
Catholic laity of our acquaintance to inter-
NEEDLE in any way with the religious opinions
OF exercises of others. And what we know of
them renders us confident in the assertion that
the idea would never occur to one in hun
dred of them, unprompted, that Heresy or In
fidelity is a crime with the punishment of
which states or civil rulers have rightfully any
thing TO do.
We do not, therefore, apprehend serious
trouble to our Common Schools from the cloud
now lowering on the horizon, if due care be
taken to obviate all reasonable objection on
the part of Catholics to the management of our
Common Schools. As yet, the opponents Of
Common Schools have spoken at the Catholic
laity of these States rather than for them.
We believe the existence, popularity and use
fitness of our Schools have more 20 fear this
day from Protestant assumption than from
Catholic bigotry, and il is to this point that our
thoughts are most anxiousy directed. The
very air of this Union fosters the spirit of in-
dependence, and no clerical effort, however
skillful or strenuous, can withdraw the great
body of the children of Catholics from our
Schools, provided they are there treated as
they ought to be. But when We hear it glibly
assumed that this is a Protestant cOuntry-that
the Catholic is here an alien religion-or
any thing which involves the notion that
the Catholics have not as good and
exactly the same rights here as any
other portion of the community-or that
their children may justifably be taught from
books, or made TO take part in religious exer-
cises eyincing hostility to their Fath-it is
then that We tremble for the cause of Popular
Education. We urge all intelligent friends Of
Common Schools to watch and guard this, the
point Of real danger The Catholic Faith is
not tolerated in this country for the idea of
merely tolerating any religion is at war with
our political system-much less are Catholics
permitted TO worship God as their consciences
dictate because OF the services done US by
Catholic swords, as has been too often mis-
takenly asserted-but every American citizen
and law-abiding resident Of our Country has a
perfect legal as well as moral right to worship
God as he sees fit secured TO him by our Fede-
raj Constitution. If the Catholics of Spain
and Italy were to roast all the Protestants
they could CATCH that deplorable circumstance
would afford no valid excuse whatever for the
treatment of Catholic citizens Of this country
otherwise than as the equals of all others in
every civil and political right.
Friends Of Universal Education be who
Affords fair preteIt for Catholic jealousy of
our Schools as sectarian and proselyting is,
however well-meaning, virtual and deadly
enemy TO your cause. We have precluded
all tyranny in this country but the tyranny Of
MajOrities-letu US be careful that that is never
permitted TO worm itself into the sacred do
main of Religious Equality and Freedom