Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-11-08
From the Front Royal lya.) zion's Advocate.
TIE CATHOLIC QUESTION.

The public mind is much agiated at the
present crisis upon the subject of Catholic
supremacy in the Uuitcd States and so
formidable has "HoIy Mother" become in
the Gland Of the free, and the home of the
brave" in the estimation Of many of our
citizens, that the ordinary mode of war
iare-argument and free discussion-is
considered entirely too inefficient 10 arrest
the progress of the old lady, and hence se-
cret societies have been formed TO operate
against her.
With this subject, politically, we have
nothing to do in the Advocate, but in its
bearings upon the church, and as nciden.
tally embraced in its history, we have
something TO say; and viewing il in all
its length and breadth, according 10 the
strength Of our vision, we frankly confess
that we see nothing to warrant the cry Of
alarm and awful ioreboding of the "Au
10 Da Ee," and inquiSiti0n, that seem
to be coming up from every quarter. We
do not appear as the advocate, nor even
the apoIogsts, Of the Catholics. As reL.
g1onlaS they appear bad in history, and
judging of the future by the past, and with
their plea of intall5Jiiity, we feel perfectly
safe in assuming that they seek, and mast
allcayS seek, 10 obtain the reins Of govern.
menl, and that whenever and wherever
they succeed they will persecute all dis.
senters; but in this they do nothing more
than PrOteStantS have always done when
similarly situated for we submit this as
truIsm, sustained 10 all faithful occlesi.
teal history, THAT ANY DENOMINATION
THAT WOULD SEEK FOR OR AGREE TO A
UNION WITH THE STATE WOULD PERsE-
CUTE ALL NoN.CoNFoRNIIsTs, IF THEY had
THE POWER. The very fact that they are
willing TO form such an inceStuous connex-
ion shows the prevalence Of the same spir-
it that was in her who rode upon the scar.
let.colored beast, and within whose Dor.
ders was found the blood of the saints,
though it may be under the imposing name
of Pr0teStaatS.
The "Estabished Church Of England
prosecuted dissenters in this country, when
the colonies were under the Crown, even
10 stripes, Imprisonment, and death, which
is but the legitimate fruit of the Union oil
Church and State, no matter when or by
what name II is formed and the spirit is
as cleyerly and as distinctly developed
without such establishment, as under if
when one order is found Systematically
| prosecuting another on account of their
religious sentiments; and this is now be.
| isg done alike by Catholics and Protcs-
tants, if we may credit the current news.
paper reports of the day; and therefore
there is little TO choose between them as
P0pSSh Catholics or Popish PyOteStaatS ;
they are of Kindrd spirit, though Of dil.
ferent names, and hostile 10 each other
The church Of Christ, however, has nev.
er prosecuted any for dissenting from
her views, and never will and any spirit
that would persecute even a Catholic, or
an avowed infdel, and deny TO him his
just rights and privileges as a citizen in
this country, is anti-Chrstan.
No religious test shall be raised against
any man under the constitution of the Uni.
ted States and the Catholics, therefore,
have the same rights here as the most ia.
vored, and none have any right TO inter
fere with them on account OF their religion.
The plea Of retaliation will not avail the
Protestant, for, as he condemns the Cath.
OlicS for prosecuting dissenters, he has no
right to allowin himself what he condemns
! in others and no necessity can ever arise