Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-11-22
NUMBER 8.
From TIE Ne,o York Express.

There are two ways certain class OF sophigts
have Of making out "case.' One is, by telling
part of the truth onlyhat is to say, just so much
as may suit the purpose Of the pleader,--and the
other by suggesting yet carefully, not utterng, in
direct terms, things that untrue. Upon super
fetal readers listeners, this species Of sophisry
often makes impression; but with the intelli-
gent it should never be permitted to pass unchal-
lenged. 1t is not considered an honorable mode
OF warfare II Is not often that men Of honor or
character stoop TO resort to It, What arc known
here as Tombs' lawyers, sometimes practice it and
4 occasionally the unscrupuous demagoguism of the
stump Is open to the charge. But lecturers on
story-churchmen--men who set up to be apos-
ties Of truth and models Of propriety are the last
in the world we should expect to find among the
guilty
Bishop Spalding Of Kentucky, delivered lee
turc on History at Cincinnati the other day, the
main object of which, II would SEEM was to de-
monstrate that Roman Catholicism, in all ages,
was to be found on the side of national freedom
and popular rights Now, we have no objection
to the reverend gentleman's placing his church
in as fair position, present. as the records of
the past will permit. We are not going to have
.polemical discussion with him-polemics being
out Of place In a daily newspaper-but as history
is thing in which it is important to keep free
from false colorings and illegitmate interpoa-
tions, we will be permitted word or two Of dis
sent. According to the report of his discourse
asserting that l#
"All the principles Of constitutional law, trial
by jury, habeas corpus, and representation before
/ taxation, were not derived from Professionalism
but three hundred years before the Reformation
dawned were circulated and trumphantly main
tanned in England by the assembled Catholic
barons, headed by Cardinal Stephen Langton."
precious estimate, indeed, must the reverend
gentleman have of the intelligence of his hearers
when he ventures unqua6edly statement OF this
characterl The veriest tyro in English history
knows-Bishop Spalding knows--every man, wo-
man, and child that knows anything at all, knows
that the Magma Charta, wrung by those barons,
from King John, at Runnymede, was annulled IAN
nulled we say by the Pope Of Rome, IA Bonitace,
we think it was,) the fountain head and supreme
authority the Roman Church. Nay, more it is
equally good history that a Bull of ercommunica-
tion was Illuminated against King Philip of France,
and his son Louis because they had Jared to espouse
the cause of the barons in quesion. The histo-
rians have not enlightened us, with much defni-
tiveness, as to whether the barons we're all Catho-
lies or not.
Indeed, their "reigion" does not appear TO have
been much thought Of at the time, but as every
body was some sort of Catholic in those days of
darkness, it is cheerfully conceded that the Bar
ons, like Langton, all owed allegiance to Rome
The fact, however, cannot he gainsayed, that the
cause they cspoused against the yacillatng and
| tyrannical john was very good Protestant cause,
and, as such, 1t is not surprising that the Pope
should have launched against IL the thunders of the
Vatican. The great charter, nevertheless, stood
the fire we--it had principles in il that were not
to be crushed out by the Supreme Head of the
church--principles, many Of them, which lie at the
| basis of the liberties which England and America
enjoy at this day. We have objection to Bishop
| Spaldings claiming the Barons Catholics--but
we must insist that the next time he lectures, to
| go n little further, and tell the whole truth
II I,ah thatyI Ia
Pope
/ There is one other point in this lecture of Bishop
Spalding's which exhibits like misrepresentation.
or rather perversion, of history. 1t is this
at had been said the power of the Pope was
unlimited and extended beyond the spiritual and
that Catholics were the subjects of Pope not
merely in spiritual but in temporal things even 20
far as to effect their allegiance TO the government
under which they live. But this not the doc
trine nor the discipline of the Catholic Church, as
has been announced clearly and officially, not mere
| ly in this country, but throughout the world Out
side Of the Immediate Roman States the Pope has
great power indeed but beyond his small States
he has no power to control the civil allegiance of
any individual. This was proclaimed, not only by
/ the Roman Catholics Of this country, but ia Eu-
rope When the Catholic Relief Bill was before
the British Parliament, William Pitt sent agents to
all the Catholic Universities to know the doctrine
on the subject and the answer was, that the Popes
jurisdiction was confined to spiritual matters This
satisfied the Parliament, and the Relief Bill was
passed. yet the shrewd Republicans of this country
had recently walked up to the awful danger to the
country, from the overshadowing power Of the
Sovereign Pontif"
1 The "Church" may profess one thing, but GER
tain it is its professions not always consistent
with its practices. The mission of Bedin TO this
country certainly not one confined to matters
simply spiritual" On the contrary, did he not at
tempt TO exercise, on behalf of foreign potentate,
the right to adudicate in the St. Louis church
property case, matter with which only the laws
and legislation Of the State Of New York had prop.
erly 20 do? The controversy between Bishop IT.
mon and the trustees had no reference 10 church
doctrine church discipline. IL related TO lots of
| ground, bricks and mortar, and TO the possessor-
ship Of deeds and titles to certain real estate not
to masses, nor sacraments, nor penances, nor in
| dulgences, nor anything Of the sort These things
happened among US, but yesterday, as it were and
\ constitute history" that even Bishop Spading's
audience cannot have forgotten.
And now, that We are on history--past history,
we may be pardoned an additional observation.
The Church Of Rome proposes to be infallibe.
"Inalible" means not to fail "not capable of
error" Hence the infallble church of to-day, was
the inf,lhble church from the beginning Bishop
Spalding says II is all mistake TO suppose the
power Of the Popes, out Of their own Italian do
minions, Is anything but spiritual How, then,
came Pope Alexander iii TO have King Louis, Of
France, and Henry III, Of England, submissively
holding his stirrups at the Castle Of Torci Was
that Spiritual penance? Why was Frederick
compelled to PROSTATE himself before Pope Adrian
Nv, aud lead the palfry whereon he rodeg Was
that spiritual" too2 But why further citations
Of facts that are as common as household words
II is true, as the Bishop says that the Catholic
universities did at the time, and under the circum-
stances alluded 10, give assurance that the Popes
jurisdiction was only spiritual one--but then
| the recent attempts Of Rome to exercise on Eng
| lsh soil an influence" Of another kinda terrific
rial Misunderstanding to the passage Of what is
known as the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, demon
strates again. the wide difference there often is be-
tween profession and practice.
MAsoNs MUST NOT FIGHr.--According to the
Masonic Register, the following resolution has
| passed the Grand Lodge Of California