The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-27

gogues, who would reform the world d-and
maintain the super-excellent. character Of
christian gentlemen, whilst they use for most
enormous crimes, minions heated hy mad ia
naticism, the worst and basest OF the whole
family Of man. ~ 81
Where is the chhrch-burning to end, IN
der the auspices Of such an extended, and
powerful, and sly, and -heartless bandi All
Of your churches may lie in ruins upon the
earth. Then may your mohasteries and nun
neries share the same fate BY this time
church-burning may become fashionable, add
the hand long trained TO incendiarism may
with the same facility try his experiment up
on the Methodist churches; which, like Cath
olic churches, may be devoured by flames
But the dwellings of priests and the houses
Of Methodist preachers may endure similar
fate, as they become sub ject to the overruling
mandates of King Mob, ID Indeed, the FORE
bodings to one accustomed 10 melancholy
feelings are truly frightful. To the sober.
minded, the fearful results of such ofganiza-
tions promise no less than the overthrow of
free-government. It twas their secret politi-
cal reformation which preceded the French
Revolution, and contributed to the trophies
of Marat and Robespierre.
The results are plain and natural, and it
requires far more of fortitude than wisdom
to foresee nation of christian republicans
giving way to vandalism until she is over
come with pure barbarism, and seeks pro-
lection and pleads for quarters beneath the
hospitable throne of an absolute despotism.
1t surely requires no vast stretch OF imagina-
ton to travel back to the reign OF our Cath
olic and Protestant English Kings and
Queens, who have left nothing to posterity
but loathsome memory of their persecu-
tions inflicted upon conscientious meR for
no other crime than the voluntary worship
Of the living God. Indeed, sir, the memory
of the illustrious Calvin, has been soiIed by
the reflection of prosecutions inflicted upon
his dissenting contemporary, Servetus. New
England, both the cradle and The grave of
true liberty, destroyed the psitrait Of her
Plymouth landing by interposing the fright
full spectacle Of hanging Quakers and Bap-
lists for their opinions; and who that has
had absolute power has not thus appropria-
ted it! and with generous forgetfulness
these our mutual wrongs and sufferings are
consigndd to oblivion.
What high-minded, intelligent Catholic
or Protestant would see these scenes re-en-
acted upon the continent of America, though
they were regulated by law! Who, in the
name of liberty, would seek their introduce
ton by mob violence, under the sacred garb
of religion, wearing the sacerdotal robes OF
the temple Of God! There may be wrongs
in every ecclesiastical organization. II
they conflict with the rights of citizens the
law under cur constitution is abundantly
able to correct tie evil; if they do not con.
flict with those rights, it remains question
with man and his Maker without an inter-
vening power. ..,.
There may be wrong in our laws which
is not sufficiently scrutinizing and severe in
the prohibition of the emigration of foreign
pauper'S and foreign criminals--if that be
so, let those laws be amended, and every
honorable foreigner will rejoice in the dis
tinction which is made between virtue and
vice. That would be evelling blow, in
deed, which at one fell stroke struck down
the good with the evil, the wise with the
foolish, ndiscriminately. But such is Know
Nothngism in its inception. God only
knows the end, and may He in mercy, fore
fend us the worst.
am, my very dear sir, your sincere friend
and fellow-citizen, bound by the fratcrnal
feelings Of holy and liberal Christianity.
HENRY CLAY DEAN.