The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-02-21
Politics and Religion.

Every days experience confirms US in
the belief, that The objects and aims Of
Know Nothingism is to assist the fallen for
tunes Of a political party. This is the more
manifest when we take into consideration
the elements at work in different places in
the Union.
No scheme could have been devised
better calculatedt to arouse the people, than
onsswhioh strikes their religious prejudi.
oss. Once eonvincAthem that their relig.
ion is in danger and you excite an elc-
ment that will Garry with it more force
than al others combined.
Bat 10 it true that there is any danger Of
the Catholics becoming the domin an, par
~ or .domin ant religion of this country :?
No., Numerically they are SO infinitely
weaker than the Protestant denominations,
~ shown by the census of 1850, that to
fear any such state Of things is utterly RI
dieulous.a And the party OF sect that urges
aocassiens to the Know Nothings. on the
ground of the danger to be apprehended
from ths Catholics, at the same time know.
Ing their true relative strength, does so
for the sole purpose Of deceiving the peo.
pleE; and We envy not the morals of the
sman who would use any such arguments.
The census. Of 1850, exhibits the fact tha.
there is. in this coan,ry, but about one
Catholic to every tpenty Inhabitants f!
But look at this matter in another light.
In some places Where it is feared that The
Know Nolhings canao, gain the ascen-
dency without the aid Of foreigners. Cath.
olicism is made the bugbear, and foreign
Protestants IRE induced to support the
Know Nothing candidates, as they did in
very many places in New York, at the
last election. At other places, when they
cannot succeed without the aid of the
Aalics, as in Maryland, they SO modify
~.as 10 adnn; n alive. born Catho.
.-aer. What a glorious
Anow Nothingism is An
sspaper has the following:
1ne Baltimore Patriot says that by a
modification OF its rules. Catholics. native.
born, are admitted into the Know Nothing
order in Baltimore"
The Patriot, it will be remembered, is
An old Wing paper. So much then for
lbs consistency Of this order. lis a per.
feet humbug, gotten up to foist men in
10 Office, who never had, nor never would
have had, sufficient merit Of their own to
rsach office by bold, open and manly
course.
But suppose their real object is opposi.
ton TO political Catholicism and that their
true Posl,ion, as laid down in their plat
form, is "War to the hilt on political Ro-
msnism," how many besides Know Moth
ings could subscribe TO that par, Of ,heir
platfsrfni We can say. in all canior and
seriousness, "War 10 the hilt on political
Romanism.'' SO also can we say, and
with equal sincerity. "War to the hilt on
p0litieel Meihodism," or TO any political
religion. But we are not Of those who
would make war, by legislation. on one
religion for the purpose of building up an.
eibsr religion on lis downfall. LIE, all re-
igions have equal protection under the
Constitution and laws. Le. Congress once
oonsrayene that provision Of the Constitu.
iion which says, Congress shall make no
Law respecting an establishment Of relig.
ion, or prohibiting The free exercise there.
of, !" and our Government becomes a fail.
4ure and our Declaration Of Independence
. mockery.