The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-07-05
TOLERAT'ION.

the question CT Catholic Emancipation. MIR.
Smith, the author Of this letter, was an emf.
nent English Protestant clergyman, and
known in the literary world, as one among
the foremost scholars and the ablest writers
Of bis, day. We commend the letter to the
careful consideration of the thoughtful ard
refecung Of all parties and evefy creed:
Our government is called essentially Prot
es,ant; but if it be essentially Protestant in
the imposition of taxes, it should be essen
TALLY Protestant in the distribution of offices.
The treasury is open TO all religions, Paria-
ment only 10 one. The tax-galherer Is the
most indulgent and liberal of human beings
| he excludes no creed, imposes no articles /;
bu, counts Catholic cash, pockets Protestant
paper; and is candidly and imparlially op-
pressive 10 every description of the Chiistian
world. Can any thing be more base than
| when you want the blood or the money OF
the Catholic, 10 forget that they are Catho-
lies, and 10 remember only that they are
British subjects; and when they ask for the
berefts of the British Constitution, 10 re-
member only that they are British subjects
No Popery, was The cry of The great Eng
| ish Revolution, because the increase and
prevalence of Popery in England would, at
that period, have rendered this island tribu-
tary to France. The Irish Catholics were at
that period, broken 10 pieces by the severity
ard military execution Of Cromwell, and BY
the penal laws. They are since become a
great and formidable people. The same
dread of foreign influence makes it now me-
cessary that they should be restored 10 po-
litical rights Must the friends of national
liberty Join in clamor against the Catholics
now, because, in a very different state of the
world, they excited that clamor hundred
years ago? | remember a house near Bat
tersea Bridge which caught fire, and there
was general cry of "Water, wa,erw Ten
years after, the Thames rose, and the people
of The house were nearly drowned. Would
il not have been rather singular TO have said
| 10 The inhabitants, Il heard you calling for
water ten years ago, why don't you call for it
nowG
There are some men who link The pres.
ent times SO incapable of forming any opin-
ions, that they are always looking back 10
/ the wisdom OF our ancestors. Now, as the
Catholics set in the English parliament TO The
reigh of Charles II. and in the Irish Psria-
men,, believe, till lhe reign of King Will
lam, the precedenis are more in their favor
than otherwise and 10 replace them in Par
lament seems rather 10 return 10, than TO de-
viate from, The practice of our aucestors.--
| We are tainted with our propheiical spir-
it, because j; is said by the advocates of the
Catholic question that The thing must come
TO pass; that il is inevitable: our prophecy,
however, is founded upon experience and
common sense, and is nothing more than the
application of the past to The future. In a
few years time, when The madness and wretch
edness of war are forgotten, when the great
er part OF those who have lost in war, legs
and arms, health and sons, have gone 10 their
graves, The same sceues will be acted over
again in the world. France, Spain, Russia
and America, will be upon u.s. The Catho-
lies will watch their opportunity, and soon
settle the question Of Catholic emancipation.
To suppose that any nation can 60 on in The
midst Of foreign wars, denying common JUS
tlce 10 seven millions of men, in the heart Of
the empire, awakened TO thei. situation, and
watching for the critical moment OF redress,
does, confess, appear 10 me 10 be the height
of extravagauce. To foeriell the consequence
oil such causes, in my humble apprehension
demands no more of shrewdness thar 10 point
out the probable results of leaving lighted
candle stuck up in an open barrel of sunpow-
| der.
II is very difficult 10 make the. mass oi
mankind believe that the stale OF things is
ever TO be Otherwise than they have been
accustomed 10 see il. | have very often heard
old persons describe The impossibility o! ma.
king any one believe that the American Col
onies could ever be separated from this coun
try. 1t was always considered as an idle
dream OF discontented politicians, goot
enough to fill up the periods OF speech, bu
which no practical man, devoled TO the spir
OF party, considered TO be within the limits o.
possibility. There was period when the
slightest concession would have satisfied the
Americans but all the world was in heroics
one sci Of gentlemen met at The Lamb, anc
another at the Lion blood and treasure men
breathing war, vengeance, aud contempt
and in eight years afterwards, an awkward
looking gentleman in plain clothes walkst
upon the drawngroom of ST. James's, in the
midst of the gentlemen of Tie Lion and Lamb
and was introduced as the ambassador from
the United States Of america.
Because The Catholics are intolerant ,DiH 10,
be intolerant: but did any body ever hear be
fore that any government is 10 initiate the
vices its subjects? II the Irish were rash
violent, and incorporate race, are they to bs
treated with rashness, violence, and intem
perance ! Ifthey were addicted to fraud ant
falsehood, are they 10 be treated by thos'