The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-10-12
THE SAME OLD ROME.


tFrom the New York Mrror.I
The Pnpal Hierarchy is nctuated to-day by
the same sanguinary spirit which sent John
lluss to the stake, put Calico to the torture,
because he would not rccant his problem of
the earths revolution, prosecuted Luther and
his co.martyrs to the death, and led to Span
ioh Inquisition the massacre Of St. Blrtholo-
new, and all the blood stained prosecutions
of the Middle Ages. 1t changes not. Its
ruling passion is cruelty and death to all
dissenicrs and hcrctic>, all who dare TO OPP
pose the infnlibiIity of the "lloly See" The
only difference between P"pcry in the nine
teenth and P,prry in the fifteenth century,
is merely difference of power. The Hlier.
arcliy is as blood thirsty MS ever, but il has
lost the asccndancy that enabled it 10 dictate
to rhristcndom in past nges. Like Samson,
il has been shorn of the locks of its strength
The liberal spirit of Protestant christianity
has taken this giqut from his dread rul throne,
aud Frustrated him TO the level Of other men.
The Pope Of Rome is no longer the terrible,
vcngc!u successor of St. Peter, who made
kings aud people trcmhlc during many
centuries, but was unable 10 withstand the
simple energy Of Luther and Melnncthon,
armed with the potency OF truth. His power
is vastly abatcd, but the spirit Of the Church,
over which he prrsides, is the same as 1t
ever was, and ever will be-, while the Papacy
endures.
One simple Illustration of this fact which
we select from hundreds of daily occurrence,
is 10 be found in the recent attempt of the
Holy See to deepen the cowardly vnssalage
Of SPIN To the sanguinary spirit Of Rome
Spain has ever been the obsequious tool of
the Pope-has always enjoyed, from the days
of the Inquisition, the right To be considered
the most persistent defender of the Faith"
among the Catholic Powers of Europe. But
even Spain has failed to meet the wishes of
Rome, and has been fiercrly attacked by the
latter. The contest has recently assumed II
formidable shape, and called forth from the
Spanish Government an elaborate defence,
from hich we make the following extract:
although this is not the first time that the
Holy See has given to its merely economic
and administrative affairs purely religious
character, and thus disturbed the public con.
SCIENCE and though it is well known that
Spain has never ceased to be necessary 10
descend to the rcfutation of so uutoundcd
charge. They regret that the present time
should be chosen for such an acl which is Likely
to he turned to account by the enemies of
public order and Of the established throne to
excite disturbance in Spain, ard thus add to
the complications which already exist in the
west of Europe. The Government deny, in
the most formal manner, that the concordat
alluded to by the Nuncio has been violated by
them, and they quote, in proof of the f'cl,'le
second basis OF the new constitution, in vir-
tues Of which : the nation ubligcs itself to
maintain and protect the worship and the
ministers of the Catholic religion as profess
cd by the Spanish people; but that no Span
lard nor stranger can be prosecuted for his
opinions or faith, so long us he docs not eX-
press them by means of public acts contrary
to religion 1t is evident that the cause Of
offence to the papa Government is this de-
claraton of non persecution for mere opin-
IONS not betrayed by external acts; but the
government deny that they deserve to be
considered otherwise than Catholic, merely
because they are tolerant. Other Catholic
governments. to whom the Holy See is even
more indebted than Spain, do more than
this, aud yet are not pronounced anti-Cutho'
lc.'
Is il not remarkable proof of the tolcr-
ant spirit Of Protestant nations, that while
Rome still persists in prosecuting Christians,
and even stirs mp well-dsposed Catholic
countries like Spain, to forbid, under severe
penalties, not only the free worship of God
but the entertainings "mere opinions not
betrayed by external arts"--in all countries
where the Protestant religion is dominant,
Roman Catholics enjoy the utmost liberty of
conscience. 1t is time that Independent na-
tions demanded from the Papal See, the
right of their citizens, whether residing in
Rome, or in airy country under the DONNA
ton of the Pope, to worship God according
to their own conscience, and free from Papal
interference, whatever their religion may be.
We rejoice to find the Spanish Government
asserting its Independence of Rome, and pro-
ceeding to destroy the prcrogalives Of the
Romish Priests and Converts on the ques
ton Of church property. Spain has been the
victim of the Hierarchy from the earliest
times, and her present attitude is entitled to
the sympathy of the world. One by one, in
quick succession, the buwarks Of the Pa
pacy give way; the detection of priest rid
den Spain is not least among the signs of the
times.
eB-rhe Ohio State journal notices the
peach crop of Mr. Loughry, whose farm is on
the Ohio river, in Adams county Ten years
ago he set out eleven acres with the choicest
varieties of the peach, the orchard being the
top of high hill overlooking the river. The
journal says:
We learn from him that his eleven acres of
peaches this year will bring him the substan.
tial sum of five thousand dollars, or nearly
five hundred dollars Per acre. AT the pres.
ent time, when ordinary peaches are selling