American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-05-31

sential 10 the well-being of society, and
which The laws ought TO enforce. But
these are such as all religions enjoin, and
the observance Of which cannot interfere
with any sane mans conscience. Buthave .
the Know-Eothings interfercd with the
right of RomaniSts openly TO profess tbe
dogmas of their Church, 10 propagate their |
faith by public teaching, and TO worship \
Col accoding TO the forms prescribed 10y /
/ their Church? How then do tbey perse- |
cute, or propose TO persecute, the Roman
I lists? We lave not heard it alleged that
the order have intimated the slightest de-
sign to restrain them in regard TO the pub
lie profession, or teaching, or exercise OF
their religion; and hence the cry of per-
secution is not only unjust, but absurd.
We are nota member ofthe Know Moth
ing order, and as their proceedings are
said to be secret, and their members indi
vldually enjoined 10 secrecy, we can know
nothing ofMeir doings but what have been
publicly announced by those they author
ize to publish them, or by those who, in
| 'iOAo'iOh Va NbtlA NOllpdSNoy IhNN fiOiNoSOu
to do so; and in all that has so gained pub
licity we have seen nothing which inter-
feres with the rights of conscience in re-
spect TO any denomination or sector which
indicates a disposition to persecute any
one for his religious belief, however pub
= licly expressed. aH
e If we understand the purpose and de-
: sign of the organization OF the Know
o Nothings, as publicly announced, it is to
: resist the encroachments of O foreign in
!, Guence, which has been fearfully aug
: menting for some years past, and which
e is, from variety of causes, dangerous to
g the permaneucy of our republican institu-
l. tions. The immense immigration of for
: eigners to our shores, chiefly illiterate, and
l. bringing with them opinions and feelings
d derived from associations and usagcs en-
g. tirely different from those which exist a
,e mong us, and wholly unacquainted with
i the very theory of our government, they
se are admitted, after very short term, tc
$, the right of suffrage; and enter fercely in
a to all the elections for Legislators and gov
n ernors-and even for that of president o
the republic-without any just concep
w tons of 'liberty regulated by law" bu
ELL with nations of civil freedom which are
e, impatient of all law and which have de
of fcated every effortto establish and perpetu
es ate republicanism in every part of Europ,
he where the experiment has been made; and
z, in South America, where the experimen
ms has been tried for more than thirty years
he Surely this foreign element would be n
Y, dangerous here as elsewhere, if it shoul
ct come to possess the power producing
IS awless anarchy which leaves people n
be other refuge but in absolute despotism.
ed Now we readily admit, and are glad t.
M admit, that these remarks do not apply Il
VS. all immigrants who seek to better thel
n condition by finding home in this coun
nd try. Many of them are intelligent anc
in moral and capable of estimating the valu
gs of our institutions. They are often fount
in our schools and colleges, directing tn
We pursuits of scientific knowledge, at tn
to head of successful manufacturing estab
we lishments and mercantile pursuits; but val
on liable and numerous as these are, they con
10 stitute but an infnitesimal proportion @
Ct the ignorant, vicious masses which Eu
ry rope, from an overburdened stomach, Vom
I," its upon our shores, and who threaten
in overwhelm us by their daily increasln
ro- numbers.
.ge But this is not all, nor the worst of it,
al A large proportion of the immigrants al
ace ignorant besotted papists, chiefly frol
1t Ireland, where the Romish priesthood e.
nto ercse not only the usual influence which
the afforded by the superstitious reverence
ed the people, who undoubtedly believe the
ny salvation depends on pricstly absolute
, in but from the national hostility to Englan
af- which is always identified with Protestan
pom ism. TO obey the priests is, therefore, n
lize only an obligation OF their religion, but
the dictate of patriotism. These come he
lied with an utter detestation of Protestar
we ism. which is only a synonyme Of Engli
md tyranny and oppression, and to resist Il
, or will of the priests would be not only to
to postatize from their religion. but to aba
as don the love OF their country. This it
of that accounts for the fact which all mu
see, that while Germans and other Cath
n lies often become Protestants in this cou
or try, and even while they remain in Il
ons Roman Catholic Church are often rebc
'se- lious and hard to manage by their priest
OF the lrlsn CatnOllcS remain IHe ausoluteNd
tu- sails of the Romish hcrarch.
) Of Under such circumstances it is easy
are see what influence the priest can exert
It'll our political elections whenever anythiI
ing is TO be gained for their Church by exc
nee eising it. When Bishop Hughes began i
ia crusade against The public schools of Il
es city, the governor and secretary of Il
, TO state, with majority of the logslatu
For were wings, and although the Irish Cath
bic lie population we're from sentiment dem
Nd Gratis, and when lett to themselves alwa
,os- voted with that party, the bishop found
act difficulty in transferring their votes to q
y a dominant party, upon the condition of +
the yor to lis project Of banishing the Bill
,hts from the public schools. He first appi
on to the common council Of the ctydor on
IAN fifth Of the money arising from tho schc
uke tax, to be appropriated under his directi
iblc to the education Of Catholic children, Sc
else arate and apart f:om those of all other
ess, nominations ; alleging that such was
Jon proportion Of the Catholic population
ans the other inhabitants of the city. He
nent not say word about the proportion of
pied school tax they paid. In another city