The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-02-08
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close. I have fairly and fully me the 40.
cusations made by The honorable gentleman
from Massachusetts, against the church Of
which I am a member. Step after step hs
reireated, until he had planted himself on
the Bishop Of Rome ; and there he chal.en.
ged, the citation Of a single disavowel on
the part of the Poniiff, that he claimed
temporal power over the subjects of other
Governments. Step by step l have followed
him, and'concluded The array Of e~isavowals
by a presentation 10 thus committee of an
explicit denial on the part OF the Pope thai,
any such authority or right Was claimed by
the Church or by him.
Mir. Chairman, 10 the warnings expressed
here, and the nervous apprsheusions expires.
sed abroad, that the prevalence of the Cath
ollie religion will be dangerous to the coun-
try, | have only 10 say, that we Of this coun-
Try ARE in nc. danger from Catholicity, Epis-
copacy, Ca~lvinism, Luiheranism, or other
form of Christianity. Sir, Christianity in
any form is better than infidelity and Aihe.
ism. And Atheism is nov at work, as it
even has been busy, against The Christian
faith and Christian prohibitions. 1t asssils
The Romar Catholic first, because that creed
is more extensive, and without con idering
The evil which each is doing TO religion
Christian men are yielding themselves, un.
consciously, co.workers with infdeli'y by
their active hostility 10 each other.
Mr. Chairman, il this country is 10 fall by
any other means than ordinary decay or 10
cal commissions, ii is not Christianity, not the
Christianity Of Geneva, Rome, Scotland, or
Highland, that will produce the ruin. The
mischief will be wrought by infdeliIy.-
Sapping frs, the confidence Of the people
in each other, undermining the foundation
of C hristian charity, breaking the bonds Of
socIaIl liGe, relaxing The lies of moral obliga-
tians, setting creeds in hostile attitudes, till
there is nothing lett for hostility, And bring
ing down the whole scheme OF domestic, so.
cial, and political life 10 the plane and ends
of socialists and atheists, who laugh al The
existence OF a God, aud seek their tfiumphs
in the obliteration OF the docttias and leach
ings OF Christ.
Mr.. Chairman | have !orborne to-day all
relalia,ory imputa,ions, all irritating com
parsons, and confined myself 10 a refutation
Of charges made against men Of the Roman
Catholic creed. | have not sough: this con-
test, but, for the sake of honor, of truth, OF
myself and my C .relisionists, for The sake
of the institution and The Constitution of my
county, | could moi decline it. have eva
ded no point, nor attempted 10 darken coun-
sci. | have me. a charge fairly, csndidly,
and ~trulhfully. have dealt in no street ru-
mors. have confded in no idle gossip. !
have adduced no testimony not of my own
knowledge, or from those who are authori-
zed TO speak TO The question at issue, and
with reference thereto, with my hand upon
my heart, and my eye on Heaven, call this
House, and ( I speak with reverence call
nv God TO witness the truth of all The asser-
tions made from my W convictions and
knowledge, and my entire confidence in the
.credibility of all the testimony which have
.adduced from others.
NoTE-The Foreign Quarterly for January,
1896, says:-"In The eleventh century the
LPapacy fought The Battle OF Freedom"