Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-05-02
From the Richmond Euoi,irer, !,
Kuownothiugism aud Catholicism

or prOiund philosophy. person may diS-
cover that Know NoIhingism rests upon
the vicious principles and practices, the
very denominations with which the Catho.
lie Church is reproach, d by its enc mics.
1t is true both in logical aud hislori
cal sense, that Protestantismywa was a revolt
against the moral despotism Of the Catho,
lie hierarchy. The church Of Rome, at
frit simple in its ritual, pure in It's faith,
and spiritual in its aspirations, in time de-
coratcd itself with barbaric pomp Of ce-
TemOniHl, and got corrupted BY tue world
ly passion OfapOiilical ambition. The ig-
rance, the debasement and the disorders
Of the Middle Age, favored the preten,
siOns OF the Church as men sought re.
fuge under its wing from the rage VI an
arch and the oppression of violence. We
speak as a Protestant when we affirm,
that the dominion Of the Church Of Rome
in the dark ages, if not in itself leyimate
and compatible with the spirit Of christi
a. ity. was political continuance OF i'm,
menSe advantage to mankind and 10 the
cause Of civilization. We make this as
Serlon ON the authority Of the accurate
and dI passionate RAu6e. and We are sup
ported III the position by the facts of his
iory. The spiritual sway Of papacy mi
u5"ted the terOci'y oil leu laI tyranny, and
put bride on the savage pHs>i rs Ul un
cultivated man. There was no jus ice but
within the precincts vi The san. tIary, H.
religion out of the confession Il, 10 learn
lug beyond the shades Of the ciUiSter.-
The hopes OF humanity were preserve
from drI"5r more destructive than that
which swept away the traces Of antrade-
IuVInn existence, and The church WIS the
ark IN which The seeds Of civilization were
saved from the raging elements Of uni
Ncrsai vlUIctce and dan knesS.
Fer 'hls great service Humanity must
thank the MtAiRva Church.. But the
Church issued from the conflict with pride
inflated. ambition stimuli ted. and with an
immense accession OF political power.-
Men recognized til if obligation to the
Church. and IT. IN IL feeling of gratitude
as welt Us supersliui"ns dIcad, OF its pow
or, contributed sill farther to its awyran-
cizement. The uncIean spirit took pos
session vi the Church, dcbAsed us holy
nature, aad perverted its high purpose.
IL became Corrupt, in propOIlIu as it be-
came rich, and frrsVcut NJ rs it yOt TO be
powerful. it arr ,yAlvd absolute SoVer.
Eighty over the mind and conscience OF
men. aud established the dread mAchine-
~ OF The lnqulsltuu to enforce conforms
-ty to It's creed and obedience to IFS will.
But the CUnSCIepce aud the reason Of men
rrvolItd against tie DIES pUtism Of the
Church, and Martin Luther raised cry
for the LIBERTY OF Private JUDGkMENr.-
He asserted the Independence OF the rea
son aud conscience al the udividual mas
ngainS the dlcalion Of councils and the au-
thuIitv OF the Pope. And he conquered
The living principles of Professionalism
are perfect freedom Of conscience. anI th~
sovereign Of The individual reason. Bat
the Catholic Church too wuS cleanSed ui
many of its impurities by the spirit Ut the
Reformation, and its pride AID power
have melted before the progressive c.vi!i
cation OF the age.
In every aspect Know Nothingi>m is
pre- PosIerUus movement. Affecting an
apprehension OF hlcrarchial domination. it
"Ss"is a church which prOplidtcs pity by
It's very weakness and hUpelesSnvs&. De.
claiming against an alliance OF Church
ani State. /! drag1 rel zion into the arena
OF Pc ltio<, an! promotes the interests OF
party by lnHAmAtory appeals 10 The pi"u>
prrIn lic"S Oi Pro cStautS. Dcnouncing
the "insidious policy" and spiritual drs
pot<m OF The Papncy.it practice, expedI-
rnIs of craft and lmpOslure from which IL
Jesuit would revolt, and enIorces IL sub
mis>ivc obedienc,: TO its will with The cru
81 Intolerance OF AN Inqui>itor
Professionalism is. in It's UIi in and es
sential idea, revolt against an vxternn.
duminAii0U over the reason and cunSci
: l,, II W.
NUthinyINr prcrrndS To serve Tive nter
CA'S ui pIU:catan.I>m. by an organization
which uSutps absolute sway over the
mind. aud TX iclx the most rigid conlnrn
~ 10 the SUPP. me will of the Order NJ
stronger Contrast Can exist. than between
the liberal spirit OF genuine chrisIitnIty,'
which clevnlrs and crnobles the indi,i
dual With a sense vi infinite responsibility
and consciousness Of absolute control
over his destiny, and the stern IespotIsm
OF an OrS"nlz9 lIon, which strips is vovn-
ri"s Of tItelr manhood, denies TO them the
pero GpUYr Of Tree Thought and free speech
AMI DintS them To passive obedience TO
the IN III !"tes of 4 superior power.
We do not miSconcclVe the nature OF
kn"w- Nnthin,l~m It's essential idea is
the >uhjectiOn Vi the Individual to the will
OF the Order. Before mi ttlun he binds
himself hy oath. in nY M;"yy p M'cot ""d
s'cl"L. /" comply u III the wtH II tie Orler.
A"rr mia ''l"n. lie i, the ahj"ct slave "1
The Or!rr. ANA cannot escape from hi
lag vi bout tie consent vi tie y der.
TINS Il rhe l"rl"r of it's constr u',"n: the
Air"nl Coun ii shuY hsre potre' To- dectde
"fo" "H NJ" te"s "Ppsrtu'"'"y to -N"tio"
PuLhrS. InuS iLr inhIlIIu, member
ba'tvr1 F~Ny his iAI"peu4 mt j.! smeut.
and IN all nat er 0Ppe'tatni'g 10 national
pol A'S binds himself /" submit nthe die
llCtLLllM Of In. GrnnL C2mmcil -