Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-05-24
Political Romanism

/ This is the great bug bear set up TO frighten
the good people of that part of the Union in
which the Protestant sects are largely in the
ascendant, in fellowship with Know Nothing
ism. All the papers devoted to the advocacy
of this new phrase of bigotry and intolance,
| have been earnest in their warnings against
the encroachments of the priesthood Of the
Roman Catholic Church in the political affairs
ofthe country, though strange to say,they have
never vet found space for a word ofcondemna-
ton against the many clergymen Of the Prot
sstant faith, who, in Massachusetts. and in
deed, throughout New England, have taken
so active and prominent a part In political
questions, and who, on one at least have gone
so sar as repeatedly and eloquently to coun-
sci riot, murder and treason against the law
of the United States.
| We believe that there are upwards Of tif-
ty ministers Of the gospel in the legislature oil
Massachusetts, which has, during the past few
months distinguished itself more than any
other legislative body which ever met on this
side of the Atlantic, by acts offanaticism, big
otry md intolerance. Still, the Know Moth
| ing journals have never uttered a single word
of condemnation on the unchristian and unpa-
triotic course ofthese men. They were Prot
estants, and as they did not acknowledge the
supremacy OF the Pope, their interference in
political matters, and their undisguised at-
tempt 10 control the acts OF their congrega-
tions in political questions, were quite natural.
But let jealous or suspicious man raise the
cry that Catholic priest or bishop has inter-
fered even remotely III any public question !;
and Immediately these vigilant guardians of
American liberty become dreadfully al umed
and keenly sensitive to the impropretics of
such conduct; and their readers are told, in
solemn tones, that the country and its consti-
tuition are in the most imminent danger of
being at once brought TO the footstool of RO-
manism, and its boasted liberties sacrificed 10
the lust of dominion on the part of the Pope.
One of the most prominent objects of attack
on the part Of these inconsistent fanatics nas
been John Hughes, the Archbishop of New
York, and unquestionably lnan of very SUI
perior intellect Were half that the sheets,
which sport at their heads portraits of Wash
ingtou, draped with the American flag, and
bedecked with such notices as Americans
should rule America" or I" Put none but ma
tives on guard tonight" put forth true, we
should be forced to the conclusion that the
special mission of this same ecclesiastic is 10
reduce this free and proud republic to a state
of vassalage to the poor old priest who now
wears the tiara of Rome, and to his successors.
To be sure, the vigilant guardians OF liberty
and Professionalism do not vouchsafe any
proof of their assertions, the willing credulity
of many Of their readers making such formal
ity wholly unnecessary. We have not, how
ever, been able to bring our minds to the con-
clusion that there il any truth in all these
charges SO far from it, indeed that we are
convinced that they are simply part Of a
system of trickery and deception, by which
the unscrupulous and ambitious clergy of
some of the Protestant sects wish to ride into
precisely the same state of power in secular
matters, which they accuse the Catholic
priesthood of aspiring to.
At any rate, Protestant though we be, we
are sure that neither Archbishop Hughes nor
any other Catholic prelate or priest is any whit
more ambitious of political power and infiu
ence than sf. Theodore Parker and the whole
brood of political Protestant parsons who in-
feet the country from Maine to Louisiana;
and we are confident that his disclaimer of
any such design is entitled to as much credit
as any which his opponents may put FORTH
Tn,Iieiooo nnuyssr