Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-28

Gentlemen neither in nor out Of Congress need
indulge In fancy sketches Of invading armies, nor
proclaim in advance the patriotism they would dis-
play upon such occasion. We leave such ro-
manclng to those who do not wish 70 deal with re-
alities. But there Is power more potent than
The sword, and more terrible than an army
with banners" 1t is the control of the mind, the
conscience, and the heart--the power 10 exact
obedience" to dogmas of religion, the observance
Of ceremonies of worship, and the authority of the
clergy, on pain of accommodation from that
Church which the I" Holy Father" declares In this
alloeutioa" is " the only ark of salvation" out
Of uhich no person eau be saUed." What Is the
consequence if member Of this Church refuses
to obey, or to belieye or even permits his mind TO
and cannot be desecrated by givinga resting place
even TO the inanimate dust ofa hereto. The bonds
ofmatrimony must be riveted by the Church, but
the Church will not lend its aid 70 unite faithfui
child to q contumacious rebel Baptism, accord
ing 70 the Church, Is regeneration, but the parent
must bow TO the authority OF his father IN GOD, or
the child must live, and perhaps die without being
received into the ark OF salvation There need
not be an open and distinct remuneration OF any
doctrine or rebellion against spiritual authority.
A skeptcal thought is sin, and must be confess
ed that Il may be atoned for by penance, for the
Church claims the power to bind and TO loose, to
forgive and to retain sin. She cannot however for
give sins of the existence of which she il ignorant
and though il may be matter Of surprise to COM
mon minds, the omniscence OF the Deity was not
communicated TO her, along with his prerogatve
Of pardon that she was left in the possession OF
a barren authority, unless she could devise some
infallible method of discovering upon what occa-
sions and in what cases her mercy should be exer-
cised. This necessity was the mother Of that stu
pendous and terrible system of espionage, than
which the human mind never devised more tho
rough despotism: the Roman Catholic confession.
al. Need any intelligent man be asked if n power
like this needs bayonets to enforce its DEGREES
What use Is there in this country Of splitting hairs
about the spiritual and temporal authority Of the
Pope?
But again. The semnaries for the education OF
the clergy must not be subjected to the civil author
ity In what way are seminaries of learning sub
ject to the authority of the State? Does the gov
eminent prescribe the course Of study to be pur-
sued Does 1t In any, ereept IN Roman Catholic
countries, and those which have perpetuated the
custom from that church, interfere with religious
belief or the mode Of worship? Does it regulate
the charges? Does il appoint the professors
Docs IL do any Of these things in Protestant coun-
trics especially in this land in seinaries for
the education of the Catholic priesthood? Not at
all. To what, then, does the HOLY FATHER alude,
when he speaks of the seminaries being entirely
under the control of the bishops! He means land
he can mean nothing else) that the law which con-
trolls and regulates all other members of the COM
munity. which reaches its Briarean arms into every
dwelling should not invade the sanctity Of Romsh
college. That 1t should be "a state within state,
governed by Its own laws, and accountable only To
the Romish priest and in the last resort to the
Roman Pontiff So, ALSO Of course, with regard
10 nunneries and monasteries.
Such Is spiritual supremacy, as understood by
the head Of the Catholic Church, and Americans
are TO be accused Of intolerance, and the cry o.
religious persecution Is 10 be raised because they
refuse TO intrust with the control Of their govern
ment and the guardianship Of their liberties those
who call this arrogant sovereign of Rome Their
Holy Father, and are bound to obey him at the
risk OF their eternal peace
TINS n NOT PERSECUTION. IT IS sELF-PREsERyA-
rIox. Let American Catholics, like American
Episcopaans rcnounce all allegiance, spiritual and
temporal, 70 foreign potentate. Let them refuse
TO pin their faith upon the sleeve of the decrepid
sovereign Of debascd, ignorant, and lcentious
people, and 10 boleve to-day at his bidding, in an
immaculate conception, which they disbelieved or
doubted yesterday. Let them resolve to CALL not
only the temporalties of their Church, but their
sosis their own, and then win they be received with
open arms by their Protestant fellow-citizens
n Mn