The true Democrat., 1855-08-21
Catholics and Foreigners in Arkan

Catholics and Foreigners in Arkan-
 SaS / To reader of the Gazette, it would appear that our State was about to be overrun by the Catholics and foreigners, and delivered, body and soul, to the Pope. Such are the fears that this know nothing organ is attempting to excite among the people, in order to drive them into its oath bound party
 Before the people become alarmed and ter rifed out of their senses by this great bug beer, let them look at the statistics we here give from the census returns of 1850.
 In Arkansas, in the year 1850, there were l62, 199 white souls. Of these there were: Native born Americans 159,946 Born in foreign countries 1,46S Birth unknown 775
 Thus it will be seen that while there is a population in this State of uhites numbering 162, ,189, at leaat one hundred and siaty Mousand of them are native born Americans, while only about fifteen hundred of them are foreigners.
 Now is it manly or meritorous for one hun- drea and siaty housond native born Americans to be alarmed by, and for that reason, com mence war upon only yyten hundred foreign born men, women and children? Is it for this all these oaths, signs and grips were instituted Men of Arkansas! can you believe it?
 Of the church statistics of Arkansas, the following we take from the census returns:
 Of the Protestant churches there are: Baptist churches IA Episcopal ? Methodist 116 Presbyterian 52 Union 5 Minor sects - 13
 Total number BOP
 Of the Catholic churches there are only z.
 We also find that the Protestant churches have nearly 6O,OOO members, while the Catho- lies only have about l60O; that the value of the Protestant church property in the State is over $92,OOO, while the value of the Catholic church property is only S66OO.
 Under this state of facts, we do not think the Protestant Americans have any cause 10 fear the growth of Catholicism in this country.- The Catholics are not only in miserable mi nority in the State, but the disproportion is be- coming daily greater.
 Dr. Borland speaks of the True Democrat as the Catholic organ. La doing so he commits c falsehood Our paper is the organ of no church. Religious controversies we never engage m- We leave them to those whose profession and education fit them for theological discussions
 We go this far into religious matters-we advocate the great principle of religious toler- ance. We take the constitution of the United States our guide. We hold no man respon- sible for his religious belef-we defend all men in the free exercise of the right of con- science. We oppose-wc detest and abhor the monarchical policy of uniting Church and State, and, for that reason, we do, and ever shall oppose the know nothing party. We ne- yer can consent to become member of a par ty that introduces religion into politics by inn posing religious tests The constitution of the United States and also of Arkansas forbid and prohibit the imposing of such tests, and we earnestly support them.
 Dr. Borland may do otherwise and he may stoop, for political purposes to nhame the Pro- testants against their Catholic fellow citizens he may kindle the fires of persecution through out the country, but we cannot aid him. On the contrary, we shall oppose him.i We would oppose him if we stood alcne in that opposi- ton.
 We are no foreigner We were born in Ar kansas-in few miles of Little Rock We are native born American, but not an oppres- sor of those who seek home ill America from other countries
 We are no Catholic, nor hav5 we a Catholic wife, as has been falsely charged upon us in neighboring county We were born and raised Protestant believer; but we are not for that reason intolerant to Catholics. We hold the doctrine that a man is responsible to no earthly power for the exercise of his conscence-he is responsible alone to God; and there we are content to leave his responsibility.
 Such are our opinions and belief We believe with Gen. Washington, the father of our coun- try, who said
 "THE BOSOM OF ANERIcA IS OPEN TO RE- GENIE, NOT ONLY THE oPULENT AND RESPECTA- BILE STRANGER, BUT THE OPPRESSED AND PERSE- CUTED OF ALL NATIONS AND ALL RELIGIONS WHOM WE SHALL WELCOME TO A PARTICIPATION IN ALL OUR RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES"