The true Democrat., 1855-09-25

'"o'oH'o", Dut u iuTulSH them With incentives to make war upon the rights of Catholics?- This and much more of the same sort is be. coming the American" mode of political war fare, and the authors of it call themselves par excellence-"Amelicans" Know Lothings pretend to be very indignant at the manner ill which their unconstitutional principles are abused-perhaps feel so. When citizen at. tempts to show the error. of know nothinglsm and its consequences, he is charged with being an ally of the Pope of foreigners, etc. These 'Americans" undertake to dogmatiSc down the commonest American impressions-the feeling against secrecy in political matters- against making religion a qualification for office; the constitutions, both national and S~ate, to the contrary, is nothing to these Americans"
 It is not possible that the intelligent among them do not understand the terrific nature of the experiment. they are going upon. They must knoU, from the history of mankind, that it is an extremely hazardous experiment; they must knoU that their principles are near akin to those in the world upon whose account so much blood has been split, so much suffered, the escape from which has conferred the greatest blessing, the most glorious distinction, upon the United States. Why, then, to the popular mind, which may get beyond their contro do they countenance such inflammato- ry appeals? Consider the possible, nay, the probable consequences that may result from in- flaming the passions of one portion of the com munity agains another portion upon such asub- jcct, in a country too where the laws are so fec ble in restraining popular fury.
 Abridging the rights and liberties of free men, who have once tasted the sweets thereof, is no easy, bloodless tosk in the United States; and in the name of Hampden, of Tell, of War ren, of Montgomery, and of kosiusco, why should any American expect it to be bloodess $? Since the hour that Carroll signed the declara- ton of independence, by what act have Ame- rican Catholics forfeited one iota of their rights? Since that time what ne,o discouery has been made to justify this political hue and cry after Catholics? Yet, so eifectually have the unaoa- ry know nothings been stu6ed with one side of the question, that they are astonished that the objects they have ill view, should meet with any opposition.
 In republics like this, the people are the source of power; their opinions shape the pol icy of the government, as we'll as guide them in their feelings and conduct towards each oth- CT; therefore upon every important subject that may be placed before them, they should know the uhole truth, whether that truth is palatable or not because all error either aoay will be equally disastrous. Tlis is why the Father of his country has warned Us that factions in a free country are greater facilities through which foreign influence can be made to effect the go- vernment than in monarchles; because i'll mo narchies, public opinion effects the government but little; whereas, among free people, torel5r governments have their spies all over the country, flaming the flames of discord, mak- ing popular prejudice, some way or other, suh- servient in carrying out their sinister machina tions Nothing in the shape oI iactio $, with which the Unitel s ates has ever been affict- ed-throu-h which foreign il tluence may ope rate-comes up to the facilities for that lur- pose that ki ow nothinssm is about top oduce. And it is strange, but no more strange than true, these know nothings ostenratously spread out before the people as their great maxim, the very warnings of Wa>hiI gton upon this sub ject, while, at the same time, they are most hagrautly violating them.
 But wish to tell the ''ac}sole trutt" with re spect to one ,oeopon used against our Catholic felowcitizer's, that is very diSgraceful to know nothings - disgracefu not only as a piece of injustice towards Catholics, but as an act of arraying one portion of the community against another, to the great injury of the welfare of the people. It consists in the endeav"r to impress upon the public mind 10 attaan present oyects--that Catholics have been in all times guilty of enormous crueltes upon Protestants and that Protestants have been guiltess of such charges. 1 affirm that this is not true, and that if it were true, it would not justify the Protestants of the United States in making thel Catholic fellow citizens answerable for it, since our constitution was a concordot upon that subject and guaranteed to Catholics, as well as to every denomination, freedom from such pains and penalties.
 maintain that the enormities charged were the fruits of the age, of the low condition o human intelligence when they took place; the fruit of ignorance Why bring up the conduct of the Catholic clergy of Spain and Italy to justify our prosecuting American Catholics?- Was Carrol1 ,fC Carrolltop b lican as John Adams; Chief Justice Fancy, as Chief Justice Marshall; Post Master Campbell as Com. John Wilson; Joseph R. Chandler, as Mayor Conrad or our own citizens, Palmer Hanley or Carroll as good citizens as James Yell, or any know nothing in the State? There is more religious persecution going on in Italy, than in any other part of about the same degree that Protestants persecuted in England 100 years ago-but goes but little way towards the degree m which Protestants per- secuted Catholics and each other 25O years ago Thus in Queen EliZabeth's reign the Protest ants burnt and otherwise destroyed 2O4 Catho- lies; and this Protestant Queen burnt two Bap- lists. The EpiscopalianS burnt in the same reign, two Protestant dssenters. The Catho- lies who were hanged, were cut down alive dismembered, ripped up, and their bowels burnt before their faces; after which, they were be- headed and quartered. In 1889, two Protes- tants were burned to death-thelr names were Lewis and Kett-by other Protestapts who were in power at the time. In 1891, Protes- tant dssenters by the names of Racket Green wood, Barrow and Perry, were hung by the Protestant Episcopalian power, for heresy. Il 1892, Mrs Ward was hung, drawn and quar- tere,', for assisting Catholic priest to escape ill box. Mrs. Lyme suffered a similar punish ment for harboring priest. In 1886, Mrs Cltheroe, who was accused of relieving a pries and refused to plead, was pressed to death, d sharp stone being pla:ed underneath her back The Protestant Bishop Laud, for Writing against Episcolacy, first cut d mans ear off, then sit his nose, then cut the ether ear of, and then had him whipped. The Protestant Episcora- llals exercised horrd crueltes upon the Scotch Presbyterians, 5000 of whom are said to have perished ill tie persecution, and as soon as these