The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-01
THE s0-CALLED AMERICAN M0vEMEET-TE
TEMPORAL POWER OF THE POPE.

aims, and policy, and its relations to the Anti
gard it simply in its bearings on the Question
of Slavery, and just as, in their opinion, formed
upon merely local observation, it may affect
this Question fayorably or otherwise, is their
judgment respecting it. In q certain district,
where its action has happened to coincide
with the prevalent Anti Nebraska feeling, per-
sons of this class welcome it as an efficient
auxiliary. So, too, in State, where it has
made no overt attack on the cause of Freedom,
but its path has lain parallel with that pursued
by the advocates of this cause, or where for a
time the Anti-Slavery Element has obtained
the control of it, it is again well spoken of.
And all this, without the slightest reference to
its fundamental aims and policy!
Is this the course men of principle ought
to pursue? Is every means that may help
forward right object, justifable? Can de-
votion to the Anti-Slavery cause authorize us
to resort to any kind of alliance to advance its
interests? In other words, shall We do evil
that good may come?
For ourselves, believing that the so-called
American movement is founded upon wrong
principles, aims at wrong objects, and pursues
wrong method, we would oppose it, even
should it promise through its cooperation to
promote an end deemed by us of paramount
Importance Never, for any reason, could we
countenance for moment any movement, re-
pugnant in its principles, means, and aims, to
Al Il c. Of Lib md
sound policy. When, therefore, we hear Anti
Slavery men avowing their friendship for an
Order, because in particular locality. 1T has on
the whole favored their cause, we wish they
would ask themselves, whether, next to aiming
at noble ends, it be not an imperative duty, to
devise only honest means. The wisdom of
God may override folly and wickedness, so as to
advance Truth and Right, but no human being
can resort to wrong means, for accomplishing
even right objects, without impairing his own
character. The peculiar temptation of Jealous
men contending against abuses, is, to overlook
the precise moral nature of the instrupentali-
ties they employ and this is one reason why
so many reformers, ere they have succeeded in
removing the abuses they assail, themselves
need to be reformed.
Of the subscribers whom we have saved from
the general wreck of our organization, and who
still stand by the Era, although some of them
perhaps may not concur in all its views, we pre-
sumo the great majority agree with US in con-
demning the secrecy which shrouds the opera
tons of the New Order, in opposition to its pro-
scriptive policy towards foreign-born citizens
and immigrants, in disappearing its resolves as
National Party to ignore the Slavery Question,
and in the belief that its advent has been disas-
trous to the Anti-Slavery cause. One point of
difference may still remain. Many honest Anti
Slavery men, while they would not prescribe any
one on account of his religious faith, may still
be under the impression that Catholics in this
country owe and own paramount allegiance to
the Pope, in civil as well as spiritual affairs !;
and believing this, their very hatred of oppres-
sion and devotion to Republican institutions,
constrain them to regard Catholics as not to be
trusted with political power. They do not ap-
prove of the present combination against them,
but, individually, they feel disposed to reject
their claims to office.
We need not say how deeply devoted we are
to the doctrine that there is but one God, and
one Mediator between God and man; and that
every man is bound to think, decide, and act
for himself in religious matters, seeing that for
himself he must render an account to God
We need not say how totally repugnant to our
convictions and habits of thought are those
doctrines and usages generally of the Catholic
Church, which distinguish it from Protestant
ism. But these We are not called upon to dis
cuss in our paper; nor, were we at the head
of a religious or theological press, would we
discuss them in an objurgatory or dogmatc
style. The religious sentiment in itself is holy,
and, however perverted or misled as to its OBJ
jects, should be treated with tenderness and re-
spect. We can see no propriety in making the
dogmatic or ceremonial peculiarities of any
church subjects of derison, satire, or pharisai-
cal denunciation, or pretexts for provoking
popular camor against them. If reason,
love, and good example, cannot enlighten the
erring religionist, disarm his bigotry or fanati.
cism, and win him to the Truth, anathemas
and prescription will only make bad worse. and
drive him beyond the reach of argument.
We are anxious to do all in our power, not
to lower the tone of genuine patriotism, but to
prevent it from degenerating into petty ha.
tired and jealousy of foreigners not to impair
the force of the genuine Protestant sentiment
of the country, but to prevent it from degene-
rating into narrow spirit Of persecution. The
natural evils or Inconvenience of rapid in
fiux of foreign immigrants, are such as NAV
be corrected without undue excitement, or
barbarous and illiberal legislation. And there
is nothing in the numerical force, or the char
acter, or the operations of the great BODY of
Catholics in this country, to endanger our in
enthusiastically nothing that may not be
safely left to the numberless counteracting in.
huences growing out of the workings of our
institutions, the action of our Free Schools and
the Free Press, and the inevitable antagonism
of Professionalism.
Believing this, we would exclude both SUBJ
jects from the political arena The public
mind cannot be possessed by two great ex-
elements at the same time. If it regard the
removal of duty on coal or sugar, as of more
| Importance than the abolition of the Slave
Power in the Federal Government, it will make
the former the paramount question; and if it
deem Foreignism more dangerous than Sla-
very Propagandism, it win naturally sink the
latter question.
Questions Of finance and trade, so long az
they engrossed the attention of the great par
ties of the country, necessarily threw into
odd uhrIa r.