The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-03-03
MFR. Chandlpr,S SpcPch.

We notice with some surprise, not unmx.
ed with regret, that the so.caled religious
press" have generally attacked the speech Of
Mr.. Chandler, lately delivered in the lower
house of congress- on the alleged temporal
supremacy of the Pope, and cling to that
exploded humbug as If it was a vital doctrine
of their faith. Thus, in the last Chicago
Evangelist we find a column or two of hsto.
rical references TO prove that the doctrine is
held by Catholics, not one ofwhich, however,
covers the point in controversy. The truth
is, Mr.. Chambers speech is unanswcrable
No fact in history is better settled, than that
Catholics have never hcsitatcd to oppose in
arms the political aggrcssions of their spirit.
ual chief, and always without mourning tic
Examinations OF the church. Indeed, it is
Notifying that Mr.. Chambers speech
should have been at all necessary. In Eng.
land. the Pope has several times been pc.
litical raw head and bloody bones but to
call UP the ''ponr old man Of Rome" at this
day, to "conjure' with, politically, in this
county,, is sorry compliment, to our inta!li
gcncc. \ much better occupation for pious
Protestants, than thus to become the ally of
schcming and reckless politicians, it strikes
us, is indicated in the closing parts of Mr.
Chambers speech, which we here insert, as
abundantly worth all the space it occupies ::
Mr. Chairman, one more word and will
close. | have fairly and fully met the ac-
cusations made by the honorable gentleman
from Massachusetts, against the Church Of
which am n member. Step after step he
rctreatcd, until he had planted himself on
the Bishop Of Rome and there he challeng-
cd the citation Of a single disayowal on the
part of the Pontiif, that he claimed tempo
raj power over the subjects Of other Gov.
ernmcnts. Step by step have followed him,
and concluded the array Of dsavowcls by
1licit denial on the part of the Pope that any
such authority or right was claimed by the
Church or by him.
N.Y. Chairman, to the warnings expressed
here. and the nervous apprchcnsions ex.
pressed abroad, that the prevalence of the
Catholic religion will be dangerous TO the
country, have only to say, that we OF this
country are in no danger from Catholicty,
Episcopacy, Calvinism, Lutheranism, or
other forms of Christianity. Sir, Christianity
in any form is better than intidclity and Athe.
ism And Atheism is now at work. as it
ever has been busy, against the Christian
faith, Catholic first, because that creed is more
extensive; and without considering the evil
which each is doing to religion Christian
men are yielding themselves, unconscious'y
co-workcrs with iniidelity by their active
hostility to each other.
Mr. Chairman, il this country is to fall by
any other means than ordinary decay or To-
cal commissions, it is not Christianity Of Ge-
neva, Rome, Scotland, or England, that will
produce the ruin. The mischief will be
wrought by infdeity. Sapping first the
confidence Of the people in each other, I'M
dermining the foundations Of Christian char
i,y, breaking the bonds Of social life, relax.
ing the ties Of moral obligations, setting
crecds in hostile attitudes, till there is moth
ing left for hostility, and bringing down the
whole scheme Of domestic, social, and polit-
ical life to the plans and ends of Socialists
and Atheists, who laugh at the existence Of
God, and seek their triumphs in the oblit-
Grafton OF the doctrines aud teachings of
Christ.