The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-10-06

free Institutions, they would never have
pledged their elves, fortunes and sacred hon.
or, in defense Of the principles therein set
forth. Nearly one,half of the Generals in
the revolutionary war, were Foreigners
They proved their heroism on many sam
culinary field, While hey were true to the
cause of the colonies, we regret to say many
native Americans were false. While BEN
EDIcr ARNOLD, native of CONNECTICUT,
was plotting treason against our fathers,
BARON DEKALB, a native of Germany; was
offering up his life as a sacrifice on the alter
Of liberty, in our defense; while Silas Deane,
native Of the Colonies, was holdirg a
reasonable correspondence with the enemy,
and appropriating the money belonging to
the Colonies to his own selfish uses, LAFA.
YErTE was spendinga princely fortune in
furnishing and equipping soldiers and char
tering ships Tor the American service, leav-
ing the pleasures of the French Court, for
dangers oftie camp, that he might become
the bosom friend and counselor of
Washington, and the champion Of civil and
religious freedom in the new world. Rich
ard Montgomery. the noble IriShman, John
Paul Jones the noble Scotchman, Koscius-
ko the. brave Polander, and a host OF others
periled their lives and fortunes to purchase
for us, the freedom which we to-day enjoy.
The Know Nothings cannot blot from the
American history, this long list bright and
glorious names! They are engraven there,
and every page is record of their honors
Though the history of the country be bur-
ried, though every record of their noble
deeds be effaced, and the monuments erect
ed to their memory be torn down and de-
stroyed, they still live--live in the memory
of us all--live in the spirit of our institutions
and laws ard ever will, SO long as there are
free homes and brave hearts in our beloved
land. a.- H.E. e. r4
But we need not conine ourselves to rev.
olutionary history. The wars of 1912 and
the war with Mexico, offer equally, honor.
able testimonials in favor of the patriotism
of the foreign born. And yet the Know
Nothings are-now SO bssely ungrateful as to
prescribe the countrymen of these noble
men! e#
But the most odious feature fKnow No
thingism, and that which constitutes the
most important feature of Know Something
ism is the persecution which it wages against
Catholics. Freedom of religion is cardi-
nal doctrine of our government. So sacred
did our fathers hold it, that they engrafted il
into our national Constitution, and it is also
secured by the constitution of neariy epery
State in the onion, Religion is matter be.
tweenra man and his Maker. No govern
ment has any right to interfere with it. 1t
is beyond and above governments. The
moment government proscribes men on ac-
count of their religious opinions, that moment
it becomes an intolerable despotism. No
man more clearly appreciated this truth than
WASHINGTON when he said, a= iyi,
ga The bosom OF America is open to oreceive
not only the ilustrious and respectable stran-
ger, but the oppressed and persecute ed of ALL
NATIONS AND ALL RELIGIONS, whom we shall
welcome to participation in all our rights
and privileges"
And what have the Catholics done to de-
serve the persecution now waged agains
them? Nothing. But we are told that they
owe an allegiance to the Pope which they
regard as parahouht to their duties to tn,
government, and that they cannot be tru,
friends to free institutions. Is this so! Tht
first stathte ever enacted in this country Sc
curing freedom of religion, was enacted b
the Catholic Colony Of Maryland at the in
stance of Sir George Calvert, an adhereht O
the Roman Catholic church. While thu
Protestants of New England were were driv
ing Roger Williams into exile, putting Qua
kers to death and burning men and womel
| for witchcraft, Lord Baltimore, Catholic
was securing religious liberty TO the peopl
and furnishing a home where Protestant
might find refuge from Protestant persecu
ton. II we 60 back little further in the histc
fly of the world-64O years ago; Steven Lang
ton, a Roman Catholic priest and Archbish
op Of Canturberry, was, by his eloquenc
and argument, mainly instrumental in serul
| ing civil and religious rights to the people .
England. He is in fact the author Of th
famous Magma Charta, that great charter Q
Eng lish liberty which secures the right {
trial by jury, and all other Of those Dobl
privileges SO dear to the English people
These facts Of history we present, not b.
cause we. wish to defend the principles
the Catholic religion,but simply to do iustic
to this church against which the prejudice
:: OF Protestants are SO strong The CoDmi
tee do not defend the creed of the Catholi
:: church. We only speak in defence Of rel
: ioas liberty and in opposition to the uhcor
6 .stitutinnal measures and fearful despotis
! which are sought to be imposed upon us !
j the adherents Of the Know Nothing ar
t Know Something organizations.
When one church begins the work ofpe
secution no one can tell where it will er
or estimate the disastrous consequence
Put down the Catholics, and some branch
J the Protestant church will next fall victi
to the spirit Of persecution. The wen
!, churches will yield to the stronger: Churc