Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-02-28

ers ! Are they TO lose the privilege oI II
sisting tyranny, because they preach Ii
gospel? If they wish the reading Of tt
Bible to be free to all, ought they not
resist the growing encroachments Of SCI
that would deprive them of the Bible 2
Are they to be expected to sit quietly ur
der the curses which Romish bishops ar
nualIy pronounce against them under tn
vows which thousand Jesuits in this cour
try have taken to eztirpate them' Fe
my own part, / think the time has come
when the Protestant clergy should max
common cause in the resistance to fsPs
aggressions in our land. For here in thes
United States in this nineteenth century
before the struggle is ended, the battle q
The reformation has to be fought over a
gain. Ten thousand Protestant pulpit
should echo and re-echo the tocsin of re
slstancc every Sabbath day throughout tn
length and breadth of the land. The,
owe it to themselves, to their focks, to th'
cause of truth, to liberty of conscience, t
the teachings of the scriptures, to "cry a
lond and spare not"
Mr.. Wise does great injustice TO th'
Protestant clergy of this country. The
annals of mankind do not present such al
instance of the ministers of religion ab
staining from political strife and contention
as is exhibited by the Protestant clergy o.
the United States. This is all in quiet ane
peaceful times, when tie liberties of the
country are not menaced. But in time:
of danger like that which now threatens
they would be recreant TO their high trusts,
if they did not sustain their lay brethren
who are contending foE the freedom Of the
pulpit, the freedom of the Bible. But Mr.
Wise has great fear that In this struggle Of
opinion the rival Protestants will be in
volved in strife with each other. Such a
involves an absurdity in its very
statement.
Here is a case, in which all Protestants
make common cause. It's calculated 10
draw The bonds Of union among them still
closer. Il teaches them that their differ
ences are triaIng and insignificant, ,compar-
ed with the wide gulf which separates them
all from the Church of Rome. They here
discover their mutual dependence on each
other, IN resisting common enemy. The
associations of such union is well calcu-
lated to teach them charity for each others
creed, forbearance for each others views.
Is it not absurd to suppose, that a common
effort to resist the supremacy of one sect,
is calculated to engender wish in any
one of the parties to obtain that supremacy
for itselfi
Ifthere is any feature which more strong
" marks the common character OF all the
Protestant churches in this country, than
all others, it is that Church snd State
should ever be kept separate and distinct.
II is The common guarantee which every
church has against the predomnance OF any
other.
Mr.. Wise insists that, if the Protestant
priests had the power, as the Catholics,
have had, they would be "of the same old
Ieaven, the same old beast" Strange Ian
guage this, for Protestant. II is useless
10 argue the question, for l would be as
much opposed, as is Mr.. Wise to see u
Mon of the State with any Church. But
still cannot admit the truth of the propo-
sition nevertheless. / cannot agree thus
to sec the Protestant religion put on lev
ell with Conan Catholicism. That Prot
estant Church united with the State, would
be apt TO abuse its power, | admit but that
it would be "the same old beast" /, as a
emphatically deny. The Ro'
mish Church openly avows itself to be a
prosecuting Church---eyery Protestant
Church protests against persecution for re.
Iigious opinion. The Jesuit doctrine of the
Romlsh Church avows, that murder, arson
theft, lying, fraud, treachery, are all moi
only lawful, but mertorious, if they are
practised for the benefit of the Mother
Church. Every Protestant Church in
denounces such crimes as SIN.
ful.
The Romish church, then. when allied
with the temporal power, is only carry.
ing out ITS avowed dogmas, in its horrible
cxcesses. Any Protestant church so cir.
would bs ignoring and viola.
ling the very fundamental principles Of its
existence. by pursuing the same course
If Mr.. Wise's position be correct, why is
England so far in the advance of Spain
Prussia Of Italy? Switzerland Of Portugal
Why is moi Christian burial denied to dis.
senters in England as it is 10 Protestants
in Spain? Why are not indulgences sold
in Prussia as they are in Mexicof
Mr. Wise says further, that Know Moth
ngism "is against free civil government,
ov instituting secret oligarchy beyondthe
reach OF popular and public scrutiny" &c.
Here Mr.. Wise is striking madly in the
lark This order is any thing else but oil
.arcbic IN its character. II is the oligar-
,hsm of the two old parties thai :his organ
cation was designed to provide against and
esist.
For the last 90 years. the great mass Of
he people have had but little to do in Sc
ecting those who have administered the
either in its executive or leg
slative departments. Through the instru-
mentality Of caucuses and conventions a
few men have controlled the
Ieslinies of the country. BY manage nent,
oncert and trickery, they have selected
he candidates for every Office that would
,av, and the credulous, and confding mas
cs have blindIy registered their edicts.-
t is this that has made politics bad trade
mot profession for the rearing Estates
a means of living. 1t is this
which has demoralized the public senti-
nent, vitiated the public morals, encourag-
d the growth of demagogues, and founded
clique. an oligarchy, in every State. city,
nd town, whose favor has been the pass
,ort, and the only passport. to honor and
iation.
As parties have become nearly balanced,
he oligsrchs of both have gone into the
market, and 6hding the foreign and Roman
Catholic element could turn ihe scale, they
ave as regularly trafficked in votes as a
Il