Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-10
WASHINGTON, ID. G.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, ls55.
WILLIAM N. BURwELL, Editor.
Anii.CathoIicism.

upon which our Confederacy was founded.
Nothing is, to our mind, more simple. The
doctrines Of the Church Of Rome unite civil
and ecclesiastical jurisdiction in a single and
supreme head; and the allegiance due from the
lay members to the head Of the church, is not,
as in other churches, simply religious, but po-
litical also. Such is the doctrine published by
unrepealed, save by the personal disclaimer of
some individual more ignorant or more liberal
than others. The American Order, then, OPP
poses Catholicism because it is form OF higher
law, under which the right of appeal lies from
our Federal and State courts to another and
a foreign jurisdiction. It's only object is to
repudiate the political iealty Of the Catholics in
America to the Pope of Rome in Italy. 1t will
attempt to do this by the force of public senti
ment, not by legislation. Is there anything Of
religious character in thisG We apprehend
not 1t is purely political, and bears directly
upon political institutions, SO far as the Pope
and his Court of Cardinals are interested. Why
not let the Catholic Church of this country
Church at Rome, the membership elect their
own bishops and priests, and enact their own
canons, rubrics, &C.!
Weuse the term political in these connexions.
Can any sound reason be given against it? II
so, let us hear it, We are sure there would be
quite as good All one for the Protestant church
cs of this country to send over to the mon
arches of Europe their church enactments, to
have them baptized with the power and pres
tigc Of its anointed potentates. Native Amer
leans go no further than this upon this branch
Of the platform, and this does not involve the
idea Of want Of patriotism on the part of ma
tive-born Catholics
But the action of public sentiment at the
ballot-box would seem, until the desired
change should be accomplished, somewhat
like prescription of the native Catholics But
this would not be more so than the proscrip-
ton which the Democrats, in the earlier period
of the history of our country, waged against
the Federalists, or in more modern times
against the Wings, and rice rersa. Neither
one, when in power, appoints to Office and en-
ployment the partisans Of the antagonist party
And yet this has been the prescription uni
formly practised from the infancy of our Ma
tiona Government to the present day, and no
clamor about the subversion of the constitu-
tional guarantees has been heard except from
the hungry politician out of power, who is al
ways ready with the practice he denounces
against others when he gets in.
The Church Of this country is certainly COM
petent to manage its own internal affairs, us
well of doctrine as Of creed, and to appoint its
own bishops, priests, &c. That it would be
in better condition if it did so we cannot
doubt; and whenever the time come if it ever
should come, there is no longer any necessity
for this branch Of our present platform, and it
will be yielded The interests OF the Pope and
the Order of the Jesuits, will, however, en-
deayor to fan the present agitation, and, with
their proverbial tact excite the cry of religious
persecution and Intolerance when in fact it
is nothing more nor less than an honest effort
to sever the last and only remaining link which
connects politically this model republic with
the most heartiess of all the tyrannies which
affiict the human race in Europe.
Let us now briefly consider what reason the
naturalized foreigner has TO make such weighty
efforts to arrest and control the public senti-
ment of this nation. Their franchises as citi-
zens are already secured to them, and no power
on earth can divest them Of these under the
Constitution. No retrospective legislation is
proposed by the American party to distrdn-
chise them; and if in power they could not
attempt IL. The aims of the party in this re-
spcct are altogether prospective; and Of this
who has a right to complaint Certainly not
those who are already clothed with legal citi-
zenship. Ii these do, their cries and objections
are for the benefit Of those who are not yet
citizens, and must be in behalf of the numbers
annually swelling the currents Of immigration
to this country in the future.
The bare suggestion Of such n thought,
ought to warn the native American Of the
actual necessity of altering the present system
Of our naturalization laws. The preiudices
and antipathies Of the old parties should fall
upon the national altar OF our country, as
reasonable and just sacrifi .e; and, with one
heart, and one purpose, unite in a struggle
which, sooner or later, viii have to be met.
Upon this very question, history is not with
out its warnings and instructions. Wequote
from the Universal History" published be-
fore the "isms", of the present day, had any
existence whatever; but, when simple causes
existed as now, which were mighty enough to
overthrow great empires and transfer power
from the hands Of the notiro citizenship and
place it successfully in the hands Of the aljen
and stranger:
"The downfall and ruin Of the greatest State
the world ever behelj, are, no doubt, owing to the
depravity Of the people in general, and to the
sloth, luxury, and ambition Of their princes; but
more immediately 10 their ailoring such warus
of 5arJarians 70 settle pithin the Empire, and 10
SERGE il the Roman armies, and under their arm
officers in separate and Independent bodies. They
hcn became more numerous. and po,cerftd than tie
notives, controlled the Emperors, disposed Of the
imperial Cro,n, as they pleased and al length be-
came absolute masters Of those rhom hey mere m
pioyed TO offend and assist"