The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-09-27

1854, in similar spirit, stuck hands with in
tolerance, and 10 achieve a temporary til
umph "let loose the imprisoned Winds"
which they are utterly unable TO control.-
Their victory has been at the expense of,heir
party existence, and it Is being shewn that
those who beget monsters may be devoured
by their own offspring.
The theological dogma OF the American or
Know NolhiEg party, may be found iE Ros-
seau, in these words -
"All religion should be tolerated whose
tenets discover nothing contradictory 10 the
duties OF acitzen; but those who dare 10 say,
out of the Church out of SaIyation,' should
be driven from the State, unless the Church
is the State and the Prince the Pontif Such
dogma is only suited TO religious govern
ment; in all others it must be exceeding
ly pernicious. ."-(Social Contract, 3s5 Ed.
I79l.)
A more respectable authority is Milton,
whose name gives weight 20 an opinion, al.
though it cannot sanctify an error. In his
discourse upon True Religion, Heresy and
Toleration, written with characteristic ability,
he excludes Catholicism from comprehen-
sive charity embracing all shades of protest.
ant opinion. Suggesting tina, popery claims
two-fold power, ecclesiastical and political,
he submits the question 10 the civil authori-
lies, whether its adherents ought 10 be toler-
aled in view Of the public safety. But what
we would not expect from the most liberal
author of his age, is, denial Of federation in
the exercise of their religion, either public or
private, on the ground of its idoalrous char
ter Here spoke the fierce, uncompromisiug
puritanism Of the time but we have only TO
proceed, 10 discover that he does not, as usu-
al, follow out his position TO its logical re-
suits. He rejects corporal punishments and
fines as instruments for eradicateg opinion,
and contents himself with recommending
the removal of the Mass and Images, and
the reading Of the Scriptures among Protest.
ants, with mutual forbearance and charity,
and amendment of life.
Other authors are to the same purpose, and
tionary war,) when Edmund Burke stood be-
fore the electors of Bristol to defend his
course in Parliament, he found II necessary
10 bestow his attention mainly TO his vote for
removing the disabilities of the Catholics
subjects Of The British Crown, upon whom
Parliament had previously rained down Stat.
ules intended for their utter extirpation. The
spirit of England for two hundred years had
been one of bitter hostility TO the Roman
Church, and occasionally, inhamed by polil.
ical excilements, it had placed upon the Stat.
ute books of the Kingdom laws which had
their apology only in the circumstances un-
der which they were enacted. Nor was the
anlipathy 10 Catholicism confined 10 the Eng
lish Church by law established. II was YET
more intense among dissenters, and extend
ed 10 those who wers members of no Church
whatever, and with whom political consider
atoms were paramount 10 ecclesiastical AL
though Protestan,ism stood upon the princi.
pie of federation, inasmuch as i! asserted the
right of private judgment in matters of theol.
ogy, The time had not yet come for effectual-
ly striking the letters from opinion and per-
hitting truth and error 10 srapple without in
reference from the civil power. That was
sublime act of wisdom and justice, reser-
we'd in the counsels of Providence Tor new
world, then emerging into notice beyond the
Atlantic, whittier the children of toll and op-
preston should be gathered from the four
quarters Of the earth And here, IS due time,
upon American soil, did take root and grow
up into general acknowledgment, principles
of human brotherhood and common right,
that have form and place in all our Corstiiu-
tions, and have crowned our systems of gov
eminent with blessings and honor. ToLERA-
TIoN OF oPINIoN, AND EQUALITY OF RIGHTS !;
these are the pillars in our Temple Of Liberty
that support tine edifice, and the Samsons of
the Lodges will tug at and labor for their pros
tration in vain.
Even England has amended her former pol
icy of intolerance and zoe will certainly moi
go backward 10 The evil and exploded opn-
ions and prejudices of former times. Know
Nolhngism is, of necessity, ephemeral, for il
is of darkness and falsehood, and its achiev-
ments will add but brief page TO the history
of human folly.
NoTE. From Milton.
How great virtue is temperance /; how
much of moment through The whole life of
man? Yet God commits the managing so
great trust, without particular law or pre-
scripton, wholly to the demeanor of every
grown man. And therefore when he him
self tabled the Jews from Heaven, that omer
which was every mans daily portion OF
mama, is computed 10 have been more than
might have we'll sufficed the heartiest feeder
thrice as many meals For those actions
which enter into man, rather than issue out
OF him, and therefore defle not, God uses
not to capiivate under perpetual childhood
of prescription, but trusts him with the gift
OF reason 10 be his own chooser; there were
but little work left for preaching, if law aud
compulsion should grow so fast upon those