The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-19
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to which Professionalism is indebted for all its
genuine growth and strength, for the sake of
employing either fraud or force in maintaining
their cause Their hatred of Jesuitism would
make them the last to initiate its unhallov ed
practices. They would feel that the best pos
sible service of Professionalism is the testimony
of a consistent example, and that its worst foe
is the weakness that would build up its power
by methods wholly at war with its first princi-
pies. No good cause has ever yet been helped
by enlisting the devil on its side, because no
man has been found wise enough to tell how to
employ him without thereby fortifying his cita-
del, instead of bombarding it.
No, sir. If Professionalism wishes to palsy
the rampant spirit Of Romanism, it must not
borrow that spirit, nor adopt its tactics. The
work that should chiefly concern it is at home
Its worst enemies are those of its own house
hold. Mr. Macaulay, in his mastery speech on
the removal of civil disabilities from the Jews.
says truly: christianity triumphed over the
superstitions of the most refined and of the most
savage nations, over the graceful mythology of
Greece and the bloody idolatry Of the Northern
priests. 1t triumphed over the power and pol
ICY OF the Roman Empire. 1t tanned the bar
barians by whom that empire was oyerthrown.
But all these victories were gained, not by the
help of intolerance, but in spite of the opposi-
ton of intolerance The whole history of Chris
tianity proves that she has little indeed to fear
from persecution as foe, but much to fear from
persecution as ally"
This is truth which Know Nothingism seems
entirely to overlook. Let Professionalism, in the
first place, understand itself, and define its own
position. Let it digest its own manifold crud-
ties and purge itself of the spirit of persecution
which has darkened its history from the begin,
ing, and stayed its progress through the world.
Let it exemplify, in actual practice, its boosted
dogma of the sufficiency of the scriptures and
the right of private Judgment, which it never
yet has done as a general rule. Let it spew out,
and cast from it with loathing, the execrable
policy of Know Nothingism, which has assum-
ed TO act in its name, and the principles Of
which would fairly justify the most atrocious
forms of religious persecution. Let it remem-
Der that the prescription of Catholics for their
religious opinions is Just as detestable as the
like prescription Of Protestants; and that the
only true ground TO stand on is the sacred right
of every man TO enjoy, without molestation, the
faith he prefers. This alone, sir, will render
Professionalism invincible, and at the same time
most eifectually cripple the power of Rome
And here, Mr.. Chairman, | am naturally
brought to third and kindred objection to Know
Professionalism, in its present guilty completely
with American Slavery, to enter the lists with it
in its newly organized warfare against Popery.
| should feel myself in strange company. | do
not know how many slaves are held by Ameri-
can Catholics, but the number cannot be very
great, Judging from the number of Catholics
in the South. OF our Protestant denomina-
tons, the Methodists, North and South, in the
year 1861 owned 2lS,000; the Presbyterians
Old and New School, $4,000; the Baptists,
l25,000 the Episcopslians $4,000; the Disc-
Piles, or Complexities, 100000; other denom-
nations, ,000-making, in all, Cos, 900 slaves,
held by the ministers and members of the Prot
estant churches of this conntryl And the
American Tract Society, the American Sunday
School Union, the American Board of Foreign
Missions, and, in short, all the grand instru-
mentalities which these churches employ for
the spread of knowledge and religion through
out the world, are controlled by the Slave In
ferest In this particular they seem to fill
the Know Nothing measure, for they are CON-
pletely " Amerlcani,ed!" They expurgate
the religious literature of the country, with a
studious reference TO the feelings of the slave
holder. They even plumber and de6e the
school books of our youth, in order to propi-
tate their Southern membership. They prefer
UNCONVENTIONAL sway to the propagation of
pure faith. The most popular and influential
clergymen of these churches united with Castle
Garden patriots in 1850 in ''saving the Union,"
and inundating the land with lowerlaw SER
mons. These religious bodies may have made
Prossess during tho past few wears; but
they are essentially on the side OF the oppressor
today. They are the right arm of the Slave
Power. In the language of Albert Barnes so
often quoted, "there is no power ont of the
American church that could sustain Slavery
an hour, if it were not sustained an i'll"
TO BE CONCLUDED IN OUR NEXT