The American patriot., 1855-01-03

and for farther reasoning on this department OF N
our subject, we refer youto " Common E"em'eS' y
But there is another portion Of the subject :
which the circular does not touch, and which may
we'll have the appearance Of hostility to one car
d;no rrinciple Of the Neutrality-suspicious. tole-
ration. It is urged with much obstinacy by the
ornaments of the Order, that the Catholic religion
il nroscribed and that great and leading feature
of the Order is religious intolerance II such
were the fact; should be forced to the admission
that the spirit of the Constitution was manifesty
violated. and this admission would lead me to the
still further conclusion that the Order was an i'm
proper organization; and in this is, doubtless,
to be found the difficulty which besets the minds
of many conscientious opponents Of our Order.
We start out by saying-lst. That the const-
tuition does not authorize the domnancy Of any
religious sect as a political agent. 3D. That many
of our State Constitutions expressly forbid the as
ISOLATION of sectarian supremacy and political
power Sd. That while no religious sect has any
constitutional right to aspire to any political power
vet when any religious association attempts to rem
der itself secular in its influence and authority,
that every true lover of his country and the Con-
stitution ought to forbid it. 4th That when reli-
gious influence and power are used to impress the
character and effect of political actiou such use Of
religious power is directly in the teeth Of the Con-
sttutlon. The Order respects religion Of every
hue and shade which bases its fabric upon the
Christian Gospel. 1t accords equal rights and
privileges to all, when confined to their proper Of
flee and sphere, but declines connection with any
religion or religious association whose system OF
government and whose course of conduct is mimi
cal to the Constitution and the interests Of the
country.
The grounds of its objection to the Catholic re-
gion are--1st. Its system Of government" AS
system of spiritual power it is absolute and arbi-
trary in its form, centering in tho hands Of the
Pope degree of spiritual authority which renders
him the absolute master and sovereign over the
whole machinery of the church, and over the
minds of countless multitutles of its adherents.
Armed with the power Of anathcma and excom-
munication, and great deal more authority which
is exercised by him and the priesthood, but denied
by many to exist or to be exercised he is not only
the spiritual but temporal master Of millions who
dare not disobey his mandate To many cnlight-
ened Catholics, who can distinguish between egit-
innate power and its abuse the authority of the
Pope has no terror, but to the ignorant and unen-
lightencd mass, the fiat of the Papal Chair is the
,, mandate of Heaven itself The entire priesthood
: in all its grades dependent upon the integrity Of
the fabric for their position scryile in their sub
: mission to its authority, and in turn, wicld SINH
. lar moral and temporal dcspotism over the minds
of their flocks Thus the Pontiff at Rome through
the perfect and powerful church machinery o
which he is the head, can, by his nod, deeply i'm.
n press if not absolutely mould the character of
J.. national policy
1t must be understood that there are multitudes o
!, Catholic Church members, and also members of tin
- priesthood to whom these remarks do not and cou.
not apply; yet there unhappiy too many who can
not be excepted from them 1t has been stated in pub
. lie print that the Pope has declared that he wou'
10 eventually control American politics; and who doe
J. not that the precipitation Of few millions of igno
rant and besoted beings upon shores, and armin
them with all the rights of American citizens that tn
Papa suggestion is not only feasible, but probable.
Take in connection with these matters the repcate,
interference of the priesthood with national poll
s. tics not merely as individuals, but exercising
al ecclesiastical power and the Catholic Church, nstca
u of system Of spiritual government, looks
=, temporal in its bone and muscle
l. Undertaking all this is the great Catholic doctrn
j exercised from time almost nmemorial, until Henr
ct VIII resisted it. that the Pope is not only spirus
- but temporal ruler of the earth. The abect subms
sion of the carly Kings of England and France to til
Papal bulls illustrations, not only of the caim bu
- the power itself; and there instances in late
'A times when the power has been asserted owe
" rulers but resisted. This resistance however, doc
le not occur with the immense and ignorant mass
IN Catholic adherents and if the temporal authority
TO the Pope fails at isolated points, yet there
H. immense elements of power upon and which
never fails.
We We have seen it gravey urged in Catholic prints
mt this country that the Head Of the Churcl
ly the temporal power of the Pope should be dominan
I'd lover the adhcrents of the church, of course and
cy the same argument the will Of the people and the
thority Of the Pope considered antaganism
lis and the will of the people, against the temporal
ro hority Of the Pope treated wholly at wit
M the structure Of Church .Government-n short, D.
~ mocracy and the Papal authority were regarded as
- conflict of jurisdiction, in which Democracy or IL
~ !, will Of the people must give way. Who fail
~ sec that the argument is correct? What will ha,
lc the subjects of Nicholas? There is but one will
n -