American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-03-29

troll the political affairs OF this nation IL
has been but a short time since we called
the attention Of the Eagle to certain ex-
tracts from the Shepard cfhe Valley
Catholic paper formerly published In st'
Louis. The Eagle avoided replying in di-
rect terms by asserting that the paper from
which we took our extracts had been DIS
continued, aud laughed at the idea OF
quoting it as authority to prove the
political and proscriptiye tendencies oil
the Romish Church. Recently, however,
new Catholic paper has been established
in the same city and is under the immedi-
ate supervision of the Bishop of st. Louis.
1t is Significantly styled fhe Leader" and
in the editors salutatory he leads Of in the
following language;
"'WnAT Is A CATHOLIC PAPER?-Many
suppose that Cateolic paper must be
religious paper. 1t may be, but it is not
necessary. Nay, 1 will go further, and
say that it is not expedient. | will go fur
ther still, aud observe that as general
rule, it is not the fact. Take the most re-
nowned Catholic papers. There is the
Dublin Tablet-it is Catholic to the back
bone, as it were, but it not mainly re-
ligious; IL is almost altogether political,
with strong dash of the literary. The
New York Freeman's Journal set the ex-
ample in this country of breaking through
the limit proposed to be set to Catholic
journalism by identifying it with religious
Journalism, and through its masculine ar
ticles on all current topics of interest, has
in manner proclaimed the emancipation
of the American Catholic press, and inau-
gurated lis :fscti'e aset"lnes''
"But the political papers are worse than
the literary. We may ignore the latter,
but in this age of the world we can hardly
get along without tie former, and with the
very best intentions the political press as
sails and misrepresents us at every tuin.-
And the truth is, it is conscious ofa diff
ference-an irrecoacitedLle dDerenre-@
principle-betwee it and us. Politics is
one scisnce as viewed from Tie CatholicStdnd-
poin', and another as seen from the Prot
estant If the Protestant political press
1T us entirely alone, or spent itself in flat
tering us, We should sill need TO set tJoHh
our own views Of government, of social or
der, &C., which are radically different, at
least from those which are popular. Only
q few old, stubborn conservatives and tra-
ditionalists. who have not forgotten the
ideas of their fathers, think as we do. 1t
can be shown, think, ard we ought to
show it, that ace are haer republicans than
or friends on the other side QfthiS question
tkat their principles lead at tdSttO deSpotiSm,
while ours are the best guarantee for lib
erty, which in human affairs is a synonym
oforder.
How does the Eagle like this expose O
political Romansm? Will it have the au
dacity, in the face of this testimony, 10 say
"the CathOiic Church is not apoliticol par
fy9" Let the Papists and the partisan
presses that hold them as faithful allies
deny that Catholics are as such, politicians
read still further from this new exponcn
and defender of political ROmanism. Th
"Leader" says:
"a Catholic journal, then, is one, no
because The editor is always talking like
devotee, or because its columns are file
up with pious reading adapted TO form it
readers into saints. if they would besto,
on it the attention it deserves; but because
to whqtever line IL addicts ITSELF, whether c
literature, news, commerce, or politics.
whether to the instruction, the interest, c
the recreation and amusement of its read
ers-a is directed by Catholic principle, an
if not inspired, is at least controlled and re
strained by the Catholic ler credenti, til
Catholic ler Uipendi, /. e.. the Catholic fait
and Catholic morality"
With tha! eloquent and able Divine, \
I.RIcE, editor of the st. Louis PresJyter
an, eve are truely glad to see this bold
rowsl of a truth, for asserting which Pro
estants have been charged with sland'
and with bigotry. The Church of Rom
we are plainly told, has her politics, whic
are part and parcel Of her religion, or a
inseparabiy connected with ii; and h
politics are radically irreconciiaJty oppose
to those set forth by tho political press
our country. 1t is the duty of her clerg
in their papers, to teach her views of go
ernment and social order, which are rad
cally different from those which now pr
vail. Clearly, then, it is the avowed al
ofthe Romish clergy to overturn our ci,
government, andto establish in its place
government founded upon the polite
principles of Rome; and Americans are
make their selection between thefre ins
tutions established by our fathers, and d
despotic principles of Rome. In 9th
words, we are to decide, whether the Pc
of Rome and his clergy shall rule o
country. The decision, we are persuade
will be easily made.
In what light, then. are We to rega
the Church of Rome in this country?
the "Leader has not most grossly misre
resented her principles, she must be look
upon as an Orgdnized political party, led
by a foreign priesthood, in league with t
greatest tyrant on the earth, whose aim
IN ravnlItiouiza oar so,ovarnYnant opd