Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-09-13

felt in the United States as Il Is in italy O
Spair or as it was felt in those countries age
ago. 1t must obey the law of it's condition
and can no more Withstand the multiplied
moral forces which perpetually beat agains
it, than the physical world can withstand th
laws which make ii theft slave. To suppos,
our Republic seriously imperiled by it, is t,
suppose the ages of darkness are about t.
return, or that under Providence the Catho
lie faith is destined to prevail over the world
"Every srhool-house is a barrier against il
Every printing.press is bat,lemert. Every
steam-car is a batteringram to break it il
pieces" Free thought, its free utterance, q
/ free press, an open Bible, and hearty trus,
in the almightiness of Truth--these are the
only weapons needed here in the warfare a.
| gainst errorS and in the hands OF twenty-f, c
millions Of Prolestants, there is wanting
even the Shado,o of pretext for secret com.
binations, or any sort Of extraordinary meas.
ures in defence Of our constitutional rights
Protestantsm, with such advantages, can
afford to fight its battles in the open dayigh,
Of the world, and il dshonors itself when il
invokes the machinery of despotism in its be-
huh' IL COultoSeS lloGll uUuL lOT Ills HllSSlOU
and thus strikes at its own life.
| And this brings me to my second objection
to Know Nothing:sm. Granting that ON
institutions are in danger from the rapid
growth of Romanism among us,I oppose this
new crusade against it, because its method OF
opposition must ne ecessarily aggravute, instead
of mitigate, the mischief sought t be cured.
Secresy, indeed! Our Model Republic De-
moc-acy carrying concealed weapons! A.
merican Professionalism stealing the livery of
the Jesuit, and at the same time raising the
war-cry against Romel The rights of con-
science vndicated by great American party
which makes Catholicism a religious test,
whilst its members surrender their own prl-
vate judgment and freedom OF action to the
majority of the Councils to which they be.
long! Has it come to this! Was the Re-
formation a failure? Were John Milton,
Roger Williams, and William Penn, weak
headed fanaticsl Is Professionalism to be
saved and sanctified by men who systematic
ally trampe it in the dust! could not be
Know Nothing, for the very reason that am
a Protestant With me, Professionalism is too
precious, too sacred, to be thus dishonored,
ever for its own sake. II is our life-blood as
people, and can only be preserved pure, by
circulating freely and naturally through the
body polite. Our Native American friends,
BY protesting peculiar zeal for it, and ct the
same time joining secret oath-bound po-
litical order, for the wholesale prescription
of Catholics, prove themselves to be Jesuits
in policy. Were they real Protestants, they
would have faith in Professionalism as a prin-
niple; and they would show that faith, not
by violating it, but by trusting it, and stand
ing by It, in example as we'll as precept, un.
der all temptations. They would recol from
even the thought of layi sg aside their legiti-
mate weapons, to which Professionalism is in
debted 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 unhallowed practces.--
They would feel that TIE best possible service
OF Professionalism is the testimony of con-
sistent example, and that its worst foe is the
weakness that would build up its power by
methods wholly at war with its first princi-
Piles. No good cause has ever vet been help
ed 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 citadel instead of bombarding it.
No. sir. If Professionalism wishes to palsy
the rampant spirit of Romanism, it must not
borrow that spirit, and adopt its tactics. The
work thal,'should chenyconcern tits at home.
Its worst enemies are those OF its own house,
hold. Mr.. Macauay, in his mastery speech
! on the removal of civil disabilities from the
Jews, says truly: "Christanity triumphed
over the supersfitions o! the most refined g.
of the most savage nations, over the graceful
mythology of Greece and the bloody idoatry
of the Northern priests. 1t triumphed over
the power and policy of the Roman Empire
1t tanned the barbarians by whom that EN-.
were gained, not by the help Of intolerance
but in spite of the opposition of intolerance
The whole history ofChristiauily proves that
she has little indeed to fear from persecution
as foe, but much to tear from persecution
as an ally"
This is a truth which Know Nothingism
seems entirely to overlook. Let Protestant
! ism, in the first place, understand itself, ant
/
daiIe its own position. Let it digest its own
manifold crudities, and purge itself Of the
spirit of persecution which has Garkened il!
history from the beginning,and stayed its pro
gress through the world. Let it exemplify
/ in actual practice, its boosted dogma of The
sutliciency of the scriptures and the right o
private judgment, which it never yet has
done as general rule. Let it spew out,ant
cast from it with loathng, the execrable po
lcy Of Know Nothngism, which has assum
ed to oct in its name, and The principles oI
which would fairly justify the most atrociou'
forms of religious persecution. Lettremem'
Der that the prescription Of Catholics for thei
religious opinions is just as detestable as the
like prescription OF Protestants; and that the
only true ground to stard on is the sacred
-ight of every man to enjoy, without molesta
tion, the faith he prefers. This alone, sir
viii! render Professionalism invIncible, and a
the same time most effectually cripple thu
power of Rome.
\ And here, Mr.. Chairman, am natural,
Il hrounht ~ n third and kiudred ohiection 4,