Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-06

land. They owe II 10 themselves, 10 their nochn,
to the cause of TRUTH TO liberty Of conscience 20
the teachings OF the scriptures, to cry aloud ana
spare moi"
Mr.. Wise does great injustice TO the Protestant
clergy of this country. The annals OF mankind do
not present such an Instance OF the ministers OF
religion abstaining from political strife and conten-
ton, as is exhibited by the Protestant clergy of
the United States. This is all well in quiet and
peaceful times when the liberties Of the country
are not menaced. But in times of danger like that
which now threatens, they would be recreant TO
their high trusts II they did not sustain their lay
brethren, who are contending for the freedom Of
the pulpit, the freedom of the Bible. But Mr..
Wise has great fear that in this struggle of opin
ion the rival Protestant sects will be involved in
strife with each other. Such supposition involves
an absurdty inits very statement 8@4
Here is case, in which all Protestants make a
common cause. 1t is calculated TO draw the bonds
Of union among them still closer. II teaches them
that their differences are trifiing and insignificant
compared with the wide gulf which separates them
all from the Church OF Rome. They here discover
their mutual dependence on each other, in resist
ing common enemy. The associations of such
union is well calculated to teach them charity for
each others creed, .forbearance for each others
views. Is 1t not absurd to suppose that COM
mon effort to resist the supremacy Of one sect, is
calculated TO engender a wish in any one of the
parties to obtain that supremacy for itselfs
Ii there is any feature which more strongly
marks the common character of all the Protestant
churches in this country than all others, it is, that
Church and State should ever be kept separate
and distinct. II is the common guarantee which
every church has against the predominance Of any
other.
Mr.. Wise insists that, If Protestant priests had
the power, as the Catholics have had, they
would be of the same old leayen the same old
beast" Strange language this, for Protestant!
II is useless to argue the question: for would be
as much opposed, as is Mr.. Wise, to see union Of
the State with any Church. But still cannot ad-
NIT the truth of the proposition nevertheless.
cannot agree to thus see the Protestant religion
put on a level with Roman Catholicism. That a
Protestant Church united with the State, would be
apt to abuse its power, admit, but that it would
be " the same old beast" /, as a Protestant, en-
phatically deny. The Romish Church openly ayows
itself to be prosecuting church-every Protestant
Church protests against persecution for religious
opinion. The Jesuit doctrine OF the Romish Church
av0ws, that murder, arson theft, lying, fraud,
treachery, all not only lawful but meritorious,
if they practised for the benefit Of the Mother
Church." Every Protestant Church in Christen-
dom denounces such crimes as sinful.
The Romish Church, then, when allied with the
temporal power, is only carrying out its avowed
dogmas, in its horrible excuses. Any Protestant
church so circumstanced would be ignoring and
violating the very fundamental principles of its
existence, by pursuing the same course. If MIR.
Wises position be correct, why is England so far
in advance Of Spain? Prussia of Italy? Switzer-
land of Portugal? Why is not Christian burial
denied to dissenters in England as it is to Protes-
tants in SpainY Why are not indugences sold in
Prussia as they are in Mexicos
Mr.. Wise says further, that Know-Nothingism
lis against free civil government by instituting
secret olgarchy beyond the reach Of popular and
public scrutiny" &c. Here Mr.. Wise is striking
madly in the dark. This order is anything else
but oligarchic in its character. 1t is the oligar-
chism Of the two old parties that this organization
was designed to provide against and resist.
For the last twenty years, the great mass of the
people have had but little to do in selecting those
who have administered the government either in
its executive or Legislative departments Through
the fundamentally of caucuses and conventions,
comparatively few men have controlled the desti-
MES Of the country. BY management, concert, and
trickery they have selected the candidates for
every Office that would pay, and the credulous and
con6ding masses have blndly registered their edicts
1t is this that has made politics a trade-not pro-
fession for the rearing of statesmen--but means
Of living II is this which has demoralized the pub
lie sentiment, vitiated the public morals, encour-
aged the growth Of demagogues, and founded
clique, an ogarchy, in every State city, and town,
whose favor has been the passport, and the only
passport, to honor and station.
As parties have become nearly balanced the oil
garchs of both have gone into the market, and
finding the foreign and Roman Catholic element
could turn the scale, they have as regularly traf
licked in votes as broker does in exchange. As
the struggle between the old parties waxed warm
er, these foreigners and Papsts have risen in their
pice-and until finally we have seen those polti-
cal oHgarchies selling the rights of freemen, and
bartering of not only foreign missions, but cab-
net appointments, for the votes of these foreign
minions of venality and priestly imposture. And
whilst the rank and file of the old parties have been
relied on to adhere to their party alcgiance-the
managers and wire-workers have cringed and
trucklod, and sold their country TO this foreign
horde, led and controlled by Popish priests. This
il is that has aroused the great, laboring, honest
unse6sh middle class of the nation TO the assertion
of their rghtsthis il is that has revived the old
revolutionary spirit that has SO long slumbered
this Il Is, that has, as II by magnetic sympathy
touched chord that vbrates through the hearts
Of million Of ffeemen. Know-Nothingim an oil
garchy indeed ! 1t is the oligarchy Of the null
titude.
1t is based on the pure and unaduterated prin-
ciple Of representative republican liberty Mr..
Wise says, show many constitute the select few
Of the highest functionares, nobody knows" There
are no select few. There are no magnates In the
Oruer. fOr OnRnrCnieh " mas no tahte. lts uOc-
trine Is, that office must seek the man, and not
man the Office. Honor and station win Hy from
him who seeks them--and he who is found using
any appliances to prevent this great patriotic
movement TO his own aggrandizement will not
only find himself doomed to disappointment, but
ifhe be an officer in command, he win have to
dof his epaulettes and return to the ranks
Mr.. Wise says Know-Nothingism lis opposed
to our progress as nation" and goes on TO argue
that no territory occupied by foreigners or Roman
Catholics, can herafter be annexed, If IL is not
proper to admit them TO Office, &c Why not ? If
this reasoning be good, We ought not TO annex any
more. territory occupied by Indians win Mr.
Wise say II would be proscriptive and intolerant
not 70 appoint Indians 10 Officer
Suppose another war with Mexico were 10 result
in annexing another slice Of that country to our
territory, will Mr.. Wise contend that the motley
hafbrced Of Indians negroes, and Spsniards, that
constitute the greater portion Of the population
ought 10 be sent TO our Congress, and intrusted
with official statonf Suppose the Sandwich Is
lands annexed, are we TO admit their inbsbit-
ants to equal privileges with those of our own peo-
pley These, Mr.. Wise would no doubt exclude by