The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-10
Gbs 4rsss.
From the Independent Democrat, Elyra, O., April Is
OHIO POLITICS.

ticles from the Cleveland Leader, upon Ohio
politics We ask careful attention to both this
and the one published last week.
But, while publishing them, we do not fully
endorse either. The frequent allusion to " Prot
estant," &C., would seem to imply willingness
on the part of the writer to make political
test of ones religious faith We hope this is
not so. We are too thoroughly Protestant-we
too deeply respect the right Of private judg-
ment-we are too thoroughly American-we
love too well the principles of religious liberty
guaranteed by our National aud State Constitu-
tons, for a moment to consent to prescribe any
man for his religion. On that subject, Ameri-
lean policy is settled Why change it?
1t is said that Roman Catholicism tends to
intolerance and absolutism-that it is not in
harmony with the spirit of Republication. This
we fully believe. And we believe such is the
tendency of all hierarchies, and in the precise
ratio in which power is vested in the spiritual
ruler. We are Congregationalists. The Bap-
| fist, Congregationahst, Universalist and other
religious bodies, adopting similar discipline,
lend the sanction of the altar to our political
| faith. They educate men Democrats. They
| develop the individual; whether this form be
the best adapted to religious discipline, is not
for us to Judge. We speak alone of its politi-
cal influence But can we say that no man
| can be Republican, unless he is Congrega-
| tionalist? BY no means. The Church is not
| the only educator among US. Its influence
reaches but small part of the people; and, be-
sides, many who deem aristocratic form of
| Church Government the best adapted to its end,
in political Government are thoroughly Repub-
lican. In Democratic faith they vie with the
most radical Independent. And so may a Cath
Ollie. All the Republics Of the middle ages
were Catholic, and Catholic Poland, while lib
cralizing her Institutions, was crushed by the
armies of Greek and Protestant soveregns.
1t is also said that Catholics owe political al
legiance to foreign sovereign-the Pope.
Some acknowledge, or seem to acknowledge,
such allegiance. Such are always unworthy
the suffrage of Republicans-but for their pola-
zeal, not their religious, faith We would not
support for any office, we would not permit to
become citizens, any who owe political ALE
glance to any foreign Power, whether to some
petty and powerless prince, like the Bishop of
Rome, OF to some potentate whose threat could
excite other than a smile. The very fact of ac
knowledging such allegiance shows them unfit
to be trusted with power at home. But in the
Catholic Church, as in most others, there are
two parties. They are sometimes called the
high and low Church, and in France ultra and
acknowledges. The former give all religious
authority to the Pope-many of the more IA
States; while the latter style him the Chief
Bishop of the Church, liable to err, possessing
as such no political power and subject in all
things to the Church and its councils. The
former party are supposed TO be represented by
the Jesuits, and most of the Popes are suffi-
ciently ridiculous in their pretensions. But to
the latter, or Low Church party, belong the great
body of the Church They teach fidelity TO the
State, and the highest Christian morality. So
long as we delight in the works of Paschal and
Fenelon, and eulogize the deeds of Lafayette
and Kosciusko--so long as we bring Thomas a
Kempis to the aid Of our devotions, and strive
TO emulate the holiness Of Madame Guion-we
cannot forget that the Chatholic Church has
furnished the world with champions of freedom
az well rs of despotism, with food as we'll as
poison, that she inspires faith as well as super
sttion.
With what justice or propriety can we make
religion merely political test How ridicu-
lous rule that would condemn the Catholic
Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and embrace the
Protestant Benedict Arnold No, mol 1t win
never do. Our fundamental laws expressly for
bid religious tests ; Professionalism forbids them;
republican equality forbids them; common
sense forbids them. If man is not Repub-
lican, he cannot represent Republicans, and
cannot be properly chosen to represent them,
whatever may be his religion. But we do not
choose men to represent our religion. A Cath
Ollie, a Congregatonalist, and Deist, who agree
in their political principles, may vote, for in
stance, for Salmon p. Chase, an Episcopalian,
for any political Office, and he may correctly
represent each of them in all things where he has
any power to act, as well as carry out his own
views. Such Is the beauty of our free institu-
tons. What, then, care we whether he believes
in the equality or subordnation Of bishops, or,
with us, in no bishops at all? Religious ques-
tons are not in issue at the polls and, alas,
they are sought to be dragged in
We hope, then, our friends of the Leader do
not intend to countenance the mingling of reli-
gious controversy with our political strifes. We
hope they will not cooperate in driving all
Catholics, however Republican they may be,
under the control of the enemies of free institu-
tons. The present persecution is rare god
send to the High Church party. See, say they,
to those whose ties to the hierarchy are being
gradually dissolved, what Democracy is doing
for you! And they do see. The Catholic HER
archy has acquired greater strength and intiu-
ence within the last year, than it could by a
dozen of our accustomed liberation. Injustice
is always blind. Wrong means, though for
good end, generally fall They may do great
mischief, bat they will defeat the end. Ireland
is the most intensely Catholic country in Eu-
rope-and why? Catholicism has been driven
into the people by civil disabilities, and it only
melts away by long enjoyment of equal rights.
So, if the object be right, the means are as fool
ish as they are unjust
| From the gainesville (O) Telegraph April %
| FUSION.
| There is an attempt being made to secure
| the joint action OF fusion of the Republican
party of last fall which gave such an Ant-Ne
braska ma ority in this State and the Know
Nothings, in the coming fall election. The lead
ing papers of the old Wing party, and other pa
pers favorable to the Know Nothing Order, are
urging such fusion. The propriety and USE
fulness Of such a move is now subject of
comment by the press.
We regard a reasonable degree Of stability as
essential to success in any undertaking. To
organize a new political party for every cam
paign, with new platform, new measures, and
new purposes, is to fritter away all the strength
and power which any principles or any meas
urcs, however true and necessary, can give to
any party. The law of growth and maturity,
when applied to a political party, is the same
as when applied to anything else. Take up and
transplant every spring, and eternity would be
too short for you to reap any practical benefit
from your labors. 1t is precisely so with prin-
ciples, which depend upon the approval of man,
and measures which depend upon his action.
Men who agree in principle, will disagree in
action only as means to an end and, In this
disagreement, there is not one in thousand
who will not cheerfully acquiesce in the major
ity rule-provided the end itself is kept steadily
| In view.
The people Of Ohio and in this section in
particular, desire TO realize the practical bene-
| fits of free Government, based upon mans
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