Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-06-13
"Americans Will Rule America

"Americans Will Rule American
After what we have so often said, it is
scarcely necessary for Us TO repeat the language
of the american Democrat, that we wage no
war upon the Roman Catholic religion as SUCH
So far as concerns its spiritual character, it is
as sacred to us as the members of the church
themselves; but, so soon as it is permitted TO
identify itself with political movements of the
country, as distinct organization, we feel
bound to meet aud repel it, to the utmost of
our ability, what we conceive to be gross
outrage upon American civil and political
rights The forefathers of many OF Us shed
their life's blood TO sever the union of Church
and State, and we, as their descendants, are
bound TO preserve the glorious heritage of fre1-
dom ofconscience bequeathed to Us by them.
1t matters not, in our opinion, whether the
offenders be Romanists or Protestants, so soon
as the members of any religious sect avail
themselves of their communion of faith IN
spiritual matters, for the purpose Of O0tG1nang
and retaining political pOaoer for their OWn ex-
elusive benefit, so soon do they array them
selves against the letter, as well as the spirit
Of our free institutions, as established under
the constitution.
The St. Louis Leader, the avowed organ of
the Roman Catholic Church in that city, has
come out in open advocacy of the principle
that religious belief is to be admitted Of fright,
as a controlling element of political orgsnizs-
ton. To this and all assumptions of similar
character, we declare our opposition to the
utmost The paper above named, in speaking
of the Benton party of that State, complains
in angry terms that tn ere are but three Cath
oLic candidates nominated out of twenty-three.
We think that the term Catholic does not ex-
cusively belong to the Church of Rome, and
therefofe, in speaking of the members OF that
church, we, as Protestsnts, claiming the same
catholicity of faith, term them Roman Catho-
lies, not through any want of respect what
ever, but simply because, as we understand 1t,
they believe in the supremacy OF the Pope OF
Rome, temporal as well as spiritual. To re-
turn to our immediate subject. The Leader
referred to above, speaks of the existence OF
the Catholic party, and says that "the Demo-
cratic party's strength is in the Irish and there
is found the trueSt and steddiest loyalty to IT
and to Benton, IT STRIKES Us AS POSITIVE
CoNTEMPT-MARKED SLIGHT PUT UPON THEM
AND UPON U.s."
Here we have an express declaration that in
free america, the strength of the Democratic
party consists in ats being the party Of IRISH
Roman Catholics, who are entitled, as such, to
representation in the Legislative and Execu-
tive Departments of the Government. il there
is to be any recognition of religious faith in
the constitution of our Legislative Assemblies
and Executive Departments, we hold that all
sects are equally entitled to consideration, and
what is the RESULT why that in framing our
political tickets there must be as far as posi-
ble, a representative or representatives for
each sect. We imagine that it would be rather
difficult to carry out such an arrangement, as
the number of sects in every large community,
in the country, very far exceeds the number OF
names on any ticket to be formed, in any given
section of country. The very idea is absurd,
and as impudent as it is absurd, in addition to
which it is totally inconsistent with the genius
and policy of our Government. Can Roman
Catholics be so UnIoise as TO allocate such
sentiment, as a religious denomination? are
they prepared to take the consequences of such
a measure, in Protestant american Having
fed from religious persecution in the land OF
their nativity, are they willing TO renew
strife in which they must be UdnquiShed!
However the Archbishop OF New York may
have thought it becoming his holy calling, 10
WELD the masses OF foreign Roman Catholics,
SO rs to advance the political purposes of HIM
self and his allies, not forgetting his particular
friend, Mr.. Seward, he aud they had better be-
ware, before they go too far, and convert an
heretofore purely political IN Its
character, into a struggle between Protestant
ism and Roman Catholicism, as antagonlstic
political elements Such state of things
would be dreddful indeed, here, as it has been
wherever it has taken place aud we had hoped
that in free America, at least, the Roman
Catholic Church would have been satisfied
hahn cd IN N
own way, without venturing to arrogate TO
itself the control of political power, which
belongs to ten Protestans for one Roman Cath
Ole. We now speak of Foreign Roman Cath
olics, especially AS for Roman Catholics who
are finland born and to the manner bred" we
love them, apart from the political aspirations
of their Hierarchy, as our countrymeu and as
children of the same great and good parent,
and we conjure them not TO suffer set OF am-
bilious foreign priests to involve them in the
of such a movement
II, in the political contests OF the day, they
feel bound TO take sides with the See Of Rome
and ats foreign agents, lei them say so; but If,
as ICE 6eLiere they love their HGtire land first,
last and all the time, and will acknowledge no
other political allegiance, than that which
binds them to its Constitution and laws, Ist
them say so like men. Let them proclaim to
the world that. in America, however the
worshippers of God according 10 the ritual of
the Romish Church, may venerate the spirit
nal head of that Church, they 60 no farther.
We believe this to be the feeling of the edu-
Gated and enlightened amongst them, and,
therefore, we clesve to them as members Of
the same great political family to which we
belong, and wish them to unite with as, how
aver we may differ from them in matters of
religious faith. The choice is with them. Are
hey for us or against us' If the former let
hem join us in resisting the imposition of a
foreign yoke, uhich is none tile less degrading
because 10 is wrapped an the Uestments Of the
anctuGry, for, cost what it may, Americans
will rule America "-Ne,odrk Eagle.