Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-02-06

alt them to the level of our Democracy sober
and shape their DIM and enthusiastic ideals
into energetic, prudent and self-reHant Amer
icanism. Our gigantic Union win fold them
to her bosom, broad as the Continent, feed
them with the abundance of her forests, laoun-
tains, lakes, and plains. and share with them
all her liberties and all her greatness
a foreigner never can be President In
the active competition for place, but few of
such can ever reach the loftiest and most i'm
portant Offices. Therefore, to organize great
party for the purpose of keeping adopted eiti-
zens out of all Offices. even petty municipal
ones, is tossing ocean into tempest to drown
flies; it is giant giving gratuiteus exhibitions
Of idiocy
But thereis another fatal objection to Know
Nothingisn, and that is, its religious intoler-
ance. 1t would exclude from Office every Ro-
man Catholic citizen This is grossly un-
constitutional No law can be passed refu-
sing Office to citizen on account of his reli-
gion. And why? Because the mere estab-
IsHmcnt of tie test is abhorrent to enlighten-
ment and liberty. To render any right or
privilege dependent on religious opinion, is
in itself an inequality, and despotism. 1t
is just as unconstitutional in spirit and effect,
to set up such a test by indercction, by parti-
zan organization and obligation If we can
not prescribe by law, can We prescribe acith-
oit law =?
1t is mournful that Americans should shut
their eyes to the liberalism and historic science,
and benign ideas of the nineteenth century.
1t is mouruful that they should gravely and
eagerly revert to the fogy Toryism that oppo-
sed Catholic Emancipation in Great Britain
and Ireland, to the pitiful grannyism of the
Titus Oates panic-to the owlish bigotry of
exploded ages. Suppose the Roman Catholic
religion to fe ever so false-let old Plus be
the Scarlet Woman in proper person-let Cath
olics believe in his infalibility and his author
ity ever so devoutly-yet all this is no reason
or excuse for foul and paltry intolerance.
Let Mrs. Partington insist that every '' Pa
pist' is an allegiant vassal of an Italian Bish-
op-men of sense know that CASTOR, fancy,
Meagher, Chandler and Carroll, are as good
Republicans as ever tied a white cravat or
sung psalm. Irish ecclesiastics may have
said and done a few absurd things-so may
over-zealous converts-but should this fright
en- our big Nation from its proprety-from its
sense and justice We have not survived so
many perils, and ''grown so great" to be oap-
tured aud tied up by this terrible gentleman
John Hughes.
But it is to be hoped that this insane fit of
intolerance is rapidly subsiding into that broad
and liberal sense which is so '' native in the
American people. Meanwhile, it is the duty
of all who comprehend our liberty and cur
Constitution. to bear explicit testimony against
rampant bigotry. For one, l cannot feel sat
isiied 20 remain with any party that hesitates
or fears to denounce it BY the blood of
Montgomery, and the spotess heroism of La
fayette, and the sacred memory of Carroll,
protest against Know-Nothingism or any al
lance with it
Repeating my assurances of regard | re-
main yours, respectfully,
GEoRGE 4. CoFFEY