American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-04-19

arc tho antlpodcs Of each other-wid,
as the poles asundcr. Lafayette un.
| derstood fully the antagonistic nature
OF the two systems--he had seen Ro-
manism IN its essence at homc---hcnce,
after sheathing the sword which he so
valiantly welded in defence of Repub-
-l'can institutions-hc gave Americans
OF successive generations the prophetic
edmonton, "If ever the Liberties of +
this country are destroyed, it will be
through the Vaccinations of Romish
priests, !" And now, when Roman Ca
tholiclsm assumes so comely an exteri-
or, and an attitude SO seemingly loyal,
by the apparently plausible machtna-
tons Of Romish priests, such as Brown
son, those words of Lafayette should
be reiterated until they become famil-
lar to Americans as household words.
But, let US compare the Lecture Of
Mr.. Brownson with his language eleven
years ago, as found in the April num-
Der (1S45) of his Catholic Quarterly
Review, where he speaks "by authori-
ty" as a flaming Catholic, and editor
of an organ of the Church. Let it be
borne in mind that the Lecture was de-
livered to New York mixed assembly
to gull the people into Brownson's new
tangled proposition of the COMPATIBLE
ty of "thc Church and the Republic"
while the following was deliberately
pcnncd in his studio as editor of the
Quarterly Review: .rrj -.
" But would you have this country
come under the authority of the Pope?
Why not +? But the Pope would take
away our free institutions = Nonsense,
But how do you know that? From
what do you infer it? After all do
you not commit slight blunder?
Are your free institutions infallible :!
Are they founded on divine right :?
This you deny. Is not the proper
question for you to discuss, then, not
whether the Papacy be or be not COM
pGttbte Nth republican government,
but whether it be or be not founded in
I dicine right2 If the Papacy be foun-
ded i'll divine right, it is supreme over
whatever is founded only in human
right, and then your institutions sho'd
be made to harmonic with it, not it
! with your institutions. The
real question, then, is, not the compat-
Utility or incapatibility of the Catholic
Church with Democratic institutions,
but, is the Catholic Church the Church
Of God? Settle this question first
But, III point Of fact, Democracy is II
mischievous dream, wherever the Cath
/ olic church docs not predominant, TO
inspire the people with reverence, and
to teach and accustom them to o6e0i-
cnce to authority. The first lesson for
i all to learn, the last that should be for
gotten, is, to obey You can have no
government where there is no obedi-
cncc and obedience to law, as it is
called, viii not long be enforced, where
the fallibility Of law is clearly seen and
! freely admitted. =. But 'it is the
intention Of the Pope to possess this
country. Undoubtedly. In this in
tention he is aided by the Jcsuits, and
all the Catholic prolatcs and priests
Undoubtedly, if they arc faithful to
their religion"
After the above plain avowal and
additional remarks in similar strain,
Brownson comes to the following con-
clusion:
THAT tho policy Of the Church is
dreaded and opposed, and must be
dreaded and opposed, 10y all protostants,
inhdels, dcmagogucs: tyrants, and OPP
prcssors, is also unquestionably true.
Save, then, in tho discharge Of our civil
duties, and in the ordinary business of
life, there is, and can be, no harnony
6etaceen Catholic$ and Professionals"
The chameleon changes of Romish
tactics, in this country, is a subject in
which Americans cannot be too we'll or
too thoroughly posted. tits the moro
demanded now than ever before, too,
because q great political party, that
used to rally at the battle-shout Of DE
mocracy,' undor such leaders as Jack
son and Jefferson, has, in these latter
days Of political corruption, become
ALLIED to Roman Catholicism in the
United States. The great danger that
exists that that party may become en-
tircly cstranged from genuine Domoc-
raty by such insidious fallacies as those
Of their new friends DR.. Brownson and