The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-05-27
TUESDAY, MAY ~, 1856.

Pierce and the Democratic party for some
time, came at last to the ''furriners'' and
Catholics, when he became graadiloquent.
The poor Catholics were mathematical in
the severest terms. He would not vote for
one, for any ofice-and from the excitement
which he exhibited on the subject, we could
not but think he would take pleasure in
having Catholic roasted every morning
for his breakfast. He was savage as a
meat-axe upon the Catholic religion, while
he was quite complimentary upon Fo-
testantism. In this, we could not help slyly
thinking, there was an object. But, we will
not assign motives, whatever we may think.
If the voters, however, were nearly all
Catholics instead of Potestants, it is proba-
BILE that so much fiery indignation would
not have been exhibited against them. We
felt at the time curious to know whether or
not the speaker was pious member of any
church. We are yet in the dark on this
subject, although we must say, if he is
member of a church, he did not exhibit
very christian spirit on the occasion to
which we allude. Illiberal denunciation of
one church against another, is no evidence
of genuine spirit of Christianity. Each
branch of Professors would do well to aim
to secure their own salvation, without med
ding themselves about their neighbours re-
igion. If they can manage to secure their
own salvation, it will probably be as much
as they will be able to accomplish. The
Know Nothing party finding fault with the
religion of others! Is it not funny! O.,
the pious souls They are all bound for
heaven, no doubt Thousands of them
with no religion at all-never had any, and
in all probability never will have any. find
ing fault with the religion of others Oh,
consistency, thou art a jewel! Staggering
about the streets, high ways. and byways
denouncing the Catholic religion, while they
have no religion of any kind themselves !!
We do not wish to be understood as advo-
Gates or apologists of the Catholic religion.
We are amongst those who care but little
about professions, whether Catholic or Pro-
testant. We respect all, by whatsoever
name they may bear, who are sincere and
conscientious in their religious opinions, let
them be however so much mistaken in their
faith. If man acknowledges his accounta-
bility to, and dependence upon God, and
worships him in spirit and in truth, by doing
unto others as he would be done by, we care
not whether he be Protestant or Catholic.
Hypocrites, with which, we fear, the world
has many, we despise-and we have no
doubt they are to be found in all Churches,
Protestant as we'll as Catholic. But, what
has a mans religious belief to do with his
patriotism? Cannot he be good citizen and
love his country, if he is believer in the
Catholic Church, Known Nothingism, in
effect, says he cannot, for it not only pro-
scribes him and denies him the privilege OF
holding any office of trust, but goes so far
as to say that he is not to be trusted even il
he has married Catholic woman Is not
and absurdity of the warfare against Cath
olicism! An American born, with merits as
a citizen of the very highest order, is to be
prescribed, and placed as it were ON the
footing Of the negro, who is not allowed to
hold office, simply because he may have &C
cidentally married Catholic girl! This
feature of Known Nothingism ought alone to
damn it, for illiberality and absurdity, with
out any other of its many odious and nom
sensical features. But, say this new Order
of Religionists, the Pope of Rome governs
his Church here, and we suppose wives, like
the Pope, govern their husbands. The
Pope of Rome and the Catholics ''ruling
America" The very essence and quin-
tessence of nonsense. The seventh census
shows that the number of foreigners in this
country are 2,24O,535, and the natives
2O,O3l ,569-toco foreigners to every twenty
natives, and yet we are in danger of for
eigners! Let war break out tomorrow with
England, and who will be first and foremost
in offering their services to fight our battles!
Why these much-abused and now alleged
disloyal Irishmen. Who fought our battles
with Mexico! Thousands of Irishmen, side
by side with our own countrymen, making
war against Catholic Mexico-thus giving
the lie to the charge that Catholic is to
his country disloyal and untrue where his
Church is concerned. All Churches have
their Popes, SO far as influence over their
members is concerned, but we would not
| undertake to say that that influence in any
case is exercised against the interests of the
country, for we do not, unlike Know-N Noth-
ingism, believe that it is, in any CASE
Who was it defended Suttle, of Alexandria,
when he went to Boston after his runaway
slave, Anthony Burns? A Boston mob OF
Abolitionists were surrounding Suttle's ho-
tel. threatening every moment his life, 70,
attempting to secure his property, when a
large body of Irishmen went forward and
| assured him that if he should be murdered
the abolitionists would first have to walk
over their dead bodies. And what com.
panies were they that were disbanded ir