Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-02-06
- 81 a1fIt .Hf'r ~ For INC OpectotWs
o.e,..eu. I'm cssuistry Tor Loeofoco Rhiles-


1 'l.a-s epl,-r,. - sf,iig
The great couoIaiots Of the Anti American y
4 paipst ihe American Party is ihiss That n ~
onnsed 10 relioioos liberty, and seeks to Interfere
with The right d the paplst ito ,rcr'''p Goa ae-
cordiag to bte dictates Of his eonseiencs;n
| On the other hand, ihe American Party dis
tiactly disciailnes ans such design. They are Hos
only willing that devopt Catholics shall be allow
ed 10 worship the one living and true God, acco'-
ding 10 The dictates Of their eonscienees, but also
that they shall worship him freely according TO
the dictates of that prieafy power which mas u
surped the place Of conscience and estab'isneo a
despotic authority in its stead. And not only 30,
bu: they are willing that they should be peTnsf-
! ted. without hinderance ffun the law, TO abandon
the worship of Gud, n whole or 10 part. and to on-
er their PRAYERS to creatures n his place. so far
as we are concerned, politically, these devout re-
\ liyionsts may do what the angel nthe Apocalypse
told st. John not to do, that is fall down and wOr-
ship the hosts of heaven, in preference 10 the
Creator. They may pay their prisons TO hundreds
| of dead men and women, including the boody per-
secntors whose names are enbahned in the Catholic
martyrology. They may hunt up sweet scented
relics from ssln,Iy sepuchres. and make Them the
objects of profound alteration; or rising froD base
ness into mysticism, contemplate with insase de-
yoIon. the inconceivable dogma of the Immaculate
Conception. All these, and innumerabe other
religions denominations or absnrdities they may
commit, 10 their hearts, content, and "scrordIng
to the dictates of the keepers Of their consciences,
without the least interference from the American
PARTY. should it ever come into power. We ad-
yocate no restriction whatever upon these most
cherished privileges Of the Spiritual bondsmen OF
the Pope. We 90 still further Although the
Pope may infaliibly determine the religious duty
of every Catholic, and would not therefore err, II
he should decide that all American Catholics are
in duty bound to support such or such political
pary, we would not on that account abrldge, IN
the slightest degree any Of the religious or polit-
cal rights of Catholic citizens. We proclaima q
federation which has no precedent in history-a
toleratiorwhich Romanism everywhere condemns,
and extend the ample Egis of American law over
every monstrous form Of religious error. Is that
Prescription
Such is the first question we would PROFOUND 70
our Locofoco friends. But there are few others
at hand: viz.
: Is It persecution or prescription for two or mora
American citizens to agree together that they Will
not vote for one whu owes higher alleganc 70
the Pope than he owes To the Constitution oftbe
United States2 s.s -
Isit persecution or prescription for any mum.
ber of American citizens TO agree tnat !hey VIII
not vote for those who regard with profound rev.
erence and religious affection. European depot
who is the declared enemy Of religious and civi
liberty? ses3
Isit wrong for American citizens to agree to-
gether never to support or political office those
who are perfectly willing to see several millions
Of Italians ground to earth by French or Austrian
bayonets in the service 0fthe Pope nis
Is it wrong for American citizens to combine
their votes 10 exclude from Office those who sP-
prove the decisions OF the Pope, that liberty 70
worship God according to the dictates of Prote:-
fants conscience is an which he will not tol-
crate in his dominions
Do not all the Catholics approve Of that decis-
ion, in acknowledging the infallibility Of the
Pope2
9 Is it true Democracy to deny the right OF A
merican citizens to withhold their votes from al
persons Of suspected patriotism
Is it true Democracy I, maintain that mans
opinions in regard TO the rights OF conscience have
nothing TO do with his fitness for political officef
Such are few only of the many questions
which the Anti American Party may entertain tor
century or two before they dare to return honest
and consistent answers.
The last offer is this: If a man worship the
moon '.according TO the dictates OF his conscience
and take a witch tor his infallibe spiritual
adviser, being in other respects sound democrat,
may he properly be elected to the Presdeneai
chair? VlNDEX.