Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-10-28
From the n. Y. 'ScaIpel," "
POPERY AND PIG-STIES.
THEIR NAruRAI AFFIN1TIEs.


graduation of the people, who contemptu-
ously designated Laity-is the theme of this
essay. We must first make the fact appear
clearly, and then endeayor to trace the cause
of such state of things, accurately.
The highest elimination of grandeur and
greatness, for the Pope and his Priests, has
! passed. For this assertion, we have an abun-
| dance of proof, and the authority of one of the
abest, if not the very ablest of Papal authori-
ties, Cardinal Wiseman. We heard him as
sert this in his four great Discourses on the
Dogmas of the Catholic Church-since pub
lished. OF course the admission was humilia
ting to the Cardinal, but it was also creditabe.
The three great causes of the reduction of
the Pope and the Priests, from their former
colossal grandeur, to their present retrenched
and dilapidated condition, were: 1st. Martin
| Luther, and the consequent Reformation. ID
The invention of the art of printing, and the
! translation and diffusion of the Bible. 3D.
The French Revolution, and the Emperor Ma
| poleon.
If the Pope had the satisfaction of seeing
the Emperor deposed, he must, and did confess,
| that he himself had first been subdt.ed. After
Napoleon put his Imperial foot on the Papal
| neck, it was never strong enough TO carry its
head very high. The whole OF the Papal spine
has been very weak ever since, and all the
strychnine in the world, is unable to set it
straight and strong-though 1t may some day
make it stiff.
| Before the events to which we refer, the peo-
pie. universally, at the feet of the Pope
and the Priests. Now, millions of them are
aiming at their Hroats, and in due time will
fasten on them with such thorough devotion.
that no power win be able to shake them off.
They have had their glut of gorgeous pro-
cessions, and imposing ceremonies, and are
doubtful of the value of their solemn services.
Even the present Pope, ssPio Nono,' had to
run away from s:the faithful disguised as
chamber-maid, in order to save his holy throat
from being cut. Even now, with the pious
and potent protection of ten thousand French
troops, he is not safe from poison one hour.
Still the Pope lives in palace, and his Car
dinals and ArchbisIrops live in the style of
princes. The inferior clergy live by some
means, like gentry; and the clerical portion of
the Roman Catholics, form the Catholic
| Church.
|
spectacle. educated classes, consisting of pro-
| fesSional men, merchants, and shopkeepers,
are the main supporters of the Pope and the
Priests. 1t is the lower orders of society, that
| prop up Popery. There are more pig-sties in
| Ireland, devoted to the cause of Popery, than
to the sustentation of the peasantry. For
| peasant to starve, may be lamentablc (; but for
a Priest to suffer, would be sacrilege. What
would an IriShman be, without his Priest
The Democracy of this country are by no
means particular ,cho the persons are that vote
for and support them. If one of the Democra-
tic politicians get into office--that is, can
get pay--he does not inquire too narrowly by
whom, or by what means. Perhaps he would
have no objection to swear that he was appoin-
ted by God, to his ofice-it that were necessa-
ry to secure it-since he does swear to lie
equally great, that he is elected by the people.
The Priesthood of the Roman Church appear
to be just as Indifferent as to who supports
them. All that they ask is, that they be sup
ported. If the tattered tenants of cabins ard
shantics, or even the inhabitants of pig-sties.
are their means of support, it will do. Be
supported they must and will.
The lazzaroni of Italy and Naples, and the
bandits of Southern France and Spain, are the
derotees of the clergy. In Ireland, the
ragged, the wretched, and the homeless, are
the most deyout and bigoted.
The most ignorant and degraded of the Pea
sant1y of France, are the persons most attach
ed to the Church. The lower orders in cities
have their wits too much sharpened to be led
as blindly as the country. They see more be-
hind the scenes of the Church, and are too
much aware of what stuff the clergy are made
of, to worship them.
Indeed, an army of beggars and fools is re-
guisite to sustain the Pope and the Priests,
and is quite as efectual a defense against the
inroads of property and knowledge,
my of bayonets. Let any one 60 into Ro-
man Church, and observe who are the most
thorough devotees, and bead-counting kneel-
ers. OF such are the faithful
The expense of suoh tribe of spiritual loaf
ers as Priests and Monks, involves the conse-
quence of beggared and befooied mass OF
people Who that has been at Rome, at Ma
| pies at Paris, or at Brussels, can see the mas
ses of upproductive and devouring Priests,
Monks. and Nuns, without asking: CIV bat
| use are they 2'' If they say that they repeat
prayers, this can be done better, and cheaper,
! by machinery.
| But let us come nearer home. The Cathe-
dial where that most reverend and dignified
person, Archbishop Hughes, minlsters-we
mean performs-is surrounded by piggeries