The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-08-08

ica power on account Oh bheir rohSlou. Inc NUT
mons, perhaps would charge US with prescribing
them account of their religion. should we with
hold our suffrages from members of that church,
who should be aspirants TO political elevation be-
their obligation of obedience to the head Of
their church is paramount to every other obga-
zion, and they practice polgamy; and this would
they do with equal propriety, for these are relig-
ious observances with them. But, where is there
Roman Catholic who would not object to lend
ing his influence in any the least degree. in ee-
waiting one of the followers of Brigham Young to
any political pest whatever-and for The simple
that he owes supreme aud paramount ODE
diencc 10 the head of his church, and believes that
the practice of polgamy 10 holy and christian
ordinance
There Is not one, ii Is very certain With what de-
gree ofustice then, do they complain of the Aneri-
cans for Directing to the elevation pot cal stations
Of such members of their church believe that
they owe paramount obedience to the Pope OF
Rome, and that he is the supreme expounder, for
them, Of the Constitution of the United States?
That there are among us such Roman Catholics,
none will pretend to deny, and that there may be
some who do not acknowledge such obedience, we
do not deny. Hence the modification Of the Amer
lean platform explanatory Of the article on this
subject showing that our objection applies solely
to such as would obey the Popes mandates rather
than those of our civil and political authorities,
should they come in conflict.
II is not enough for Roman Catholics to declare
that the obedience they owe to the Pope is
purely religious spiritual obedience they
have the liberty which no honest Romanist will
claim--to question and dispute mandate Of the
Pope given in the most solemn manner from the
" Chair Of Peter" To assert this liberty, were to
claim the right Of individual opinion or private
Judgment all know is heresy. We are
aware that Papists will say to this" we only give
up the right of opinion to the Pope in matters OF
religion in temporals we claim the right OF pri-
yate Judgment" We understand all this very well;
but, we are now speaking Of cases where the Pope
speaks er cathadra--for and in the name of the
whole ehurch--an emphatically declares the sub
iect matter a purely spiritual affair, though all
the world, excepting his subjects, know, without
a doubt, that it is not so. Have we, among us,
any Roman Catholics who, in such case, would
venture to say in the face Of amathema-"I deny
the authority9" We know that there are, in Eu
rope, millions of such; and they have manifested
themselves on various occasions; but, they have
invariably been denounced as heretics.
What sucl RoInanists with us might be con-
sidered by the church we know not; but, OF this
we are certain--if any such were known to the
American party they would not be classified by
that party with aliens, or the enemies OF our re-
publican institutions.
We believe it is a fact, that the Roman Catho-
! lies of Europe-excepting the lrish-are better
friends OF lberty-we speak particularly OF free
dom from church tyranny-(and really there is
scarcely any other kind Of tyranny at this day in
the world y than those of the United States are.
| Nothing but armed forces restraints them from as.
seiting their rights. If the armies of France and
Austria we're withdrawn from Italy, the Pope with
Ill other tyrants there would take to fight in three
days-nay, three minutes. The recent demonstra-
lion in Belgium thoroughly Roman Catholic
country with Protestant kings very good in
dication of the general feeling of the masses of
Papists on the continent of Europe towards the
priesthood especially the Jesuits and convents.-
We have seen that the attempt to take the chart
table fund of the kingdom from the civil admin
itrators and restore it TO the priesthood, nearly
caused a rebellion. Had not the project been
abandoned, bloody civil war would in all prob
ability, have ensued. The cry of /" Doom NTH the
.Jes,itsl DOM NTH the Contents" induced seve-
raj editors in the United States, in their ignorance
| 20 give their notice of the event caption Of GA
PROTESTANT REBELLION IN BELGIUM
| They ought to have known that there are no Pro-
Nestants in Belgium-or next to none; although
the king Is Protestant, there scarcely twenty
thousand Protestants scattered through the king
dom. Had those editors referred to the foreign
papers, they might have seen that not Protestant
was complicated in the affair.
Bot, 70 return TO the main subject The Amer
lean party consider politics and religion as being
radically and completely different things and hav-
ing sworn eternal hostility 10 the union Of church
and state "a well as 10 every species OF tyranny
over the mind Of man. it is bound 70 exert Ia
power TO keep politics and religion far asunder In
this conntry. Standing on this principle, and be-
lieying that the poverty aud oppression of the
wo, king people OF Europe Is mainly attributable to
the uniyn Of church aud state, Americans must re-
gard with great distrust all who adhere to and
openly support system the very pillar and ground
| 4 which Is this same union ofchurch and state.
Again The American party hold the doctrine
Of supremacy 10 ss.ste. Of the eisH authority,
| and the subordination OF the ecclesiastical No
human operatives should be permitted 70 lord u
over the people, shield themselves nom the op-
Grafton Of The municipal laws under the garb Of
religion aud the rights of conscience IL is the
rightii l. the duty Of the civil power 10 examine
and determine al State affairs, and when srigh'
IA claimed a. Of conscience religion, it J. for that
power TO prove lie genus and species BY the rules
Of right reason, the conventional rules Of society
and by common sense. That governing ut Is veal
or ueacherous 70 the people which yields Itself u