True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-08-26
ARE WE INTOLERANTi

to attach to us names and epithets. cal.
culated to njure oar reputation. The
charge of religious intolerance has been
must perseveringly reiterated. Is there
any proof to support il? Ii is said we
desire to dsprlve men Of rights guaranteed
TO them BY the Constitution, on account
Of their religion. We do not hesitate to
say that the American party has exhibited
more tolerance and librrAlity in regard to
matters Of religious faith and personal
riphts, Than either Of the other parties
has shown.
ltis not pretended that Americans have
shown an inloIefanl feeling towards any
religious sect but one The religious
sentlmen. of most of those who compose
the American party is that Of protestant
christianity. YET we 6nd in thel party
men of The most various laith, The
Jews, the oldest and most hitter enemies
of the christian religion. Quakers. who
contemn the ordinances which most chris
Ians venerate Unitarians, and Umver-
saIisls. who oppose Some of the iunda-
mental doctrines of orthodox christianity,
and men who make NO profession Of re-
nglun. All of these are found working
together harmoniously in opposlng com
mon danger. Is it not plain that reIig-
Gus ianh has nulhlng to do with the prln
ci, les Of the American party aud that
It shows M hoSlIity towards men whose
creeds are different from lhuse Of lhe
great majority oi that pally !
Why lhen, it may be asked, are we
found opposing the tncroachments of the
Roman Catholic chuIch? We answer,
simply because thl chulch is political,
as well as a religions body. 1t asks for
privileges not granted TO, nor asked for
by any oller religious body. The Amer.
lcan party does no; oppose the granting
to the Roman Catholic church any priv.
lege which hey themselves enjoy or ask
for. The Roman Catholic church goes
iuto our State legislatures and asks that
the property Of their congregations may
be he'd by the clergy and that succeed
ing priests may inherit it. Such a meas
ure Is entirely inconsistent with the geni.
us of our institutions, and would be more
dangerous 10 The liberties of our country,
than the system of primogeni'ure which
the founders of lhe Amencan R5pubic
were SO careful to abolish. The Roman
Catholic church asks that the Bibe-tre
foundation of christian failh-be excluded
from our schools. 1t does not point out
errors Of translation and ask for the inlro:
ducion Of more perfect edition; it de
sires to deprive the outh of our country
OF the knowled &c contained IN that sacred
book. Aie not these measures calculated
To awaken alarm IN the minds Of the
American people But the Roman Cath,
olic church is no! merely political body
i. is foreign one. The government oI
that institution Is not in our country nor
has it any sympathy with The republican
freedom Of our country. The fact tha
The members of that church. who are OF
foreign birth, vote in body, under lht
drecuen ul some potent head, has Ion.
been apparent 10 the American people
Z and The evldenre nf his fact first aroused
j. us to a sense Of the danger. American
$ make no war upon religious faith /; bu
! desire 10 see Others enjoy the same priv
leges which they have secured for them
selves. Let the members OF the Romls
). church put themselves uton the sam
= fuoling with ourselves. We invite then
j. to The enjoyment of more liberty lha
y they lave asked for. Let them abando
# the political features Of their church. :
- | / nj
e act as poitical body; let them cease
IL ask for peculiar political privileges Il
'. them terminate their allegiance TO a fo
g. eign Monarch and cease to be directe
a in political affairs by his emissaries al
lg no American will molest them in the e!
y, srcise Of their religious faith or worshil
= All otter denominations in our counti
II. are Independent Of foreign control ma
age their own affairs own their own e
S. igces and other property choose tho
;R whom they think best fitted +" to minist
ly unto them in holy things )" in a wor
ur they enjoy the most perfect religious FIRE
nd dom and it is such freedom F; that Anne
IT'S leans desire to see Roman Cathotics e
n JOY in our country If they prefer to +
" fuse This liberty, let them not call us ]
k. colerant if We check their foreign rule
N, when they ask for special privileges.
en- How is it with the other parties :
lis il not notorious that the Wing party
he 1914 was bitterly opposed and defeaic
s in consequence q having nominated
i II .l..I. r.. ~ . ". N u.-.l.... ~