Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-03-20
Rome Advanoins in the United states.

Whig," from the January number of the
American and Foreign Christian Union. They
! contain matter of deep interest to every Ameri-
can citizen.
Is Romanism advancingf This question Is
often put to US It is put by persons residing
in widely different parts of the land and occu-
pying different positions in society. It's put
by strangers and by familiar acquaintances. Il
is asked by natives and by individuals Of for
eign birth. 1t is proposed by clergymen, law
yers, judges, merchants, mechanics, farmers,
and others still, a., in the discharge Of our
official duties, Providence brings us occasion
ally into their company.
in the manner Of the inquirers, clearly indica-
! ting on their part corresponding difference in
their estimates Of the thing itself, and also Of
their views Of its present and prospective posi-
tion in the world, and especially in the United
States
VIEWS OF MANY.
The question commonly relates to the sys-
tenn in our own country, but sometimes 1t con.
templates wider range. The majority who
put it, though somewhat unfavorably impress
db1 tradition or otherwise in relation to Ro-
manism, as religion or as an element of gov.
ernment, seem to have quite indistinct notions
either of its nature or its tendency, and to have
given it but little consideration, notwithstand.
ing the demonstrations it has made among us,
and the bitter experience Of the race, by means
OF it, for more than thousand years.
VIEWS OF THE FEW.
A few, however, of those who inquire, have
other views and feelings concerning it. They
have thought long and carefully upon the
whole subject. They have sought divine
guidance, that they might correctly understand
it. They have gone to the Sacred writings,
and studied it as spread out to view by inspired
prophets and apostles-they have read its sad
history in the Territories and governments
whose people allowed it place among them in
ancient times; and they have watched the
movements Of its lartizans in the present day
with deep concern; for they have learned to
distrust it in everything relating to human well
fare, and to regard it as comprising vast
number Of evils and some Of the severest kind
RoMIsH FORCE IN THE UNITED STATES.
Fifty years ago, which was in 1903, the
population of the United States was about
seven millions of souls. There was then a
small number Of Roman Catholics in the land,
but so scattered as to be scarcely perceptible,
except in the States of Maryland. Pennsylva-
MIA, and New York. The whole land at that
time contained but one Romish diocese, and the
entire ecclesiastical force consisted of 2 Bish-
ops, SO priests, 80 churches, ecclesiastical in
stitutions, female academies, and college.
Now, in 1858, the country comprises of Al
dioceses, having 80 bishops, 1872 priests,
2,053 churches, 35 ecclesiastical institutions,
30 Incorporated colleges, 1S4 female academies,
90 colleges not incorporated.
The Romish gain in the time is therefore 40
dioceses, 81 bishops, 1904 prizes s, 1878
churches, 33 ecclesiastical institutions, % COL
leges, 83 theological seminaries, 81 female
academies, and 20 unincorporated colleges
SILENCE NOT JusTiYIABLE
With these facts before us, and knowing, as
we do, that not less than quarter Of 4 million
ofdollars are annually sent into the country from
the Propaganda in Europe, in addition to the
large amounts raised here to proselyte our citi.
zens, educate our youth, and in various ways
to set forward Papal interests-when we know,
too, that we are feeling the effect of these efforts
more and more every year, not only in our
political affairs, but in our public-school sys-
tenn, in the public estimate Of the sdnctity of
the Sabbath, Of the udlue and sacredness Of
the B,ble, and upon our national morality !:
we see not how we can justify ourselves in
maintaining q silence which would but en-
courage the delusion that Romanism is not
rapidly gaining upon the land-or that IL Il is
gaining II is Of but little account, and will die
Of itself IL let alone--that Christians have but
little responsibility in regard to II, and may
safely neglect it, and the spiritual condition of
its deluded victims.
AMERICANS CHIEFLY RESPONSIBLE
These are humilating concessions, but such
as truth and facts, we believe, fully sustain.
But the state Of things they disclose Is not
necessary state. There is no necessity for the
growth Of this evil among us, and especially
for its relative position and power II owes Its
existence mainly to the conduct and will Of the
American people themselves-to their want Of
a proper appreciation and prompt performance
of their duty, in seeking the conversion of
these Papists to Christ.
roREIGNERs--ANNUAL ARRIvALs
While in the aggregate large number Of
the Romsnists with us, and larger perhaps than
many imagine, are natives Of America II Ia
true, that the majority are of foreign origin.
And il is Of comparatively recent date that
they have so increased as to awaken particular
concern.
To obtain striking view Of the increase, let
us go back, as we proposed in our former ar
ticle, fifiy years, and watch the tide of immi-
grafton from the Old World, as II sets in upon
our shores from that period 10 the epresent time.
We 20 back, then, to 1908. The arrivals in
that year, according to the United States GEN.
sus were about seven thousand. During the
next ten years, or to 1918, the average annual
arrivals were about elcpen thousand. From
1918 to 1928 the annual average was dimin-