Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-05-26
A STUDY IN POLITICS,

opinion among Catholics in this country and
they seldom or never falter in support of that
party. A large majority of the Irish Catholics
vote on that side. 1t would be incorrect to
say all of them do so but most Catholics of
Irish nativity vote with the proslavery democ-
racy and seem to do it as a matter of course.
No careful observer of our politics has failed
to notice these facts with some curiosity; but
the true explanation of the matter is not al
ways given. 1t is most frequently alleged that
the Roman Catholic church is pro-slavery in
its teachings and sympathies, and therefore
gives its influence to the party called Demo-
cratic, because that party is the faithful agent
and champion of the institution of slavery.
But this is a mistake. The authority of that
church is against chattel slavery, and it is not
easy to find Catholic priest who will talk of
it as divine thing. They may tolerate and
excuse it, but they generally omit to describe
it as right and Christian. We cannot say what
would happen if Rome should be transferred
to South Carolina. In that case the institution
might be cannonized as the most sanity Of
human things
As the case now stands, it is not slavery as
an institution that attracts the Catholic press
to the Democratic party, but slavery as the en-
terminator of democratic principles. Some Cath
olics are earnest Republicans. Charles Carol
of Carrolton was a true-hearted lover of free
principles and no other mans name was more
intrepidly signed to the Declaration of indie
pendence. In this respect he was like many
other Catholics of that day as well as this but
in this respect he was totally unlike the Boston
Pilot. That paper denounced Republicans
and glorifed numbering despots in 1889. 1t
reviled Kossuth; it called freedom anarchy
and disorder; it denounced free principles as
frebrands and it talked as if Austria were
the hope of the world. 1t talks in the same
strain now, and uses but slight respect for pop
ular governments. We take the following
from the Boston Pilot of May 81:
of there be one sentiment predominant over
all other sentiments common to the people of
these United States, it is this Our institu-
tons, right or wrong; and destruction to all
other institutions wherever they exist Hence
we find, that whenever European govern
ment is callsd upon to suppress an insurrec-
ton, the general voice Of the American peo-
pie, and the press, which follows suit, sympa-
thises with the disorganizers. In turn, within
few years, Russia AUSTRIA France and Spain
have come in tor a share of American male
diction. AT present, Austria is the object of
attack. This is the inevitable result of the
training of the American mind. 1t starts with
the idea that the real beginning of the world
dates no further back than the Declaration of
lndQnpndappa and that ba idao cf oovarD
ment was first reduced to practical effect by
the adoption of the Constitution of the United
States. As to all other forms OF government
however long established, and however salts
factory to the majority of the people, who live
under them, the genuine representative Amer
lean holds, that they have no rights which he
is bound to respect"
1t is plain that the Pilot is not an admirer of
our institutions and this is very natural, for
the ideas out of which they grew are irrecon-
cilably opposed to its venerated Austrianism.
They perpetually accuse political despotism
and demand its overthrow. 1t is unfortunate
for eulogsts of the EARNED apostle of absolut-
ism and ultramontane priestcraft," that he and
his political system are not popular in this
country. The training of the American
mind" is not friendly to despotic govern
ments. 1t thrills US to read the story of Hun
gary and we believe the world can better af-
ford to lose a thousand Houses of Haps-
burg, than one Kossuth. That House of
Hapsburg is an unspeakabe curse to man.
kind; and American ideas naturally take the
side Of the millions who live blighted and st-
fed in the shadow of its dreary, desolating,
merciless despotism and when Italy and
Hungary strike for freedom, we bid them God
speed and long to strike with them. No man
can be an honest Republican and admire the
present condition of those countries. So much
the Pilot should understand very well.
The institution OF slavery, installed at
Washington, as our ruler, has done more than
anything else to pave the way for Austrianism
IN this country. 1t has moved men to call the
Declaration of Independence ga self-evident
lie, " to sneer at its great doctrines concerning
human rights and belittle their importance
by calling them "glittering generalities," and
to deny that freedom in this country is more
national than slavery itself. Therefore the
Boston Pilot and its friends uphold the pro-
slavery party. Ifthey can not have Austrian
ism, pure and simple, they will take what most
resembles it; that is to say, they will adopt
the democratic party, SO called, and do all in
their power to perpetuate its control of our
government. This is the true explanation of
their unhesitating and persistent adherence to
that party. But all Catholics are not ultra
montanists. There are many of the other
sort in this country as well as in Europe.
In the article from which we make the ex.
tract found above, the editor of the Pilot puts
forth very tender appeal to the slave power
in the United States. He deprecates our lack
of regard for Austria and her politics, and be
seeches the shareholders to consider that the
enthusiasm for " liberated Italy" is an anti
sLdue'y enthusiasm, and therefore not prcsenta
bic in slaveholding society. Now, our South
ern friends should think twice before they
strike hands with the disturbers of Italy, ,
says the ardent Pilot; and again, complaining
ly, "The most remarkable feature in the case
3, that at the South they fall into the same
error, but not to the same extent. In the
present question between Austria and Sardinia
and France, some Of the Southern papers have
fallen into the national error" The Pilot hopes
70 see this national error" corrected, and
looks TO sec the needed correction made BY
the institution of slavery which has already
done SO much to suppress democratic ideas
and paralyze enthusiasm for liberty.
Those who do not see the Boston Pilot do
not know how earnestly it devotes itself "a
politics. II is conducted with ability and in.