Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-07-31

The Chicago Press and Tribune is agitating
the question whether Mr.. Douglas is a Cath
ole, and Republican papers are copying it.
They were not troubled about Mr.. Douglass
condition when they supposed that he had no
religion, and was thought to be rather hard
case. It is only since It was thought that he
might be a Catholic, that this anxiety began.
It would seem by this that they would prefer
that Mr.. Douglas should go to hell, than that
he should be saved by Catholic faith. That
is Christian spirit.
The Press and Tribune has n communica-
ton, which it AYERS is from a responsible
source, which says that Mrt Douglas sis the
owner or renter of II pew in Catholic
church in Washington, that the door of the
pew has on it large plate inscribed with his
name, rs. A. Douglas" and that when he
goes to church in Washington City he sits in
that pew"
This is a dreadful state of thingsl but as il
it was not bad enough to be a Catholic, and
have pew In a Catholic Church, aggravatine
the offense by large door-plate with his
name on it, the writer adds "There he is be.
leved to conform to the ceremonial require.
ments of the Catholic Church, and to indorsC
its policy Conforms to its ceremonial re.
quirementsl Very likely he makes the sign
of the Cross which we all know is Papish
SYMBOL and perhaps he kneels in Church.
If he does, of course he kneels to the Romish
images and saints But what most aggra-
Yates the case is that he endorses its policy
Think of member of the Presbyterian or
Episcopaliau Church indorsing its policyl
This stuff is used us campaign ammunition
against Mr.. Douglas. Suppose these papers
carry their point and establish the rule that
should not be President. 1t would be only a
Protestant rule, and would carry its corol-
larry, that Catholics should not vote for a
Protestant; thus the rule introduces religious
tests into our elections and establishes the
principle of union of church and state at
once. We say it establishes the principle of
n union of church and state in its broadest
sense then all we will need viii be some
way of putting it in practice; and let it be
remembered that we have little germ of
State religion now in existence, which can he
expanded to any dimensions
We have army and navy chaplaius, ap-
pointed by the Presideut--a nice little
church establishment, which can be expanded
with the growth of our army and navy, dock
yards, and Notifications. Let any one take
the ratio OF increase of the army within his
wn recollection, and calculate the future by
it, remembering its constantly accumulating
increase. from its increasing political power,
and taking the contingencies of wars of con-
quest or Defense into the calculation, aud
including the navy and the forts, and he will
see that our church establishment, though
but a grain of mustard-seed now, has the
capacity to grow until the whole country
shall be under its shade Suppose all this
Government influence is added to great
Church, whose preponderance is already so
much feared that the fear is appealed to for
political purposes, what would be the prob
able consequence
The Catholics have just as much right to
make u religious test in favor of Catholic
for President, as Republicans or Americans
have against him. and suppose they should
succeed in a contest into which Protestants
had introduced this principle, would they
not have a right to use their power in our
church establishment? We say seriously,
that the American people, in nourishing a
church establishment, which will expand
with that ever-expanding power--a standing
army and navy-and in making religious tests
in pOlitics are fOOlinp with hill that onn of
these days will have his horn into them.