The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-11-04
Protestant and Popish Countries.


by comparison Of purely Roman Cath
olic countries with tLose that are Protes-
tant. Purely Roman Catholic, we say,
because in some nominaNu Roman Cath
Ollie countries, where the masses are Pa
pists. but where science, genius and lit
elature have made great progress, as in
the case Of France, it will be found there
is large infusion Of Professionalism or
Sceplic5m, and this leayen gives an in
telectual activity which Popery would
otherwise completely destroy. This nee
essary effect Of Papacy we propose brief
" 10 consider.
1t will be admitted on all hands, we
think, that population, labor, riches and
power, mutually procure one another, and
always go together. Where there are
but few people, and those few are not en-
ployed, there will be little wealth, and as
little power consequently, those govern
ments which provide least for the in
crease OF their people, and for the EN-
ployment o. those that they have, must
be depressed accordingly. BY these
tests lei us try Protestant and Popish
countries.
In the Popish states Of Europe there
are million or more Of male ecclesns-
tics, and almost as many of the other sex,
who By their religion are hindered from
marriage, and all, or at any rate, most Of
them, subsi,t upon what is produced by
the people, without contributing any
thing TO the public wealth, either by
their labor, or out of their immense re-
sources, which are wholly exempted from
taxes, as are their persons from wars.
On de contrary they have ~ other bus
mess bu: to fascinate and turn the brains
Of weak and enthusiastic people, and make
them loter (ter masses and useless har-
rangues, and to fill their heads with
senseless speculations and wild chimeras,
which make them either useless or dan
gerous, and the ready tools of the turbu-
lent and seiitious-serious evils which
are far better guarded against in Protes-
tant safes.
In popish countries very large por-
ton Of time is spent in most rsligiously
worshipping dead men and women under
the name of Saints, in all which time the
people do not work to support their fam
lilies, but must contribute out of the little
which remains, to pay their oppressors
for preaching them out Of their wits.
In consequence of this the public loses
al! that the people would earn in those
days, to say nothing Of the miserable
habits thus entaiIed upon them. In
Protestant countries, all, or most, of this
rumpery is laid aside. and it is more
reasonably beloved that the Deity is not
worshipped by his creatures starving
themselves, neglecting their useful occu
pations, and weakening their country.
In popish countries great part of the
year is spent in keeping Lent, in observ-
ing fass, and the like, when the common
people, By their poverty, are reduced TO
live upon pu'rescent or unwholesome
food, whence many OF them perish, and
the rest are SO weakened and enervated
as to be rendered unfit for vigorous and
continued labor. Then succeeds riot.
Gus carnival, during which they are idle
and debaucheI, and both these extremes,
in their turns, produce diseases, poverty
and misery. On the other hand, in Prot
estant countries, the people live in regu
lar plenty, according to their condition,
keep themselves in constant labor and
exercise, and by such means preserve
their bodies in health, and their minds
within their bodies, without sending them
abroad hunting for visions.
In popsh countries great quantities Of
goil, silver and Jewels, which ought 10
circulate and be used in commerce, are
barred as usclessly as when in the mines.
They are applied 10 adorn images and
churches. or are locked up and rendered
unserviceabo TO mankind. This, for
sooth, is called devotion, and giving to
God what lie before gave to men for their
use and their way OF obeying him is to
make no use Of i, and TO lodge it where
there can only be an i'll use made of it.
Wo may rejoice that this superstition is
pretty well over in. Protestant countries,
where the people Ga few old women and
dotards excepted, )think that their riches
are better employed to maintain their
families, relations and friends, than TO
support Idleis and cynics.
In popish countries, their ccclcsiastics,
living IN iGleness and riot, must be more
lascivious than if otherwise employed,
and by The means Of confessions. and