New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-30
TIKI CATHOLIC HIERARCHY AND
OvR NATIONAL sTRUGGLR.

| We have on several recent occasiOns briefly
discussed the attitude Of the Roman Catholic
clergy Of this country with regard to the fearful
trials to which our country he's been subjected
By slayoholIi,g treason. The main facts 10
which We have from time to time called atten.
ton aye as lDllows:
l. In all that portion Of our country wherein
the Rebellion now bears, or hos at any time
bornc sway. tho Roman Cotholic clergy, fum
highest TO lowest, have without known Csc
ception, been among ts earliest most co.. r.
most determined, most persistent champion.
9. In that portion of our country which is
predominantly loyal, or practically under the
sway of the Federal Government the great
boz Of that clergy are just as hostile to the
struggle for National integrity aud authority as
they safely can bc-discoursging enlistments
IN the National armies. md training their
focks, so far as possible, into casting solid
vote for the Opposition tickets.
3. The Roman Catholic clergy. with the voters
whom they influence, have stubbornly resisted
the ppges Of Emancipation in the Border
States. They largely swelled last month the
majority against it in Kentucky. turned the
scale sgainst it in Delaware, and did their ut.
most lin VAIN to defeat it in Maryland and
Missouri
4. When the Rebellion vas triumpbantiy
naugurated in the South. the Catholic priest.
hood promptly adhered to it Oh tho ground of
obedience to 1.-THE powers that be" which arc
ordained OF Cod" br. this rule was not per-
United to operate either in tho Slave states
which adhered 10 the Union or in those which
have been recovered ~ it, On the contrary.
though New. Orleans has been restored 10 and
firmly held By the Union for nearly thne years
past. her Roman Catholic Archbishop and his
clergy arr still virulent Sscessionists.
Nov these, and many more such, Az either
facts or elso we are grossly nisinfotmed and are
misleading o.hers If they are so' facts. We
wish To know the truth and proclaim it. II they
ar, facts. they are of grave moment. and emil
nently deserve general consideration. They are
not OVERCOME By rpiling accusations directed
against The TRIBryE-not even though We be
stigmstized es "ians,ics" and "negro-wor-
SHIPPERS" To falsely accuse us Of presenting
Catholics, or seeking to excite crusade against
them. subserves NO good end that wo can
imagine. 10 state the fact never denied by Us,
that there sre Catholics Sd loyal to the Union
aud ~ brave and selfss'riiicing in her defense
az sny Protestants. il equally wide Of tho msyk.
I ~ ,,k. hal I,,.
also that the general influence Of the Roman
Catholic priesthood does not tend to increase
their number; and ths fact. seems 10 us quite
worthy Of public regard.
| The Ne,e- York 1abiet--which Is by Ear tho
least disloyal Catholic Journal published in our
lclty--thus opens upon our former structures on
this subject:
III volont persecution do not com upon tie Cath
ocs Of The United states they certainly Decd not thank
the fanatics 81 1HF Npw. YORK TkIBssr- A though
tho very spirit Of Nero Diocles'sn. Tsjan. Decus or
other noted prosecutor Of the early Christians rad
passed into the cd,Dr editors Of tha. paIer they
0pTy tbenselvc. by every means at tSelr command 10
stir 10 tho worst passons OF the American people
against their Catholic fellow citizeps Ostcnsby these
inischleyuus efforts Of TBp TRIBUNE are directed
against the upholers Of Slavery, In Which chsrnctsr
that Journal chooses 20 repeeent American Catholics.
o. bodt"
Ofcourse ore writing with such sublime con.
tempt for facts may Just as well I'll dozen col
umns ss one, yet Ray nothing At all 20 the pur.
pose. Bat The Taltci oddly conriyes 70 make
one admission which has mach Significance,
this namely:
The Mexican K,npso Los the symysthies Of al eocd
Catholics us well ~ being under the Papai bessiug
and suidance-we on, hope IL msy continue under Ps
withstsnding the uudi-guised repeRnsncc and tho
traditional policy ofthis country; and that because
nation acting under Papsl guidance will observe tbe
eternal laws of justice In AL ito relations domestic and
foreign. And 10 IA because the Mexican Empire 10
likely 20 ssour" the best interests Of M own people that
it has the 'Pspsl blessing end tis best wiAhes VI
Catholics foI its ultimate and lasting success"
Now this Mexican Empire Is On undisguided
monaco and challenge TO our countryside noto-
nous ienteIing wedge Of II comprehensive and
far.reaching effort to bring this continen, once
moro under monArchica rule and in European
leading-strings. Its direct and bold defiance
TO the we'll known Monroe doctrine whereby
the foreign policy OF our Government has been
gnided for tho laDt forty years. No one imaginss
that MEXICO would have boen rsc0nyerted into
q European sstrspy bad not on, hands been tied
by the Shareholders Rebellion. Yet q leading
Catholic journal sces fit TO proclaim not only its
own perfect sympathy with thS empire, but
to declare that "it has tho best wishes OF Cath
olics for its ultimate and lasting success" Can
any believe that IL would not hail with rapture
a similar intervention in the affairs Of this
country