The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-06-16
THE POLlTIC0-RELFGI0USQ QUESTION
The Negro Vote Against the Catholics.
rErnno rhe Ohserver Ipras huferlanN.1
[From de Observer (Presbyteranl.l

From the Observer (Presbyteran).l
"When the fact stares us in the face, that
the votes of a religious body are controlled by
its priests and these votes are SO used as to give
to that religious body preponderating influence
in the political affairs of city, State or coun-
try, it is the duty of patriotic citizens to be on
their guard against such encroachment.
''And the more zealously must that body be
watched, if its principles and practice are known
TO be hostile 10 civil and religious liberty. Po-
n'anlsa and Freedom are enemies always and ev-
erywhere, and eternal vigilance is the price Of
liberty. Even Italy is shaking off the domira-
ton that is now silently but steadily fastening
itself on our backs. 1t is wise for US to be a
wake to the danger"
The O5server, likewise, gives prominence to a
, communication arguing in favor of negro suf
frage, in order to counterbalance the growing
power Of the Roman Catholics in the North.
The writer says:
81 will not stop to point out the fact that the
Papai Church has been pcrsistenily aiming at
political power. The man that does not see
and knew it is blind The man that does not
recognize the danger with which it menaces our
institutions, is either ignorant or Indifferent
Nor viii take space to show that the imported
Romsh vote is TIE element which gave it pow
er. Romanism is kept strong by immigration
This immigration promises TO be larger in the
future than even in the past. Already in our
great cities it holds the balance of power, it
may, whenever there comes nearly equal di-
vision of great parties, hold i: all over the
country.
II 6aye just asserted that the negro vote,
when it shall become vote, will be Protestant.
The religious history Of the negro race has
deep meaning RQmanisrn hos aeYer been able
to do anything with the negro race The ef-
forts Of Rome to establish itself in africa stand
out as perhaps the most glaring and disastrous
failure, and that under the very best tircumstan-
ces for SUCCESS, that the history of religious
missions presents. God has SO ordered L that
d like total failure should characterize her eff
forts ii this country. If she made none, it
was because there has been no room for even
the attempt. With some inconsiderabIe excep-
tions in Maryland aud Louisiana--so small in
number that we need not take them into the ae-
nnunt-the whole negro population is Protes-
tant, fixed Gnd unalterably Protestant
SHOT BACK.
[From the Freeman's Journal {Roman Catholic ]
The Presbyterians' are very uneasy. They
ard itching OF The nose. They have been ma
king yAatsthey cell adeliyerances,' but they
are. s;fcE delVerances as the inspired prophet
spoke of@Stbey have brought forth wind only
They say ''the man of SIM troubles them.
We kRow-and SO do many of their own peo-
pie--tfiat moA u sin abound among them. ..'The
man Of SIM is, in their view, the Pope, or Po-
perry itself As dying spasfn they try, once
Iaoze, the old sing-song of abuse Of the Catho
lie Church They have been 'defgering' on
the mater IN their annual assembly. They are
alarmed at the strides Of Popery!
Some religious" body. lately Presbyterian
or Methodist, wanted to make a religious mat
ter Of insisting on the admission Of negroes 30
the right to vote! They wanted them, they
said, TO conntelbaIance the Irish and German
Catholics. They claimed the negroes as Pro-
testants But President Johnson, who has lived
al his life 10 slave States told set Of negro
preachers that the negroes thus claimed as reli-
able. Professionalism the number Of 1'four mil
lionsa@-.'liye in open and notorious concnhin-
age ~ Is that what makes them reliable as
Protestants
There are, however, two bodies, each claim
ing to be the Presbyterian Church, in these
States. One claims to be the genuine Jacobs
the other to be the original Jacobs. They split
and baeked each others eyes, in quarrel,
nearly thirty. years ago on some notions none of
then knew anything about The gst of it
was, that one party Eeld it was in the eternal
DEGREES Of God to damn some men eternally, |
and it was foulsh in these to try and save their
souls. The other "Church," we believe, held
that some people ought to wish to be damned
eternally
These spiayed out' Presbyterian ministers
think they can get up persecution Of Catho-
hes! Poor fools! That persecution is fast |
coming on, in the land, but Presbyterians, or /
any other sect protesting the name of Christ t
ialls, VIII not be as the dust in the balance to-
ward promoting it The time is not just yet.
We recommend to these feeble folks of Pres
byterlanism, to put blankets round them, put
their feet to the fire, and to take Fahnstock's !
remedy. IF it don't do good, it can't Go hurt, |
and they are in a bad way!