The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-22
rhe Romnn CathoIics and che BLACKS.

The Roman Catholics and the DIacks'
THE second Plenary Council Of the Romish
Church in this country has just finished
two weeks session at Baltimore. 1t was very
largely attended by the archbishops, bishops,
and priests who constitute the magnates OF
that Church.
Two principal topics are said to have mainly
occupied the attention of the Council, viz,
the evangelization of the colored population,
and the public school system of the United
States. In regard to the former of these, it
is the intention of the Romanists to enter
at once upon comprehensive and energetic
system OF proselyteism among the blacks
of the South. This is step taken, not
only in accordance with the judgment o
The leaders of that Church in this country,
but in obedience as well to express instruc-
tions from the Pope himself
1t cannot be denied that the American
freedmen afford, in many respects, fine
field for the proselytizing efforts of the Romish
Church. In the first place, they are SEN
suous, imaginative race, upon whom the gor-
geous and imposing ceremonies OF Roman
Catholicism, as well as many OF its mysterious
and awe-inspiring doctrines, are well calcu-
lated to produce profound impression. The
negro Is fond of music, of dress, of formality,
Of pomp and ceremony. He Is superstitious
and credulous, prone to yield to authority,
and hence, as race, peculiarly susceptible to
the especial influences of that Church. The
success of Romanism with other rude and
halfeducated races shows what we may rea-
sonably look for in this case.
Again, as a Church, the Romish Church has
always opposed the enslaving of the blacks.
We are aware that the influence both of the
leaders and of the body of that Church in
this country has generally been, politically, on
{ the pro-slavery side; but the voice of the
Church at large, as authoritatively ex-
pressed, has always condemned the exeerable
{ traffic in human flesh On the contrary,
Protestanism has Tor long time been repre-
sented at the South by a class of men who
defended slavery as Diuine institution.
appointed and sanctioned of God as much as
the Christian Church itself. 1t cannot but be
that this constant association of the defense
of slavery with that form of Christianity with
which the blacks have hitherto been almost
exclusively familiar has had its influence
upon them, and an influence, too, whic b the
Romish priest will not be slow to turn to
good account in favor of his own Church.
Another element OF strength which this
Church will have in its efforts to proselyts
the blacks is its total ignoring of that spirit
Z of caste which SO extensively prevails in this
country in regard to the blacks, and which
has been fostered to q great extent by our
Protestant Churches in times gone by, and
even yet encounters no efficient and practical
opposition from them. To the credit of the
Roman Catholic Church it must be said,
that it gives a better exemplifcation of the
truth that "God has made of one blood all
nations to dwell upon the face of the EARTH"
than do the Protestant churches generally
This will be great element of strength in its
labors with the blacks.
Finally the almost entire neglect of the vari
GUS American Protestant Churches to occupy
the field so invitingly thrown open to them
by the abolition of slavery, gives the
Romish Church a fine opportunity to enter
in and take possession of it. We know that
something has been done by the Protestant
Churches in this direction, but not a 1.-THE of
what the Importance Of the work demands.
Here are four millions of people at our very
doors, ready and eager for education, anxious
to receive the gospel. And yet, how little
has been done for them!
This prompt and energetic action on the
part OF the authorities of the Romish Church
is in accordance with the far-sighted sagacity
which they have always exhibited. 1t is
apparent to every rejecting observer that, at
no distant day, the masses of the black popu-
lation of the South will be invested with all
the rights and privileges of citizenship. They
will then form most influential and import
ant element in nearly one-half of the States
of the Union. What If, before that time, the
masses of that population shall have been
safely gathered within the fold Of that Church
whose head Is at Rome? There is food far
reflection in this suggestion for those Pro
testants who believe their form of Chris
tianity to be the great bulwark of civil and
religious liberty. The conversion to Roman
Catholicism of the black population OF the
South will be a long sride towards making
that Church the dominant power in this
country.