Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1866-01-13

: religious Journal pub lished in ST. Louis
In recent number Of that journal we
find an indication Of liberal sentiment so
rare in these days of religious and politi.
cal bigotry that we make an extract from
the leading editorial. 1t is most credita-
BILE to the head and the heart of the wr-
ter. The article is headed THE Catho-
lies Oh, the Catholics
"The Catholics are increasing rapidly,
very rapidly donbt about that - and
if you had attended to your own legi,i-
mate work, and had worked as faithfully
DUR ng the five years last past as have the
Catholics, you would have increased as
well as they. The Catholics, priests and
people, stuck to their work-"all ut it,
and always at it, Had you done like
wise, it would have been more creditable
to yourselves and much better for the in
terests uf Protestanism. The Cath lie
believes the teachings Of his Church and
labors to spread its influence. And who
blames khim for that? Would you not
increase the numbers and influence Of
your Church? You claim to be honest
So does the Catholic. You say you are
sincere. SO 10 he. You believe he is in
error, and talk about fighting him He
believes you are in error: he tries to con
vert Aou. %, but ii he gets the power
he'll force me Well, if he were to
that's precisely wha! you talk of doing to
him. Would it be any worse in him than
it is in you? Bat the Catholics are seek
ing to get the. contro.of this government
Well, suppose they are-what the Advo
cate is certainly not inclined to affirm
but suppose they are, then come out,
hon BRIGHT aud say if you have no, been
aiming, a, least indirectly, to do the very
same thing? Don't get mad 1t will DO
no good. Anger is no argument Hon
es.ly and candidly, has not Puritanism,
as represented by you, been trying for
years to accomplish the same end? The
-4crocate makes no charge, but simply
asks a question or two.
Isur course as ministers, the course Of
your press, and the course of large por-
tion-a majority, perhaps--of your peo-
pie during the few years las, past, is we'll
known. The effects Of il ara very plain
ly to be seen. All this while the C.,ho,
lies have worked-in the camps. on the
wherever else they could fad an opening.
They desired TO increase their numbers
and influence the labored earnestly aud
constantly Tor that purpose nor have
they Iabored in vain. Why did you not
pursue u similar course? Had you done
81, you would now have bad less to CON-
plain Of; you would have increased in
numbers and in influence; aud hundIv Is
aud thousands of men and women who
have gone into the Catholic Church
would never have done SO had you and
your co-!aborers always maintained in
principle and practice pure, non secu-
lar Church.
You did not do this and The result is,
you have lost more than will be speedily
regained. Don't blame The Catholics
blame yourselves ; yours is the fault, aud
yours will be the sorrow. The Adrocdte
is no. set for the defence of the Catholics,
however. A large portion Of their teach
ings and usages it does not aeceive. The
advocate is Protestant to the core, but its
religion is not OF the quarreling and light
ing kind. The weapons of its warfare
are not carnai. 1t Is willing to do Istice
to Catholics, desires to treat them Kindly,
and if called on to debate any point Of
doctrine, or any usage, wiki any OF them,
to do SO respectfully, kindly and with IL
desire only to elicit truth. The Catho-
lies, for the greater part, have, dor,ug the
few years last past, actedly consistently.
There have been few exceptions, but
exceptions do not form the rule. They
have acted consistently, aud that's more
than Puitanism has done, whether it were
represented by Congregational'sts, by
Un,tarians, by Presbyterians, by Bap,is.s,
or by Methodists. And Purtauism pre-
walls very extensively ia all these sscts,
in the East and North. They have acted
consistently with their professions, while
Puritanlsm did not. There's the differ.
enee, and difference which led to wide
ly different results. Gentlemen. these are
stubborn facts, and the more you butt
against them the worse will you hur. your
heads, ~
Consider well whether you had not
better leave off that Pharisaio prayer,