The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1866-10-05

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between the white and black races? p
1--WE; think unfavorably; for differences
Of religion have never yet promoted
harmony among peoples ho.professed
E,them, but, en- The contrary proven
sources Of implacable distord and ha-
ted the more fierce in proportion as
the people were more ignora:'t and
corrupt-eyen when all other. sources
of dissension we're absent. Such ha
been the invariable experience of man
kind, illustrated in the history Of no
religion moro conspicuously than; in
thutzof tho Roman Catholic; Church,
and it cannot be supposed. that its ne
gro proselites would provo an exception
to The uniform rulo. And when; in
addition to this, yc7consider the perfect
organization by which the ignorant
masses would be controlled in con''uct
and opinion by corrupt and designing
priesthood, and these by mischievous
and ever .msddling foreign influence,
~c'may comprehend the magnitude Of
: tlla ,nisfortunes which would be, infict-
ell on both races by the. conversion of
the negroes to Rolnanism. ~ -
That thcrei probability Of its oc-
currence we really believe, and we have
above briefly submitted the reasons on
which we found the cp nion, notwith-
st udingthe opposing considerations that
few of the negroes are as yet Catholic,
and tat they would. probably at first
be prejudiced against that Church on
account of its sympathy with their late
masters in their struggle for indepen-
dence. These obstacles, We believe,
will readily yield to he superior adap-
tation of tho CG,umh, its creed, its forms,
ceremonies and discipline to the moral
and religious character, condition and
tastes oithe race. How then can it be
prevented? ? Though we believe--may
feel assured that the: result would be
disastrous fos. haapiil- as. of both
races: the design is a noble one spring.
ing, ws;doubt not, from the high and.
purG motives Of Christian T5enevolenco,
and ought not to bo thwarted or dis
couraged otherwise than by anticipating
and forcstalling it, which is the only
cilrctual way of preventing. its:accon:-
p!ishmcnt. ;lsct the Churches and citi-
zons;or our country eater actively:and
.zcaiousl: upon tic work Of imparting
religious Instruction and elementary
education 70 The nc2Srvr*, and though
they may meet great discouragement
ut first, we doubt not that ultimately
the Roman propagandist would be fore
stalled in his contemplated work. of mis-
directed benevoience, and the Yankee
incendiary would lose the. confidence
of people which he is abusing to their
ruin W. -. ~ 4
Let It NOT be supposed that the fore
going opinions originate i'll prejuGcIl
either against the Roman Churclf 1
the highly Intelligent, pure and gpttE
men who are its representatives in u
country, and who, as far as 'otrac4uAinrf' n ! !
.tance with them extends, would 'AhiE
pare flvorably with:i they wou'lEt |
bear off tho palm of Christian e:Se-
lence from, any Other ,clafgy in tie
world. If they were IL just sanfe ot /
their Church's fruits, we migh' y Dis
posed to waive our objections TO is
creed, and accept tho tree ior acfFEllits.
sake, for there can be no better test OF t
"A true. religion than its fruits. But it
ll:ta alThys Been, The policy { their
tkych militant to throw into itTsdyap-
eng front rank q corps Of sub men
WHO NO Il, more resemble tho grht mass
ii tic clorgy in Roman Cathdc coun,
tries. than the veterans who form the
ttorIvlrl hope Of an army resable the
r..l,E,! oft luxiharies who flow4 and
ahlls: il. il conquests-who Iitter from
the standard French abbeah Spanish
padre as wildly as P4UI tEpEusE dit
tered from PEnEGoRD, Bish4 OF .Auton' !
Since writing the toregoi1fg, we have
met with i'm extract frola Bishop We
sor's address, which viii lbe found IN
anotilrr column.
The 'Eliddcn fse}usf'