The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-06-21
Calvin Reproduced.

Calvin Reproduced.
Most of our readers have, probably, been
of the opinion that the peculiar fires of
John Calvin had been extinguished forever
that the great apostle of Geneva had carried
down into his grave the torch which he
used 80 effectually in his controversies as an
argMnentWn atl h0minena. Even if such had
been the case, the original Calvinism has
again broken out more virulently than ever.
The originator Of that peculiar form of
brotherly love applied it to only q few cases
in his own experience; while the latest
high priest Of the sect proposes commencing
operations on a much grander scale. Rev.
Bob Breckenridge, of Kentucky, desires
to set fire to New York city-yea, verify,
and to keep at it until nothing shall be left
but ashes and brick bats, and, possibly,
folks, invalids, and babies as may not have
been able to escape the swift destruction.
Rev. Bob doesn't drink-he is temperance
saint, and means what he says. He says, in
effect, as we have been recently informed,
by the daily papers, that there are fifty
thousand Irish and Catholic voters in New
York city, by means of whom that city is
lost to the Republican party, and that, if
necessary, to get rid of them, New York
ought to be burned to the ground.
This zeal of the learned doctor is 80 much
the grander in it's scope than that of his
feebler prototype, in that it embraces not
only the cause of God, but, also, that of
Caesar. 1t is not merely because New York
is polluted with the presence of fifty thou
sand Irish Catholics, educators y with their
families, but because the said fifty thousand
men and voters are all Democrats! But,
Robert himself is not Democrat at present,
hence the I" torch" We are confident, how
ever, that there is one weak point in the
chain of argument by which the doctor has
come to this peremptory conclusion-one
difficulty which he has overlooked, and
which will change his policy: the insurance
companies would object to his proposition
most vehemently-and the insurance COM
panies, are they not rich and worthy to be
respectedf New York, then, is safe!
If we might be allowed to suggest a
proper field for the apostolic gifts of the
Rev. Mr.. Breckenridge, it would be among
population where his zeal would not be
moneyed men. He could render himself
irresistibly popular, for instance, with the
king of the Cannibal Islands and cabinet,
by his natural talent for roasting human
victims. Through this happy facility he
might win the way to their hearts, for the
mild and humanizing doctrines of that
Christianity of which he proclaims himself
a teacher.
We know not what will be the limit of
old Mr.. Breckenridge's desire for justice,
after the fall elections of this year. If, as
the Democrats claim, they should carry
every Northern State but one, he will be
more convinced than ever that Irishmen
and Papists are at the bottom of it. Lucky
it is for the said Irishmen that the day of
John Gavin is gone forever, except in the
crazed fancies of few malignant fanatics,
who can never again reach the popular
heart. The civilized world is acclimated to
Calvinism as an epidemic. 1t must, hence
forth, show itself only in sporadic FORM
Mr.. Robert Breckenridge, of Kentucky,
was, some twenty years ago, a man of great
natural ability; but his character was
always essentially of the Puritanic type
that is, Mr.. Robert Breckenridge was right,
and every body who differed with him was,
necessarily, wrong, and ought to be made to
take his view of things by force, if neces-
sary. The essence of Puritanism is self
conceit-a self-conceit which not only
scouts the idea that it can possibly he in |
error about anything, but which is deter
mined to assert it's superiority over others,
and force it's views upon their acceptance
whenever an opportunity offers.
Thus, the reverend doctor of whom we |
speak has become so habituated to defy