The Portland daily press., 1871-08-30

Why Catholics are ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Considerations for WorIkinsmen.
Churches and church dogmas become
proper subject for discussion in political jour
nails only when from any reason they have
political significance. When the Mormons
rebel against the United States, or the Roman
lists set up an ecclesiastical hierarchy claiming
an authority superior to that of the civil gov
eminent, it is not only proper but necessary
that the matter should receive due attention
If the Congregationalist, Unitarian, Metho-
dist or Baptist church should, as body, hold
certain political, as well as religious doctrines.
and if the doctrines of the former class were
clearly inimica to the State, either of the so
cleties named would be subject to the same
disparagement as the Romish church, while it
could not justly complain that the freedom OF
religious worship was infringed thereby. The
cry OF mo Popery"is so illiberal, and is 50
much in conflict with all those notions of tol.
Grafton and mutual forbearance which are an
important part of our system of government
that none but madmen will ever attempt to
raise it in this country. But the cry of s'no
prlestly tyranny" mo church that disputes
the paramount authority of the civil govern
ment," may be raised just as appropriately as
mo King" "Down with the Nobility" might
be, Il we were seriously. threatened by those
old-world monsters.-Wo expressly aianlAi.,
therefore, the indulgence of any intolerant
feeling toward Romanism in making the in
quiry why Catholics are generally Demo Gratis.
no dicp oh fba
The Catholic who votes the Republican ticket
is as rare bird as any mentioned in Audo-
BOMBAY, as seldom found as an honest mem
Der OF the Tammany ring. There is no diff
Guilty in explaining this remarkable unanimi
ty-this harmony Cfpolitical opinion to which
there is not even an approximation in any
other church. 1t is not an adequate expana-
ton that the great mass of Romanists in this
country are of foreign birth or descent, and
are suffering from lack of that intelligence
arising from education which enables our ma
stive born citizens to act with so much indie
pendence in politics. The members of no
other church are gOverned in their political
action 6y their spiritual teachers; but it is
andisputdbte that the greater part of the
Catholics Of this country cote as they are d.
rected by their clergy This is the secret OF
the whole matter, or rather the reason for it
is universally understood that the facts are as
we have stated. But the further and NOR.
important inquiry why the Roman priesthood
teach their adherents politics, and especially
why they teach them to be so conservative
and retrogressive, is not so commonly made
IVA for 10
mere. The General Council of the Roman
Church held last year at the Italian capita
formally declared as one of the Fundamental
principles of the Christian religion, what has
long been held to be true by all orthodox
members of the churcl-the infaibilitv n
the Pope. The wide scope of this doctrine is
well Understood. 1t means that in yirtue nj
MS 'nfaliable wisdom the Pope is entitled TO
Inc unquestloning submission and obedience
OF all men In secular as well as in spiritual af
1alrs. 1t means that Catholics are hound 70
submit in all things. to the dictation of tho
sovereign Pontiff7s subordinates who .re
charged with the immediate care of their
souls, whether 1T is His Lordship the Bishop
or only humble priest 1t means that the
preiate who ffom time immemorial has claim.
Gu tne right to make and Lnmake kings. holds
MS uecrees and those of his subordinates to
pe OF greater authority than those of anv civil |
power Whatever, and that when The two .ro
IN conflict the latter ought to give wav suo
plementing the dogma of infallib;ltv tleo
..ounenical council adopted declaration of
Ialth In which the reactionary priuciprs of /
homanlsm were avowed, with boldness and
emphasis that are truly astonishing
Popular education, scientific research,
popular government, secular investiga-
t tl,n Or teaching of morals, the exercise of
asn- son. philosophy, universal suffrage, and
LEGALLY religious freedom, are denounced |
Win tne utmost solemnity, as wicked and in /
tolerable heresies. 1t will be seen that the /
political aspect Of Romanism is most i'm.
portant one. 1t is theoretically, at least
despotism of inconcevable rigor, beside which
that OF any known civil government is mild
and indulgent. 1t contemplates the direction
by the church of all the affairs of mankind |
and it requires all but the governing ecclesias-
tics to be crushed down to dead level of ig-
norance and intellectual imbecility. 1t is the
most deadly foe to democracy the world ever
knew. In Continental Europe, where the
workings and tendencies of Papacy are clear
~ seen, The perception of its inherent and in
eraaicaole hostility to popular government is
~ instructive that republicans are almost uni-
yersahy antiCatholics. A man becomes a
Liberal and tpso tacto a foe 70 .ho
In france the genuine democrats a uaue n.
o = and in Italy, Spain and Gern,.n ~.
Is 'ne same All tho great Liberal sor;tn' ny
1arloaldi, Victor Hugo, Mazzini ana "'ors-
nianc' are vigorous anathamatizers of C1 LUIS
.cism. One must read Garbaldrs P,,1a
"'e Monk to realize the vehement batrod ~ ~
oslrluc wrath of which that great sonl
=; So a. a. 10 embrace all mankind bpt to-
tho as s"ero9s sympathies-is canabIo 10
. sne case ct Theirs be suggested as " =" II
"ou' ,ne obvious reply is that if he Is rh
Catholic he is at best only half den - Wholly
.nat is, a democrat SO long as he is y. t
mead of the Republic. GU 'he $
Ahe spirit OF the Roman church beiro I