The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-11-25
ROMISH AVARICE.
by EUGENE LAWRENCE.


the grave troubles of his country, of the
misfortunes of Italy and Spain. He repeats
only the lesson of history; yet he could
scarcely have been prepared to find in
America the same fatal influence blighting
the hopes of freemen. OF all the vices of
the papal see not the least constant and
dangerous las been avarice. Its passion
for accommodating lands and endowments
has disturbed and oppressed society in
every European nation, impoverished En-
gland until, under Henry VIII, it contis-
Gated all the possessions of its priests. has
tened the French revolution by enormous
populations, weighed down Italy and Spain
until their suffering people have seized
upon the wide domains of the papacy, eX-
asperated Germany, and covered Mexico
and South America with apparently end
less mistortunes.
The same career of priestly rapacity has
began in our own city, and has advanced
with more than European visor. No saw
age king or servile despot of the Middle
/ Ages was ever more bountiful to his Ro-
mish allies than our Democratic rulers. In
Europe the wealth of the ruling sect was
the slow growth of centuries. In New
York two decades have sufficed to enrich
the Romish Church from the public trea-
sury. While taxation has risen to an in
tolerable severity, while the city debt has
been steadily increasing until suddenly it
| &c l;eooraral fl,,f in, condition of
almost hopeless insolvency, while enormous
frauds have consumed the earnings of the
I poor and diminished the profits of the
industrious, the lavish cndowments of a
| foreign priesthood have never ceased, and
millions have been squandered to maintain
/ Catholic institutions, to preserve the integ
! rity of the Romsh faith.
, How numerous these sectarian charities
have become, how many Romish asylums,
protectories, and private almshouses line
the streets of our city, not many know; but
every one is familiar with the large sums
required for their support. An orphan
house occupies block of the most costly
land of the city. The property on which it
stands was granted on perpetual lease,
for a nominal rent, i'll 1916 or Al; it is
maintained, in part, by large yearly APP
preparation. Its annual cost to the city
can not be less than one hundred thousand
dollars, including the interest upon the
value of the land; yet it is safe to say that
all its inmates might be maintained in the
public institutions, or lodged, at a moder-
ate cost, in some country home. cath
edral Of unusual size has sprung up next
to the orpahan asylum. 1t occupies block
of ground of enormous value. Grave sus-
pcons rest upon the manner in which this
land was obtained, and it would be we'll
for its owners to satisfy the public mind
by exhibiting their title. Fortunately for
the city, one of the leases of the orphan
asylum contains clause of revocation,
and was, no donbt, intended to enable the
people to recall the grant whenever they
should think proper to do so. OF the Pro-
tectory,' whose large endowment and ex-
cessive yearly cost every citizen is cousci-
Gus of it, can only be said that all its bene-
ficiaries might be cheaply provided for in
the city institutions The founding asy-
lum received half million in land and
money from the unstinted liberality of our
present rulers. Its death rate is extraor-
binary: the public charities are prepared
to supply its place, perhaps with more
encouraging results.
We have noticed these institutions as the
chief examples of their class; they are sur
rounded by throng of similar charities,
controlled by the Romish priesthood. For
the honest laborers in the cause of human
ity we havea lasting sympathy. We should
rejoice to see the Romish Church pour
forth its wealth in saving its poor people.
But when it extracts such extravagant
sums from an overourdened community
controls the city by a political party, and
endows itself from the liberality of an I'M
scrupulous faction, its charity is converted
into selfish avarice, and it enters once more
upon that course of ambitious greed which
has forced every European nation to recall
its gifts to priesthood. Charity, we must
remember, was the pretext under which
Rome engrossed the fairest lands of Ger
many, and spoiled Italy and Spain.
If the Romish priesthood has possessed
discretion, they would have carefully avoid
ed any recurrence, in the New World
to that dishonest policy which has enraged
against them the people of the Old. They
would have come among us as one of many
sects. They would have claimed no super
iority except in humility and good deeds.
They would have laid aside ambition;
would have joined in no political move
ments would have proved by an open
reform that they had repented of their evil
deeds in past history; were prepared to
win new reputation in all future ages.
Unhappily they have entered boldly upon
the opposite course. All that is bad in
their past policy they would revive: the
gentle teachings of Fenelon, the ominous
circumstances of Dollinger and Hyacinthe
they neglect. "The Catholic press of the
United States" says, in effect, a foreign |
review, sis more bigoted and more hostile
to freedom than the European: it teaches |
rebellion, persecution, and the final fall of
the republic The Romish Church has
become once more an active political party |
Its adherents vote on that side which prom
ses them the largest share of power. 1t |
aims to rule in our wealthy cities. 1t has |
already become source of discord and
moral decay. 1t has suffered it's officials to |
plumber the public without stint so long as
it is allowed to share in the spoil. 1t has |
no word of reproof for its dishonest adher-
ents. 1t must prepare in future to be treat
ed as political faction rather than Chris
tan sect; to be studied with keen accuracy |
by the patriot; reviewed by the swift in
sight of letters; pointed at by a Hyacinthe
or Coquerel as ceaseless cause of human
VICE. must deserve the rebukes Of modern
civilization, and sink beneath the scorn of
the community it has rfled and betrayed.
AS a political faction it can scarcely hope !
for any lasting success. 1t may hold New
York in its grasp few years longer. 1t