The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-04-26
The Case OfGrpanp.

A violent display of sectarian hatred
has been caused by the attempted as
sassination last week of a certain f.
| Greene, a teacher in one of the public
schools in Centralia, Pennsylvania. 1t
appears that he had become peculiarly
obnoxious on religious grounds to the
Roman Catholic citizens, who tried un-
successfully to have him removed from
MS position. Immediately after this.
failure, he was attacked, while alone
with one pupil in his school. house, by
three men, mercilessly beaten, one ear
cut of, and left in so mangled a condi-
tion that it is improbable he will re.
cover. The assassination is of course
charged by the Protsstants upon the
Romish Church, and the feud wakes
bitter as it only can in an inland relipi.
Gus village. The ProteStants are, we are
told, flying from the town for their
lives; the "days of the Inquisition are
"tO be revived among us. The biSotrv
"of the Papal Church has been crushed
''at home only to waken more sayaeely
"in free America" Now, it seems to
us, there is great deal of wasted zeal
in this matter. In the first place, it is
by no means certain that the assassina-
tion of Greene had anything to do with
his religious quarrel. Even if il he
proved that the ruffians who thus beat
the man were animated by what thew
deemed religious zeal, it does not follow
that the priests in Centralia either in.
stlgated or We're cognizant of the at.
tempted murder. No Protestant Church
would hold itself responsible for the
acts ofevery Ignorant ruffian who seized
upon its creed es a cloak for his brutal.
ty. Inc roman Catholic Church has
majority, unfortunately, of such men
in her fold, at least nominally, who
grow more vehement in their devotion
to her communion the less they know
about 1t. 1t is her misfortune and her
fault, no doubt, that after generations
OF pupilage such mon remain among
her representatives, but it is unjust to
say That they dorepresent her real teach.
ings.
Besides, such an outrage is far mora
to be dreaded by the Catholic Church
than the Protestant. Whatever other
virtue we may see fit to deny her priest.
hood, they are usually men of the
world, quick, subtle, sensible, who
never fail to see what is expedient. and
to sacrifice all personal feeling for the
advancement of their faith. What
would the satisfaction of killing one
poor teacher weigh against the damning
force with which each stab and blow
would react against the bosom of Holv
Mother Church? A little cool reflection
and common sense would DrobabIv
tend to lessen the wild alarm with
which Protestants are apt to look for.
ward to future encroachments of the
Catholic Church. The "Scarlet Wo.
man." as some Of them call her, is en-
veloped in all the horrors, the cruelties.
the martyrdOms of the dark ages, Thev
forget that human nature when il had
temporal power proved just as tyranni-
cal, Just as murderous, in Church.of.
England surplice or Covenanter's
shovel-hat as when ii wore tiara or
mitre. II the Papal Church drank deep.
er drafts OF blood than the Others, it
may nave been because it had more
time in which to drink. Besides. what
ever may be our opinion of the natural
disposition of this ancient IiOn. II IL
certain that now his nails are effectuallv
clipped and his teeth drawn. Were he
ever SO willing, the days of kneeline
kings and eXcOmmur icated princes
have gone by. Civilization will never
IN all probability again permit the rise
OF any great religious hierarchy.
However the Catholic Church may
retain vitality as form and vehicle of
religious faith, it is contrary to all COM
mon sense to suppose that ii can ever
attain temporal power in this country.
No party or sect who through its head
places itself in avowed opposition to the
progressive. spirit of the nineteenth CEN
tury, can make headway in a nation
through which progress wears its most
defiant and aggressive shape. A mo.
ment's consideration, too, of the feeble
ness of their opponents should teach
Protestant sects forbearance and good
humored charity. The policy of the
priesthood has been, we are told i'm
alarm, to accumulate vast amount of
real estate, with the ulterior purpose of
bringing the Pope to this country.
Property neither confers political power !,
it should be remembered, nor promul.
gates an unpopular creed; and we doubt