The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-05-14
US C7lT1SIE.NCE
= E-.;l-e in ausrica-A Worse Foe to
I'i-hl Than in l775

I-shJ Than in 1875.
F.or.i tie cincinnati Gazsttel
= detailed account of the conferring
Of lie Berretta or official cap, on Cardi-
nal McCIo,key at New York. will be-
found in another part of this paper. II
was the first eremony Of the kind that
has occurred in this country, and Is in
tereSting both as IA gorgeous pageant and
- marking a new departure in the
Catholic Church in our land. The new
dignitary Is hencefo forth a prince in his
church. Politically he ranks only as an
American citizen, yet several millions of
people regard him rs a dignitary of high
and sacred functions. He is not to them,
like the high officials of Masonry, i'm
pOrtant only in the business and ceremO-
MES of the order, but claims their Tever-
enee at all times and in all places. As
such he menaceS, if he does not violate
the principles, which lie at the foundation
of American institutions. He is more
than a simple bishop or archbishop, for
their prerOgatives are simply ecclesiaSti-
cal. When it was announced that the
President and other high officials were
expected to be present at the ceremony,
we felt that bad precedent would be
set, and they showed their sense in de-
clining the invitation to attend, if they
received any.
As we have many times said We have
rOthing to say against the religious tenets
of the Church of Rome. We oppose it
only as an anti-republican and bitterly
aggressive political organization. The
official declarations of tine Pope plainly
show that he holds freedom of religion
to be an accursed heresy; in Europe and
this country, free schools. except when
under priestly control, are denounced
most bitterly; the church is everywhere
seeking political influence, and in our
own State has allied itself with the
Democratic party, threatening all oppo-
rents with political death These facts
are enough to alarm all friends of repub-
lcan institutions. But it is not simply
antaSonism. No less a person than DR.
Orestes \. Bronson lately asserted that
every human being owes allegiance to
the Pope, " that "tlle Pope has command
in all things spiritual, " and that ''spiri-
tUals and temporals run very much into
l.. haft
dinate to the spirituais, and the Pope
alone being competent to define the re-
lations between the two.
When such theories are boldly an
uomced it behooves all lovers of free
dom to be OH their guard. Our fathers,
in 11115, had an armed sOldiery to en-
counter, and fought for eight years to
secure political as well as complete re
Iigious freedom. In 1873 we are menaced
by enemies who would deprive us of
both. If Cardinal McCloskey's position
does not at once add to the number of
Catholics, it gives IL new status to his
church. 1t establishes a very attractive
recruiting Office on our shores which Of
| irrS tempting bOunties to those who are
willing to sch themselves for ceclesiasii-
cal patronage We do not believe that the
majority of Americans will be caught by
such a bait, but a Well disciplined foe is
more than match forfiv times its mum
Der of wrangling and lazy opponents. Ii
/ the haterS "f American free schools and
free government are not to carry one
! point after another, it will be because
the supporters Of these institutions shall
awake to the eXisencies of the situa
ton, and leave ali minor issues until the
conspiga:ors are routed by the freeman,
! ,,-,4,,..,- H.. ballot