Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-05

the sine Of those in authority
Thrones trembIed before the denunciations
Of Knox. the great Refor1ner. Bloody
Mary found 1.-THE protestant clergy
but all her saDguinary acts
could no; silence them They would
speak upon politics as well as religion
when they felt it their duty to do 50. Be-
fore the American Revolution the voice OF
--the protestant clergy aided to mould
public opinion in favor of resistance to
British tyranny and in carrying the war
through to a successful termination. In
the great struggle with the Slave Power
the ministers Of the North were active
and when the war came many OF them
shouldered their guns and went TO shoot
as they had prayed and preached The
history Of the protestant clergy from
the earliest times down to the present has
been one of free speaking and
active participation in public and
political affairs, the same a other
citizens. and particularly when a
great sin has confronted the people and
seemed to demand the very thunders OF
Sinai to aid in it, overthrow. Our ministers.
therefore, in speaking against the infa-
nous acts Of Garcelon and his Council,
have been only true 10 the traditionary
policy and practice Of their order, as well
~ 10 those higher motives by which they
profess 10 be guided.
Evidently the thieves organ bv speak
ing Of the protestant clergy" intended a
distinction between them and the Catholic
priesthood. Well. if the Catholic priest
hood enjoy the shame OF being fellow
shipped By the thieves organ, and having
il understood that they endorse the steal
ing away Of the peoples rights by the
Governor and Council, they are welcome
to il. But We don't believe the Catholic
priesthood like the disgraceful distinc-
ton which is conferred upon them by
the thieve, organ, though we have to adj
init that "a body they uphold the demo-
cratic party And If the thieves organ
means to convey the idea that the Catholic
hierarchy takes no interest or active part
in political affairs it il either ignorant of
the history of the Catholic Church or de-
liberately misleads its readers. The
Catholic Church in its very organization
claims temporal as well as spiritual power.
The kings of Europe long bowed to the
power of the Pope They took their com
mapds and authority from Rome. When
Napoleon | was crowned Emperor OF
France, Pope Plus VII made the journey
to Paris to oiliciate AT the coronation. Civ
ing all the slender and power of his pom
titical office 10 aid the political ambition
OF the greatest despot of modern times.
Our people need not to be reminded of
what the Catholic church has been as
a political power. nor to be told that 1t is
quietly but persistently working to regain
the place in temporal affairs which it has
'"st' Nv "i,'""Sh w uhuei Staiiu "ti'
that the Catholic priesthood are not averse
to taking hand in politics-against the
republican party rs a rule-we shall re-
quirc some other authority than the thieves
organ before we can be convinced thai
they are So foolish and so conseienceless as
to support the outrage perpetratedby Alon-
20 |. and his corrupt Council upon the peo-
pie Of the State of Maine in this counting
out business