Morning Star

MISCELLANY.

From the Detroit Courier and Journal.

Our Catholic Brethren.

The remarks lately made by us, touching this class of people, have doubtless deeply offended many, who have hitherto given us good proof of their disposition to lend us their countenance and support. We find it extremely painful to deal with any one in terms of harshness or seeming asperity. The reluctance we feel at entering upon this subject, is increased, when we reflect, that the faults we condemn are rather those of education and habit, than of deliberate perverseness. We believe that a very large majority of those who now appear in the Catholic ranks, would, if they could for a while be left subject to the influences of protestantism, become as heartily attached to its tenets, as they now are to those of the Romish church. And the fact, that conversions of papists are so rare, is not to be attributed so much to any peculiar perverseness or obstinacy, as it is to the nature of the system itself. We do not therefore denounce our Catholic brethren, either for differing in opinion with us, or for their unwillingness to come out from the obscurity in which their faith has condemned them to remain. We premise these remarks, not to deprecate displeasure or avert unkindness, but merely to explain, in justice to ourselves and our cause, the grounds and the nature of our opposition to popery, as it is now to be found in our very midst. We do feel, that, though at peace with all mankind, we have a warfare to enter upon, against the most pernicious of systems, and the most deadly foe to our interests, both civil and religious. We had gazed upon the approaches of the enemy, and his garments of peace, and his looks of benevolence had been too alluring and winning to permit us to suspect for a moment, that his intentions were any other than pacific. But the mask he has worn, we have at last seen removed, and horror and detestation are now the emotions his presence is ever sure to arouse. To suffer such a being to take undisturbed possession of our heritage, is too abhorrent: for a moment's contemplation. We shrink back at the thought of so foul contamination. As an object of political importance, we say, that every patriot is bound to lend his aid, in circumscribing the influence of the popish leaders in our midst. And this, because we see in the success of these men, nothing better than the ruin of our republic. Recent occurrences have convinced us, that a deep laid scheme has been planned to undermine our institutions, through the instrumentality of Catholic priests employed as agents in this country, by the despotic princes of Europe. A direct blow at our liberties would prove ineffectual, and art has therefore been called in to supply the defects of brute force. We do believe sincerely, that the failure of our great experiment of a republic, is all that the potentates of Europe have in view, in pouring in upon us as they do, their tens of thousands who may by their servility and deference to power, strengthen the hands of those, who either from blindness or madness, will go all lengths to sustain and perpetuate the rising despots of the land. Kindness, benevolence, meekness, and all the more captivating of the Christian virtues, are assumed to win' the hearts of many, and ensure the charity of all; but when we see the object for which these qualities are put on, we cannot fail to discover hypocrisy and treachery at the bottom. We warn our countrymen to beware of being caught by appearances. Let us not forget, that with the attainment of the power and influence of the Catholics of Europe, those who have come hither will prove the same scourge, that they have there. Let us remember too, that when the atmosphere of our countrymen becomes fitted to support a predominant Catholic influence it will be too impure to sustain the life of a freeman. It has been urged from the act that the Catholics are inferior in number to other denominations that therefore there is no room for apprehension that they will control at any time, as our population is continually increasing, our civil or religious destinies. We do not think that we should infer rom the fact of their being smaller than other sects that they are not on that account formidable. Their power arises from other circumstances. To say nothing of the oath by which they are bound to do all they can towards extirpating the Protestant religion wherever they may be, and building up their own upon its ruins, it should be remembered that they constitute but a part of a powerful sect in another hemisphere, which has millions at its control, that is at the disposal of their members, wherever existing, to be used against the Protestants. Other denominations do not wish to bring under their subjection any government whatewer; at least, we do not remember that any charges or attempts of this kind have been brought against them; but the history of Europe, of Asia, and of South America, from the first dawning of Christianity to the present day, shows that the great aim of the Roman Catholics has ever been to get the civil no less than the religious destinies of nations under their control. One fact is certain, that they are fast increasing in this country, and that the Catholic dignitaries of Europe are looking with intense interest at their success among us. Let the reader judge for himself whether there is really ground for alarm and apprehension at their rapid increase among us, and especially among our brethren of the Mississippi Valley.-National Eagle