Morning Star

POPISH PROVINCIAL COUNCIL AT BALTIMORE.
A council of Roman prelates and priests, called a Roman Council, was held in Baltimore in the beginning of May 1837. Some of our sycophantic editors have paraded the members, by their pompous and ghostly titles, before the public, while priests and editors really profess to be simple and grave republicans! It is true, some of the editors have made peace with their own republican consciences, by striking out the usual papal titles of "My Lord archbishop;" "my Lord bishop," and "the most reverend father in God." Yet they have paraded these foreign vassals of the Roman Court by all their spiritual titles, as, "most Reverend father in God!"
Now, in sober simplicity, what would the community say, if the editor of the Presbyterian would usher in the members of "the General Assembly" by the same pompous titles? Here is-"My Lord, the most reverend father in God, the Moderator of the assembly." Here is the Lord bishop of Philadelphia, "the promoter;" the Lord bishop McDowell, the stated clerk; here is the most reverend father in God, my Lord bishop of second street church; and the most reverend father in God, the editor of the Presbyterian!"
Now, I put the grave question, why has it reached to this state of things among us, that this pompous nonsense should not excite a perfect burst of ridicule; while this same parade of "my Lord archbishop of Baltimore" and "my Lord bishop of Philadelphia," and all such outrageous drafts upon our obeisance, are not only tolerated without laughter, but gravely set forth, and be praised in all their foreign aristocratic glory, by editors professing to be unusually orthodox in republican opinion?
In usual matters, titles and aristocratic claims pass for nothing with sober men. But on the part of Roman priests, and bishops, be it remembered, names are offices, and titles are badges of a foreign yoke; and tokens of foreign subjection!
These "Lordships" proclaim, without a blush before Republican America, that there is an empire in our republic; and a foreign army on our shores. My Lord the pope, in plain English, means the commander in chief, under the Holy Alliance, The "Lord Archbishop of Baltimore" means, major general of the invading host; "the holy father in God, bishop England," and "my Lord Dubois," and "my Lord Bardston" are in common and intelligible language, majors general of the army of America, invading us! And the very reverend Vicar General, and very reverend priest Hughes, mean simply, colonels, captains, and ensigns: while "the reverend fathers in God," are sergeants and corporals, in solemn allegiance, one and all, to their Lord supreme in all temporal things, the pope, and Austria!
The provincial council held its sessions in profound secrecy. Not even the Baltimore Gazette can penetrate its dark and inquisitorial proceedings. So it tells us with dutiful reverence.
Now, admitting the best face that can be put on this dangerous conclave of the foreign subjects of a foreign power, within our Republic: admitting that there is no plotting at all against the liberties of our Republic, or those of any individuals: admitting that these secret inquisitorial proceedings must be held with locked doors, and kept under the seal of profound secrecy, merely until the pope, their Lord and master, approve of their proceedings, what must we say of such a secret enemy in the midst of us, treading us near the very seat of our government?
Yet, no editor cries out; no Col. Stone in holy zeal, breaks out against this worse than masonic silence, and awful mysteriousness! Even the National Intelligencer does not cry out! Even the Baltimore Gazette, so far from feeling his republican sensibilities awakened, parades before our eyes, in his valuable columns, "the Lord archbishop," and "my Lord bishops," and the eminent members of the Baltimore foreign vassals of Rome!!
Now, were the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church, or the General Convention of the Episcopal church, or the convention of our Methodist brethren, to hold their meetings at the call of a power in Europe; and sit with bolted doors: and refuse to publish any transaction in their councils until they should be ratified by the king of England, or by the king of Holland, or France, what would our enlightened & truly republican editors say? Would not the National Intelligencer, and the Baltimore Gazette, and perhaps even Col. Stone himself, be roused from their papal slumbers and cry out- "shame on you! ye vassals of Britain, and France and Holland! Shame on you! ye conspirators and emissaries of royalty!" But, no, the Baltimore foreign vassals must not be disturbed; but rather furthered in their secret conspiracies!
"When "the Lords archbishops," and "the Lords bishops," hold their secret inquisitions, under the awful secrecy of bolted doors; and moreover, wait for the ratification of their dangerous decrees, by the foreign tool of the Holy Alliance, the pope; and the pope's master, Austria, and the Dictator of the Holy Alliance, Prince Metternich—then all are prepared to applaud, and flatter, and bow down in obeisance to his lord the pope, and his faithful subjects here!!
Can any human being in our republic explain this moral and political phenomenon, without impeaching the honor and honesty of those political editors? If any man can possibly discover any other way of explaining, and accounting for these editors' treachery, and conspiracy, against our holy religion and liberties, in concert with these duly commissioned officers of Rome, I shall thankfully receive the intelligence of the discovery. I call upon all our good citizens to examine into this matter, and decide for themselves. And, if we are found defending the truth, and sound republican principles, against these deadly foreign invaders, and bribed editors, then in the name of God and our country, sustain us in this matter.
—American Prot. Vindicator