Rome in Europe and America.
Rome needs all the consolation she can get from subservient legislators and civic authorities in the United States and Canada to console her for the great losses she is incurring in Europe. 1st. She has lost the temporal power to which she clung and still clings with deathlike tenacity. 2d. There is the disbandment of communities and monastic orders, including the Jesuits in Italy. 3d. Roman Catholics in Russia appear to be turning over to the orthodox Russian Church, of which the Czar is the head. 4th. Germany bids fair to become, in some respects, like England under Henry VIII. By the short process of enacting and enforcing laws, the ecclesiastics of Rome are to be brought into submission to the State, or deprived of their revenues, and banished. Germany is not willing to pay and protect her worst enemies whilst plotting against her. The apprehended renewal of the conflict with France renders it specially necessary for Germany to guard against internal enemies, and Bismarck is fully equal to Henry VIII. for determination and courage. Of course he runs great danger of assassination, for the spirit of Rome, like the spirit of slavery and the spirit of liquor-selling, sticks at nothing. Altogether the vast power of the Papal See seems to be getting pretty well pared down in Europe, and in these circumstances it would not be altogether astonishing if the pope should advise his devoted adherents in Italy and Germany to emigrate to the United States. But while the pope’s temporal power and his grasp on all Europe for three hundred years is waning and crumbling away, and his minions are taking umbrage in the homes of a free people, many a Censer reader may feel disposed to let this powerful hater of all liberty plant his forces in our midst without apprehending any danger. But “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” Through fire and blood the noble founders of this nation marched into the possession of that freedom which the pope in Rome and the cardinal in America are ever vigorously assailing. Let none of us be deceived, says the New York Witness, by the fact that in England and America, Rome’s lands of promise, she is seemingly decent and lamb-like. In these countries she is not herself at all; she is biding her time. The whole world should be often told that the Italian Gavazzi, or the French-Canadian Chiniquy, dare not, except by risking their lives, declare the truth in sections where Rome is supreme. There is no freedom of speech in this nineteenth century where Rome bears rule. In Mexico, the Romanish home, our Protestant missionaries are murdered in cold blood. Stones assail the head of Chiniquy in Lower Canada. Let us not be deceived; violence is still Rome’s weapon. When our war was going on, Cardinal McCloskey’s master sent his blessing to Jeff Davis and the Southern Confederacy. It didn’t avail much. It was natural that the pope, himself the mightiest slaveholder of all, should cast in his lot with those misguided Americans who struggled to keep the African in chains. God be praised that we triumphed against both pope and slaveholder. For three hundred years two systems have existed side by side. By their fruits let them be judged. Italy is at last redeeming herself from the thraldom of Rome. Our Bibles thick as snowflakes are being scattered through that kingdom. The light of God’s Book makes the Vatican uncomfortable. The old gentleman who claims to do the thinking for mankind has some thoughts of moving. His temporal power is gone. Why should not the nations rejoice. Shall we encourage him or his cardinal troop here in this land of the Puritans? God forbid. The first thing he would do in getting power among us would be to hew down our liberty trees and burn our Bibles, and fulminate his anathemas against our institutions. We have no occasion longer to try these spirits of Rome. Cardinal McCloskey will be expected to work harder than ever against our Bible, our schools and institutions. Sons of America, your ancestors left the old world to enjoy freedom from Rome in the new. Let the cardinal’s hat be a reminder to us all of our origin and our destiny, and, unless we shut our eyes, we can not fail to see the fearful progress this enemy of our liberty is making. Perhaps we cannot place a clearer view of existing facts before the Censer readers, and in so small a compass, as in the following table of increase of Romanism in the U. S. from 1790 to 1875. In 1790 there was 1 for every 131 of our population.
“ 1808 “ “ 1 “ “ 65 “ “ “
“ 1830 “ “ 1 “ “ 29 “ “ “
“ 1840 “ “ 1 “ “ 18 “ “ “
“ 1850 “ “ 1 “ “ 11 “ “ “
“ 1860 “ “ 1 “ “ 7 “ “ “
“ 1870 “ “ 1 “ “ 7.10 “ “ “
“ 1875 “ “ 1 “ “ 6 “ “ “