Danger in the Dark - ZseZse

DANGER IN TilE DARK. 227
tions of this country . So perfectly are the sworn
bands of the Vatican organized, and so rapidly is
their strength accumulating in America by foreign
emigration, that. it is high time the friends of liberty
were upon the alert, and arming themselves for the
contest. I mean, of course, a moral contest- a war
between truth and error -a struggle between the
principles of freedom and the spirit of despotism;
which it is not impossible, however, may terminate
in blood-as many such contests have in former times
and other countries. The American people are culpably
indifferent to the menaces of an arrogant and
tyrannical Hierarchy, who owe no allegiance to this
government, acknowledge no respect any longer, for
our institutions, yet cease to disguise their intentions
to manage the helm of state, and dictate to us in
governmental affairs. Such an indifference is little
short of downright stupidity! Rome has ever been,
and still is, tyrannical, vindictive and persecuting.
Catholicism is now, what it ever has been, intolerant,
and inquisitorial; the open ally and principal support
of despotism; still the same adversary of reform,
progress, education and science, as in the day of
Galilee. Unchanged in its spirit and doctrines,
Romanism comes down as a black cloud from the
dark ages, to overshadow the human mind, and bind
the immortal faculties of the soul with the chains of
ignorance, and the fearful shackles of bigotry and
superstition.
"I hold in my hand a Catholic paper, published