Danger in the Dark - ZseZse

DANGER IN THE DARK. 251
treachery of Romanists. They predicted that if our
glorious system of government should ever be overthrown,
that priestcraft would be the cause. Mark
this circumstance, it is not the timid, nn;ead and
illiterate, but men of sagacity, observation and experience
that look with distrust upon the Roman Hierarchy,
and are most ready to sound the alarm when
the priesthood manifest a disposition to usurp temporal
or spiritual authority. When we look at the immense
crowds of foreigners that perpetually flow into this
country-the large majority of whom are ignorant
and degraded - having been taught littl else than
implicit, servile and blind obedience to their clergy,
it cannot be thought strange that we should apprehend
danger to the civil and religious liberties we
enjoy and so highly prize."
"What, then, pray tell me, do you propose doing
with the Catholic community ~ Shall they be driven
from our shores, and shut out from 'the land of the
free, and the home of the brave ~'"
"By no means; let them not be disturbed. But
I at the same time let them not disturb us. I only
insist that Americans promptly resist priestly rule,
dictation and usurpation in our governmental affairs,
and give no countenance to the arrogant and presumptuous
pretensions of the Hierarchy to spiritual
and temporal authority. It is time Americans should
begin to understand the treacherous policy and ambitious
aims of the priesthood. When we fully comprehend
the nature and tendency of Romanism, and