Americanism Contrasted with Foreignism, Romanism, and Bogus Democracy in the Light of Reason, History, and Scripture.
by William Gannaway Brownlow.
Dedication.
TO THE YOUNG MEN OF AMERICA.
YOUNG GENTLEMEN:--Almighty G.o.d has conferred on you the peculiar honor and the eminent responsibility of preserving and perpetuating the liberties of this country, both civil and religious. That the American people are on the eve of an eventful period, will not be doubted by any sane man, who can discern the "signs of the times." Indeed, it is an every-day remark, that, as a nation, we are in the midst of a crisis.
If, however, a crisis ever did exist in the affairs of this Nation, since its independence was first achieved, which called upon the NATIVE AND LEGAL VOTERS of the country to watch with sleepless vigilance over their blood-bought liberties, that crisis must be dated in the year of our Lord, ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SIX! The great Commonwealth of Humanity, in behalf of the momentous interests of Truth, Liberty, and Religion, calls upon the present generation of YOUNG MEN, who will have the issues of a coming revolution to meet, to qualify themselves for the task.
There never was a time known, since the dark days of the Revolution, when the civil and religious liberties of this country were so much endangered as at the present time. This danger we are threatened with from _Foreign influence_, and the rapid strides of _Romanism_, to which we may add _Native treachery_, connived at, as they are, by certain leading demagogues of the country, and a powerful and influential political party, falsely called _Democrats_, who seek the Foreign and Catholic vote, and are willing to obtain it at the expense of Liberty, and the sacrifice of the Protestant Religion!
The great criminal of the nineteenth century, the PAPAL HIERARCHY, is now on trial before the bar of public opinion, having been arraigned by the AMERICAN PARTY. You are called on to decide, YOUNG MEN, as you wield the balance of power, whether this Criminal, arraigned for treason against G.o.d, and hostility to the human race, deserves the execrations of all honest and patriotic men, and avenging judgments of a righteous G.o.d! In order to decide this grave question, YOUNG _Gentlemen of the Nineteenth Century_, you are to consider the inevitable tendency of the principles of the Church of Rome--the actual results of these tendencies as embodied in history--the indictment brought in by the AMERICAN PARTY, and the testimony of the witnesses. When you have intelligently considered the part the self-styled _Democratic Party_ has acted in this infamous drama, you will feel it to be your duty to indict the corporation claiming the right to be called the Great Democratic Party, as _accessory_ to the treason, crimes, and infamy, of the aforesaid Papal Hierarchy!
To you, then, Gentlemen, is this brief work most affectionately inscribed by
THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
For the last twenty-five years, the writer of this work has employed much of his time in the reading and study of the controversy between Roman Catholics and Protestants. And those who have been subscribers to the paper he has edited and published for the LAST SEVENTEEN YEARS, will bear him witness that he has kept up a fierce and unceasing fire against that dangerous and immoral _Corporation_, claiming the right to be called the HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH. This he has done, and still continues to do, because he believes firmly that the system of Popery, as taught in the standards of the Church of Rome, as enforced by her Bishops and Priests, and as believed and practised by the great body of Romanists, both in Europe and America, is at war with the true religion taught in the Bible, and is injurious to the public and private morals of the civilized world; and, if unchecked, will overturn the civil and religious liberties of the United States. Such, he believes, is its tendency and the design of its leaders.
Popery is deceitful in its character; and the design of this brief work is, in part, to drag it forward into the light of the middle of the nineteenth century, to strip the flimsy vizor off its face, and to bring it, with all its abuses, corruptions, and hypocritical Protestant advocates, before the bar of enlightened public opinion, for judgment in the case. Roman Catholics misrepresent their own creed, their Church, and its corrupt inst.i.tutions. The most revolting, wicked, and immoral features of their _holy and immutable system_, are kept out of sight by its corrupt Clergy, and Jesuitical teachers; while, with a purpose to _deceive_, a _Protestant sense_ is attached to most of their doctrines and peculiarities. By this vile means, they designedly _misrepresent themselves_, and impose on the public, by inducing charitable and uninformed persons to believe that they are not as profligate as they are represented to be. This game has been played with a bold hand in _Knoxville_, for the last twelve months, and it is being played in every city and town in the South and West, where Romanism is being planted.
One object, then, of this _epitomized_ work, setting forth the boastings, threats, and disclosures of leading Catholic organs and Bishops, as to their real principles and designs upon this country, suffered to go forth in their more excited moments, or unguarded hours, is, to spread before the people, in a cheap form, true Popery, and to strip it of its _Protestant garb_, which it has for the time being a.s.sumed.
An additional reason for bringing out this publication, at this particular time, is, to expose a corrupt bargain entered into by the leaders of the Catholic Church, and the leaders of a corrupt and designing political party, falsely called the Democratic party. One of the most alarming "signs of the times" is, that while Protestant ministers, of different persuasions, only two brief years ago, could preach with power and eloquence against the dogmas and corrupting tendencies of _Romanism_, and pa.s.s out of the doors of their churches, receiving the compliments and extravagant praises of their entire congregations, let one of them now dare to hold up this Corporation as a dangerous foreign enemy--let him warn his charge against the influence of Popery, or but only designate the Catholic Hierarchy as the "man of sin" described in the Scriptures, and one half of his congregation are grossly insulted: they charge him with meddling in politics; and, by way of resentment, they will either not hear him again, or they will starve him out, by refusing to contribute to his support!
The hypocritical and profligate portion of the Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Episcopal membership in this country, are not so much misled by Popery, as they are influenced by _party politics_, and are in love with the _loose moral code_ of Romanism. It lays no restraints on their l.u.s.ts, and gives a loose rein to all their unsanctified pa.s.sions and desires. Backslidden, unconverted, or unprincipled members of Protestant Churches, find in Popery a _sympathizing irreligion_, adapted to their vicious lives; and hence they fall in with its disgusting superst.i.tions and insulting claims. They are, therefore, ensnared with the delusions of Popery, of _choice_. In other words, Popery is a system of mere human policy; altogether of Foreign origin; Foreign in its support; importing Foreign va.s.sals and paupers by multiplied thousands; and sending into every State and Territory in this Union, a most baneful Foreign and anti-Republican influence. Its old _goutified_, immoral, and drunken Pope, his Bishops and Priests, are _politicians_; men of the world, earthly, sensual, and devilish, and mere men of pleasure. a.s.sociated with them for the purpose, in great State and National contests, of securing the Catholic vote, are the worst cla.s.s of American politicians, designing demagogues, selfish office-seekers, and bad men, calling themselves _Democrats_ and "Old-Line Whigs!" These politicians know that Popery, as a system, is in the hands of a Foreign despotism, precisely what the Koran is in the hands of the Grand Turk and his partisans. But corrupt and ambitious politicians in this country, are willing to act the part of traitors to our laws and Const.i.tution, for the sake of profitable offices; and they are willing to sacrifice the Protestant Religion, on the ancient and profligate altar at Rome, if they may but rise to distinction on its ruins!
The great Democratic party of this country, which has degenerated into a _Semi-Papal Organization_, for the base purposes of power and plunder, now fully partakes of the intolerant spirit of Rome, and is acting it out in all the departments of our State and General Governments. What Romanism has been to the Old World, this Papal and Anti-American organization seeks and promises to be to this country. What is Popery in Roman Catholic Europe? It is as intolerant in politics as in religion: it taxes and oppresses the subjects and citizens of every country; it interdicts nations; dethrones governors, chief magistrates, and kings; dissolves civil governments; suspends commerce; annuls civil laws; and, to gratify its unsanctified l.u.s.t of ambition, it has overrun whole nations with bloodshed, and thrown them into confusion. So it is with this "_Bogus_" Democracy: it wages a war of extermination against the freedom of the press, and against the liberty of speech, the rights of human conscience, and the liberties of man: hence its indiscriminate proscription of all who dare to unite with the AMERICAN PARTY, or openly espouse their cause. Popery aims at universal power over the bodies and souls of all men; and history proclaims that its weapons have been dungeons, racks, chains, fire, and sword! The _b.a.s.t.a.r.d_ Democracy of the present age has united with the Prelates, Priests, Monks, and Nuns of Romanism, and is daily affiliating with hundreds of thousands of the very off-scourings of the European Catholic population--stimulating them to deeds of violence, and to the shedding of blood! To-day, they sustain a _Baker_ in the foul murder of a _Poole_, in New York, because he was a member of the so-called Know-Nothing party, which had just routed, in an election, this Foreign Locofoco party! To-morrow, we find this same vile party, its editors and orators, sustaining a Foreign Catholic Mob in Louisville, Ky.; and the members of the same party, in surrounding States, exulting over the murder of Protestant Americans! And in the next breath, as it were, we find these sons of Belial, falsely called _Democrats_, after reaching the power they l.u.s.ted after in Philadelphia, sending up shouts over the lawless deeds of a Foreign Catholic riot, which made the ears of every American citizen to tingle!
Under the guidance of an ALL-WISE PROVIDENCE, the Protector of our Republic, and of the Protestant Religion, it is in the power of the free and independent voters of these United States to cause this enemy"s long "_arm to be clean dried up, and his right eye to be utterly darkened_,"
by elevating to the two first offices within the gift of the world, MILLARD FILLMORE and ANDREW J. DONELSON!
I am, candid Reader, your fellow-citizen,
W. G. BROWNLOW.
KNOXVILLE, July, 1856.
AMERICANISM CONTRASTED
WITH
Foreignism, Romanism, and Bogus Democracy.
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
The Creed of the American Party--The Platform misrepresented by Mr. Watkins--Official Vote on the adoption of the new Platform--What the Abolitionists and Democrats say of the Platform--Seceders from the Nominating Convention, and their Address.
Lord Byron, just as the war of Greece approached, said: "It is not one man, nor a million, but the _spirit of liberty_ which must be spread;"
and, carrying out the same bold idea of liberty, he continues, "It is time to act;" or, in the language of the Know Nothing salutation, "It is time for work;" for "what signifies _self_, if a single spark of that genius of liberty worthy of the past, can be bequeathed unquenchably to the future?" In the language of a fair poetess:
--"Our country is a whole, Of which we all are parts; nor should a citizen Regard his interests as distinct from hers: No hopes or fears should touch his patriot soul, But what affects her honor or her shame."
The civilization--the nationality--the inst.i.tutions, civil and religious--and the mission of the United States, are all eminently American. Mental light and personal independence, const.i.tutional union, national supremacy, submission to law and rules of order, h.o.m.ogeneous population, and instinctive patriotism, are all vital elements of American liberty, nationality, and upward and onward progress. Foreign immigration, foreign Catholic influence, and sectional factions nourished by them--and breeding demagogues in the name of _Democracy_, by a prost.i.tution of the elective franchise--have already corrupted our nationality, degraded our councils, both State and National, weakened the bonds of union, disturbed our country"s peace, and awakened apprehensions of insecurity and _progressive deterioration_, threatening ultimate ruin! To rescue and restore American inst.i.tutions--to maintain American nationality, and to secure American birthrights, is the mission and the sole purpose of the AMERICAN PARTY--composed of conservative, patriotic, Protestant, Union-loving, native-born citizens of every section, and of every Christian denomination--self-sacrificing patriots, who prefer their country, and the religion of their fathers, and of the Bible, to a factious name, a plundering political organization, and an infamous Papal hierarchy!
The paramount and ultimate object of our AMERICAN ORGANIZATION is to save and exalt the Union, and to preserve and perpetuate the rights and blessings of the Protestant religion. We contend that American principles should mould American policy; that American mind should rule American destiny; that all sectional parties, such as a party _North_, or a party _South_, should be renounced; that all sectional agitations, such as are kept up by Abolitionists, Free Soilers, and Black Republicans, should be resisted; that Congress should never agitate the subject of domestic slavery, in any form or for any purpose, but leave it where the Const.i.tution fixes it; that as the destiny of the country depends on the mind of the country, intelligence should rule; that the ballot-box should be purified, and corrupt Romanism and foreign influence checked; that any allegiance "to any foreign prince, potentate, or power"--to any power, regal or pontifical, should be rebuked as the most fatal canker of the germ of American independence; that every citizen should be encouraged to exercise freely his own conscience; and that the popular mind should be enlightened, and the popular heart rectified, by proper and universal Christian education.
This is the essence of the American creed; and when methodized into a Political Decalogue, it const.i.tutes the _Ten Commandments_ of the American party.
In this connection, and at this point, we will give the much-abused Platform of the American party, adopted at the session of the National Council, February 21, 1856. Examine the Platform, and answer to your conscience the question: What true American head can disapprove--what pure American heart can revolt? Can men taking their stand on this Platform be the enemies of civil and religious liberties? Can either civil or religious liberties rest secure on any other grounds? And must not those "Bogus" Democrats and Anti-Americans, therefore, who wage war against this citadel of American birthrights, act as enemies to the Federal Const.i.tution, enemies to the Union, to the mental independence of American citizens--enemies to the Protestant religion, and enemies, consequently, "to civil and religious liberty?"
PLATFORM OF THE AMERICAN PARTY.
1st. An humble acknowledgment to the Supreme Being for his protecting care vouchsafed to our fathers in their successful Revolutionary struggle, and hitherto manifested to us, their descendants, in the preservation of the liberties, the independence, and the union of these States.
2d. The perpetuation of the Federal Union, as the palladium of our civil and religious liberties, and the only sure bulwark of American Independence.
3d. _Americans must rule America_, and to this end, _native_-born citizens should be selected for all State, Federal, and munic.i.p.al offices, or government employment, in preference to all others: nevertheless,
4th. Persons born of American parents residing temporarily abroad, should be ent.i.tled to all the rights of native-born citizens; but,
5th. No person should be selected for political station, (whether of native or foreign birth,) who recognizes any allegiance or obligation of any description, to any foreign prince, potentate, or power, or who refuses to recognize the Federal and State const.i.tutions (each within its sphere) as paramount to all other laws, as rules of political action.
6th. The unqualified recognition and maintenance of the reserved rights of the several States, and the cultivation of harmony and fraternal good-will between the citizens of the several States; and to this end, non-interference by Congress with questions appertaining solely to the individual States, and non-intervention by each State with the affairs of any other State.
7th. The recognition of the right of the native-born and naturalized citizens of the United States, permanently residing in any Territory thereof, to frame their const.i.tution and laws, and to regulate their domestic and social affairs in their own mode, subject only to the provisions of the Federal Const.i.tution, with the privilege of admission into the Union whenever they have the requisite population for one Representative in Congress. _Provided always_, that none but those who are citizens of the United States, under the const.i.tution and laws thereof, and who have a fixed residence in any such Territory, ought to partic.i.p.ate in the formation of the const.i.tution, or in the enactment of laws for said Territory or State.
8th. An enforcement of the principle that no State or Territory ought to admit others than citizens of the United States to the right of suffrage, or of holding political office.
9th. A change in the laws of naturalization, making a continued residence of twenty-one years, of all not hereinbefore provided for, an indispensable requisite for citizenship hereafter, and excluding all paupers, and persons convicted of crime, from landing upon our sh.o.r.es; but no interference with the vested rights of foreigners.
10th. Opposition to any union between Church and State: no interference with religious faith or worship, and no test-oaths for office.
11th. Free and thorough investigation into any and all alleged abuses of public functionaries, and a strict economy in public expenditures.
12th. The maintenance and enforcement of all laws const.i.tutionally enacted, until said laws shall be repealed, or shall be declared null and void by competent judicial authority.
13th. Opposition to the reckless and unwise policy of the present administration in the general management of our national affairs, and more especially as shown in removing "Americans" (by designation) and conservatives in principle, from office, and placing foreigners and ultraists in their places: as shown in a truckling subserviency to the stronger, and an insolent and cowardly bravado toward the weaker powers: as shown in reopening sectional agitation, by the repeal of the Missouri Compromise: as shown in granting to unnaturalized foreigners the right of suffrage in Kansas and Nebraska: as shown in its vacillating course on the Kansas and Nebraska question: as shown in the corruptions which pervade some of the departments of the government: as shown in disgracing meritorious naval officers through prejudice or caprice; and as shown in the blundering mismanagement of our foreign relations.
14th. Therefore, to remedy existing evils, and prevent the disastrous consequences otherwise resulting therefrom, we would build up the "American party" upon the principles hereinbefore stated.