"A moral, sensible, and well bred man,
Will not offend me, and no other can."
Gentlemen, I now appeal to you, if it is not evident from what I have advanced in the preceding pages, that the late crusade against Catholics, has been most unjust, and most cruel. If you will seriously, and coolly, and impartially consider what has been advanced, you must be convinced, that all your alarms, and those of many other Englishmen, are mere chimeras of your own imaginations. But if, to some of you, the above reasoning does not appear satisfactory, I am sure it will to every sensible and unbiased Englishman. Englishmen, indeed, like all other nations, have their faults, and their perfections. In times of general excitement, and of public panic, nothing is too absurd, for their credulity. In the hour of excitement, and of public panic, pigmies, appear giants to them, and mole-hills, swell into mountains. Witness the late railway mania. This mania, spread like wildfire, through the higher, the middle, and even the lower classes, and threw the whole nation, into a fever of excitement. Before their excited imaginations, rose the golden dreams of their six, and eight, and ten per cent., of railways, as the best and surest investment for their property, in short, as the easiest and most direct means, of turning their mole-hills of money into mountains of gold. In vain, were Englishmen warned, and cautioned by sensible, and thinking persons, against these golden prospects of their excited imaginations. Convinced, they either would not, or could not be. But lo! the mighty bubble burst, and then, to their loss, and sorrow, they both saw, and acknowledged the folly of their former excitement, of their railway golden dreams.
Again, I say, when Englishmen return to their cooler moments, and seriously reflect, on all the late hubbub, about Pope's Bulls, and Guy Fawkes, and Gunpowder Plots, and Catholic Mummeries and Superstitions, I feel confident, they will verify the words of Dr. Hughes, the Catholic Prelate of New York, who lately preached in London, on his way to Rome. "I am sure (says this distinguished Prelate,) that this great, and liberal nation, (England) will, after this temporary excitement is over, be ashamed of their present conduct, and will be astonished, how they could ever think, of proposing any steps, which tended to abridge, the liberty of any portion, of their countrymen, and violate that freedom in religion, which is their boast. The (English) Ministry cannot go one step back, upon the track of persecutions, if they make but one step, in that direction, they will be condemned, by every liberal minded man, and will be looked upon, with contempt by the rest of the nations of the world." (Dr. Hughes' Sermon. London, December 1st, 1850.)
Hence we find, that most, of the great and enlightened statesmen of England, always boldly, and freely, advocated the freedom, and liberties of the Catholics. As long, as we retain any respect for genius, and discernment, for Parliamentary eloquence, and political wisdom, the names of Pitt, and of Fox, of Burke, and of Windham, of Canning, and of Peel, will stand foremost, in the public estimation. These eminent statesmen, however they might differ on other subjects, concurred in supporting the cause of the Catholics. Their's was the conviction of liberal, and enlightened minds, who forgot the distinctions of party, in their zeal, to serve the cause of justice, and of freedom. Yes, they well knew, that the British Constitution, was not a constitution of restraints, and penalties, that it was framed to preserve the rights of freemen, that it was formed, for the whole, not for a part, and that it was destined, like the sun, to shed its benign influence upon all. And hence, they knew, that they could not better consult its prosperity and stability, than by fearlessly, and manfully battling, for equal rights, and equal justice to all.
Gentlemen, I must now beg leave to retire, as my presence is required, in a more august assembly. You know, your address to the Magistrates for calling a meeting, &c., was headed by certain Protestant Ministers, and you know also, that most of their fellow labourers in the vineyard, of the Protestant Church, have been most active, and zealous in the late crusade against the Catholics. Now, to pass over these reverend gentlemen with silent contempt, would be, in my humble opinion, an act of great incivility, and disrespect on my part; and which, they might perhaps consider, a most extraordinary, and presumptuous movement, on my part; I beg leave, gentlemen, therefore, to adjourn to this august assembly, and as I shall have to show these reverend gentlemen, what "an extraordinary and presumptuous movement," their Protestant Church, has been making, for a long time, on the pockets, and on the intellects of Englishmen, I shall be very glad, if you will accompany me, and see verified the poetical words of my two texts, annexed to my first little address to you—
"I would you had been there to see
How the light blazed up so gloriously."
"And then in naked majesty,
With brow serene, and beaming placid light,
Came truth."
FOOTNOTES:
[A] Lingard's Anglo-Saxon, vol. 1, p. 189, 190.
[B] Macaulay, tells us, that the number of Roman Catholics is not fewer than 150,000,000, and that it would be difficult to shew that all the other Christian sects united, amount, to 120,000,000. I quite agree with his words, "not fewer," and "it would be difficult to shew;" for upon an accurate calculation, it would be found that the Catholics amount nearer to 200,000,000, than to 150,000,000, and that all the other Christian sects, united into one body, are nearer 100,000,000, than 120,000,000. However, Macaulay's statement is quite sufficient to prove what we have cited it for, viz:—that the Roman Catholics are the greatest body of Christians, and therefore have the best title to the ancient and honourable name of Catholic.