In conclusion, I can only say, that I am afraid Lord John Russell's letter, has been a most unfortunate one for himself; and as such, I regret it exceedingly. It has certainly placed him, in the opinion of sensible Englishmen, in a very ridiculous point of view; and how it will be received by future ages, it is not for me to divine.
My dissenting Brethren, to you who have honourably come forward, and assisted us Catholics, in the late hurricane of bigotry, and of insults, I return you my mead of sincere thanks. Your conduct shows, that you have acted the part of consistent men, that you are true supporters of civil and religious liberty, and that you have not forgotten the former noble, and disinterested exertions of the late Daniel O'Connell, in your cause. You cannot but remember, that the late Daniel O'Connell, nobly and disinterestedly, battled for your rights and privileges, on the field of civil and religious liberty, even before he had gained those rights, either for the English Catholics, or for his dear country, poor Ireland.[Q]
But what shall I say of those dissenters, who have joined with the Protestant Church, in the late fury and tirade against us Catholics? Can I call them consistent men? Consistent men indeed! Do not all the dissenters, the Presbyterians, Methodists, Independents, Baptists, Unitarians, and Quakers, do not all these dissenters deny, as well as we Catholics, the spiritual supremacy of the Queen? Nay, do not all these dissenters, claim their spiritual rights and authority, independent of the Queen? Why, therefore, will you refuse the exercise of their spiritual rights, to your Catholic fellow creatures? Why will you unjustly deprive them of those privileges, which are the birth-right of every Englishman; nay, of every human creature in the world? Does not the scripture, which you so often extol, tell you, "that you ought not to do unto others, that which you do not wish others to do unto you?" What, then, are we to say of those dissenting ministers, or minister, who on one day are seen claiming the power to give spiritual ordination to others, then, shortly after, attending an Anti-Protestant Church meeting; and, lastly, see them or him, arranged by the side of the Protestant Church, for the express purpose, of refusing to the Catholic Church, the exercise of those spiritual rights, which they, or he, had not long before deemed it their, or his right to assume? Nay, what is still worse, he had even wished to refuse them the rights of a base criminal, viz., that a charitable dissenter should not be allowed to speak, or merely ask a question, in defence of the Pope, and of the benighted papists. Really, was not this, a most inconsistent, "extraordinary and presumptuous movement," of this dissenting minister? Well, I can only say, if the religious creed of this minister, be not more consistent than his political creed, I really envy him not the possession of it, and I think I cannot do better, than address him in the words of the poet:
"His notions fitted things so well
That, which was which, he could not tell,
But oftentimes, mistook the one
For t'other, as great clerks have done."
I must now say a few words to the English, in general, and make a few remarks on the unjust manner, in which the Catholic religion, has in general been hitherto, treated and abused. That you may the better understand this, I will make use of the following supposition. Let us suppose, for a moment, that we were in a court of justice, that a person was going to be tried, that some of you were witnesses against him, that the rest of you, were to form the jury, and that I was to be the judge. Now, if we were to examine, only the witnesses who were against the accused, and not allow a single individual to speak for him, if we were not, to allow the poor man to speak a word in his own defence, and were the jury, and the judge, then to pronounce him guilty, do you think, we should treat that man fairly? However innocent he might be, he was sure to be brought in guilty. And why? Because the witnesses were against him, the jury was against him, and the judge was against him; and not a single word was allowed to be spoken in his defence. Now, ye honest men of England, would you not think that man was treated very unfairly? Would you not feel for such a man? And would you not pity his case? I am sure you would, and all with one voice exclaim, "Let the poor man have fair play, and let us 'do to him, as we would be done by.'"
Now, my friends, let us apply this example, to the Catholic religion. Have you not read books, that gave you the most horrible account of the Catholic religion, have you not heard people, tell the most infamous things against this religion, and have you not, even in places of worship, heard this religion, most cruelly called, and abused? But did you ever ask yourselves, whether all that you then read or heard, was really true? Did you consider, that abuse, is no argument, declamation, no evidence, accusation, no verdict? Did you examine the witnesses on the other side? Did you read any Catholic book, or consult any well-instructed Catholic layman, or minister on these subjects? Did you not condemn the poor Catholics, unheard, and without giving them a fair trial? But mind, I am not blaming you, nor the public in general, for this ignorance of our religion, nor am I surprised at it. No, considering what has been the state of things, I cannot conceive how it could have been otherwise. For these misrepresentations, and false statements against our religion, have been often made by very respectable persons, and often repeated to the people, either from the pulpit, where nothing but the truth, should be spoken, or in tracts, and books, which either are, or profess to be written by learned and sincere members of society. Thus hearing these statements, and accusations, from these sources, the people very natural enough conclude, that all that is said against the poor benighted Papists, must be true. But my friends, I beg of you that in future, you will always remember, that the law of England, strictly forbids any one, even the basest criminal, to be condemned before, he has had a fair trial, that it is an excellent maxim in life, "hear both sides before you judge," and the Scripture expressly says: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." Why should not then the same principles, be adopted in judging of the Catholic religion? When then, in future your hear any abuse, or accusation against the Catholic religion, I beg of you to ask yourselves two questions: First, am I certain that the Catholic Church maintains such doctrine? and secondly, if it does, have I heard the proofs, which may be advanced, in confirmation of that doctrine? Oh! would only all Englishmen, grant the Catholics this common boon of justice! how soon would that dark, and heavy cloud of prejudice and misrepresentation, which has so long hung over our religion, immediately burst, and as the sun, after having been shrouded in clouded majesty, amidst the terrific storm, bursts forth with more transcendent brightness, so would the Catholic faith, after having been so long darkened with the mist of false representation, burst forth, with a lustre and brightness, which could not help attracting the eye of every sensible, and thinking mind.
One or two more remarks to you Englishmen, and then, I really must for the present bid you farewell. You cannot be ignorant of the many Protestant clergyman, who, are either returning in many respects to the Catholic faith, or who have already, publicly renounced the Protestant, and embraced the Catholic faith. Now, with all these venerable examples before you, ought not you laity, to begin to think, that you also, have a right, nay, that it is your duty, to examine how religious affairs, stand in England? You cannot read, without feelings of interest, and surprise, the account of the numerous conversions, of these Protestant clergymen, to the ancient Catholic. Although you may condemn the change, still you cannot but admire the singleness of their purpose, and the strength of their minds. The Catholic Church, has no earthly treasures (for the Protestant Church got all these long since) to offer these ministers for the great sacrifice of wealth, of friendship, and other worldly interests, which they have to forfeit, for renouncing the Protestant, and embracing the Catholic faith. On the other hand, your rich, but poor in spirit Church, lays before them golden prospects, some of the best, and highest preferments of your Church. But, they have turned their backs upon them all, either to accept the lowly charge of a Catholic Priest, or to sink into some despised, and humble situation in life. To many of you, these sacrifices may appear folly; but remember these converts, have lately studied in the school of St. Paul, who "suffered the loss of all things, and accounted them as dung, that he might gain Christ." (Phil. iii.) Thus, they have cheerfully renounced the riches, and honours of this world, to associate themselves in faith, and worship, with those holy, and illustrious members of the Catholic faith, who, in every age, and clime, have made it their aim, and glory, to bring their dear, but erring brethren, to this one fold, of the one Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
I can only say it appears to me strange, passing strange, that if Catholicity be such a monster, as some would gladly persuade the world, it appears very strange, that there should be such an inclination in England, of late years, to return to this ancient faith. Every one must acknowledge, that the march of intellect in England, during these late years, has been immense; but if Catholicity be such a monster, as our enemies charitably represent it, what is the reason, so many are beginning to enter into its fold, and what is the reason, Catholicity in England is so much in the increase? This great increase, is acknowledged even by our enemies. One would reasonably think, that if Catholicity be such a monster, the march of intellect would have naturally guarded the people against it. It surely will not be said, that the people have not been sufficiently warned against it. What! not sufficiently warned against it! Have they not been warned against it, these three hundred years at least? Have they not been warned against it, in books of all descriptions, from the large folio to the penny tract? Have they not been warned against it, in almost every pulpit (except Catholic) in England? Have they not been warned against it, again, and again, in the House of Lords and Commons? Have they not been warned against it, in almost every rank of society? In short, have they not been warned against it by every means, that human ingenuity could devise? But surely, we shall not be told, that this inclination to Catholicity, is owing to the want of scriptural knowledge in England? Want of scriptural knowledge indeed in England! Have not millions of money, been subscribed for the printing of the scriptures, have not millions of bibles, been printed and circulated in England? In short has not almost every one a bible, to which he confidently appeals as his word of life? And yet notwithstanding all this warning against Catholicity, notwithstanding this immense diffusion of bibles in England, Catholicity is rapidly increasing, to the great dismay and "horrification" of our enemies. What then, can be the reason of this late increase of Catholicity in England? Why, I will tell you, the people of England, can now most of them read, and the march of intellect is abroad, and by these means the people begin to find out, that their Catholic fellow creatures, have been long, an unjustly abused, a shamefully treated, and basely calumniated body of Christians. The people, therefore, naturally begin to feel for them, and are now unwilling to be deceived, by the idle rant of those misinformed, but positive writers and preachers, who
"Without the care of knowing right from wrong,
Always appear, decisive, clear, and strong,
Where others, toil with philosophic force,
Their nimble nonsense, takes a shorter course,
Flings at your head, conviction in a lump,
And gains remote conclusions at a jump."