American Scenes, and Christian Slavery eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 296 pages of information about American Scenes, and Christian Slavery.

American Scenes, and Christian Slavery eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 296 pages of information about American Scenes, and Christian Slavery.
of the United States.  The Church of Rome is straining every nerve to have that giant in her own keeping, and already shouts the song of triumph.  Says one of her sanguine sons, “The Church is now firmly established in this country, and persecution will but cause it to thrive.  Our countrymen may grieve that it is so; but it is useless for them to kick against the decrees of the Almighty God.  They have an open field and fair play for Protestantism.  Here she has had free scope, has reigned without a rival, and proved what she could do, and that her best is evil; for the very good she boasts is not hers.  A new day is dawning on this chosen land, and the Church is about to assume her rightful position and influence.  Ours shall yet become consecrated ground. Our hills and valleys shall yet echo to the convent-bell. The cross shall be planted throughout the length and breadth of our land; and our happy sons and daughters shall drive away fear, shall drive away evil from our borders with the echoes of their matin and vesper hymns.  No matter who writes, who declaims, who intrigues, who is alarmed, or what leagues are formed, THIS IS TO BE A CATHOLIC COUNTRY; and from Maine to Georgia, from the broad Atlantic to broader Pacific, the ‘clean sacrifice’ is to be offered daily for quick and dead.”  The triumph may be premature; but it conveys a timely warning.

The next day the Anniversary of the Bible Society was held.  The Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen presided.  At that meeting I had been requested, to speak, but could not.  Indeed, we were detained all day on board a vessel by which we expected every hour to sail for Jamaica; though, after all, we had to wait until the following day.  On that day, the 14th of May, just at the time the Board of Missions were holding their public meeting, we sailed, and bade adieu to New York and all the delightful engagements of that memorable week.

But, say you, Tell us in a few words what you think of America upon the whole?  I will try to do so.  There is a class of things I greatly admire; and there is a class of things I greatly detest.  Among the former I may mention—­

1.  Religious equality—­the absence of a State church.

2.  The workings of the voluntary principle in the abundant supply of places of worship, and in the support of religious institutions.

3.  General education.  With regard to their common schools, and also to their colleges, they are far in advance of us in England.  The existence of universal suffrage has the effect of stimulating educational efforts to a degree which would not otherwise be attained.  The more respectable and intelligent of the citizens are made to feel that, with universal suffrage, their dearest institutions are all perilled unless the mass be educated.

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American Scenes, and Christian Slavery from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.