democracy in america-1-第87节
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than a million of Christians professing the truths of the Church of Rome are to be met with in the Union。 *d The Catholics are faithful to the observances of their religion； they are fervent and zealous in the support and belief of their doctrines。 Nevertheless they constitute the most republican and the most democratic class of citizens which exists in the United States； and although this fact may surprise the observer at first； the causes by which it is occasioned may easily be discovered upon reflection。
＇Footnote d： ＇It is difficult to ascertain with accuracy the amount of the Roman Catholic population of the United States； but in 1868 an able writer in the 〃Edinburgh Review〃 （vol。 cxxvii。 p。 521） affirmed that the whole Catholic population of the United States was then about 4；000；000； divided into 43 dioceses； with 3；795 churches； under the care of 45 bishops and 2；317 clergymen。 But this rapid increase is mainly supported by immigration from the Catholic countries of Europe。＇＇
I think that the Catholic religion has erroneously been looked upon as the natural enemy of democracy。 Amongst the various sects of Christians； Catholicism seems to me； on the contrary； to be one of those which are most favorable to the equality of conditions。 In the Catholic Church； the religious community is composed of only two elements； the priest and the people。 The priest alone rises above the rank of his flock； and all below him are equal。
On doctrinal points the Catholic faith places all human capacities upon the same level； it subjects the wise and ignorant； the man of genius and the vulgar crowd； to the details of the same creed； it imposes the same observances upon the rich and needy； it inflicts the same austerities upon the strong and the weak； it listens to no compromise with mortal man； but； reducing all the human race to the same standard； it confounds all the distinctions of society at the foot of the same altar； even as they are confounded in the sight of God。 If Catholicism predisposes the faithful to obedience； it certainly does not prepare them for inequality； but the contrary may be said of Protestantism； which generally tends to make men independent； more than to render them equal。
Catholicism is like an absolute monarchy； if the sovereign be removed； all the other classes of society are more equal than they are in republics。 It has not unfrequently occurred that the Catholic priest has left the service of the altar to mix with the governing powers of society； and to take his place amongst the civil gradations of men。 This religious influence has sometimes been used to secure the interests of that political state of things to which he belonged。 At other times Catholics have taken the side of aristocracy from a spirit of religion。
But no sooner is the priesthood entirely separated from the government； as is the case in the United States； than is found that no class of men are more naturally disposed than the Catholics to transfuse the doctrine of the equality of conditions into the political world。 If； then； the Catholic citizens of the United States are not forcibly led by the nature of their tenets to adopt democratic and republican principles； at least they are not necessarily opposed to them； and their social position； as well as their limited number； obliges them to adopt these opinions。 Most of the Catholics are poor； and they have no chance of taking a part in the government unless it be open to all the citizens。 They constitute a minority； and all rights must be respected in order to insure to them the free exercise of their own privileges。 These two causes induce them； unconsciously； to adopt political doctrines； which they would perhaps support with less zeal if they were rich and preponderant。
The Catholic clergy of the United States has never attempted to oppose this political tendency； but it seeks rather to justify its results。 The priests in America have divided the intellectual world into two parts： in the one they place the doctrines of revealed religion； which command their assent； in the other they leave those truths which they believe to have been freely left open to the researches of political inquiry。 Thus the Catholics of the United States are at the same time the most faithful believers and the most zealous citizens。
It may be asserted that in the United States no religious doctrine displays the slightest hostility to democratic and republican institutions。 The clergy of all the different sects hold the same language； their opinions are consonant to the laws； and the human intellect flows onwards in one sole current。
I happened to be staying in one of the largest towns in the Union； when I was invited to attend a public meeting which had been called for the purpose of assisting the Poles； and of sending them supplies of arms and money。 I found two or three thousand persons collected in a vast hall which had been prepared to receive them。 In a short time a priest in his ecclesiastical robes advanced to the front of the hustings： the spectators rose； and stood uncovered； whilst he spoke in the following terms： …
〃Almighty God！ the God of Armies！ Thou who didst strengthen the hearts and guide the arms of our fathers when they were fighting for the sacred rights of national independence； Thou who didst make them triumph over a hateful oppression； and hast granted to our people the benefits of liberty and peace； Turn； O Lord； a favorable eye upon the other hemisphere； pitifully look down upon that heroic nation which is even now struggling as we did in the former time； and for the same rights which we defended with our blood。 Thou； who didst create Man in the likeness of the same image； let not tyranny mar Thy work； and establish inequality upon the earth。 Almighty God！ do Thou watch over the destiny of the Poles； and render them worthy to be free。 May Thy wisdom direct their councils； and may Thy strength sustain their arms！ Shed forth Thy terror over their enemies； scatter the powers which take counsel against them； and vouchsafe that the injustice which the world has witnessed for fifty years； be not consummated in our time。 O Lord； who holdest alike the hearts of nations and of men in Thy powerful hand； raise up allies to the sacred cause of right； arouse the French nation from the apathy in which its rulers retain it； that it go forth again to fight for the liberties of the world。
〃Lord； turn not Thou Thy face from us； and grant that we may always be the most religious as well as the freest people of the earth。 Almighty God； hear our supplications this day。 Save the Poles； we beseech Thee； in the name of Thy well…beloved Son； our Lord Jesus Christ； who died upon the cross for the salvation of men。 Amen。〃
The whole meeting responded 〃Amen！〃 with devotion。
Indirect Influence Of Religious Opinions Upon Political Society In The United States
Christian morality common to all sects … Influence of religion upon the manners of the Americans … Respect for the marriage tie … In what manner religion confines the imagination of the Americans within certain limits； and checks the passion of innovation … Opinion of the Americans on the political utility of religion … Their exertions to extend and secure its predominance。
I have just shown what the direct influence of religion upon politics is in the United States； but its indirect influence appears to me to be still more considerable； and it never instructs the Americans more fully in the art of being free than when it says nothing of freedom。
The sects which exist in the United States are innumerable。 They all differ in respect to the worship which is due from man to his Creator； but they all agree in respect to the duties which are due from man to man。 Each sect adores the Deity in its own peculiar manner； but all the sects preach the same moral law in the name of God。 If it be of the highest importance to man； as an individual； that his religion should be true； the case of society is not the same。 Society has no future life to hope for or to fear； and provided the citizens profess a religion； the peculiar tenets of that religion are of very little importance to its interests。 Moreover； almost all the sects of the United States are comprised within the great unity of Christianity； and Christian morality is everywhere the same。
It may be believed without unfairness that a certain number of Americans pursue a peculiar form of worship； from habit more than from conviction。 In the United States the sovereign authority is religious； and consequently hypocrisy must be common； but there is no country in the whole world in which the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America； and there can be no greater proof of its utility； and of its conformity to human nature； than that its influence is most powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation of the earth。
I have remarked that the members of the American clergy in general； without even excepting those who do not admit religious liberty； are all in favor of civil freedom； but they do not support any particular political system。 They keep aloof from parties and from public affairs。 In the United S
