the consciences of their dissenting subjects, not even Queen Mary, of
England, excepted; for the so-called persecution by Catholic princes has
never been to compel men to adopt a new religion. Protestants in Europe
and here attempt to compel the adoption of their false tenets by those
who are neither desirous nor willing to adopt them, and who already
profess a true religion. This is what makes a vast difference between
the persecution your "Madiai" suffer, and this ten times worse
persecution which many an otherwise honest and kind-hearted American
farmer allows to take place in his family. The Day of Judgment alone
will reveal to light what trials, crosses, and real persecution Catholic
servant men and women have to endure in remote and country places from
the bigotry, hypocrisy, and cruelty of ignorant, unfeeling farmers and
their wives, goaded on, no doubt, and urged, by low, base, and brutal
parsons, who have scarcely enough to eat, and who envy the priest the
comparative independence which the liberality and true Catholic charity
of his flock enable him to maintain.

By these remarks I am not to be understood as saying that good-nature,
justice, and even generosity, do not govern the conduct of the American
people. I am aware of their kindness, hospitality, and philanthropy; but
these fine traits of character are obscured, perverted, and rendered
abortive, whenever the demon of sectarian influence touches them with
her black rod. And, like the Jews, while they are persecuting the Holy
One of God in his humble members, they think they are doing a service to
God. Such is the effect of the poison, in the shape of religious
instruction, infused into the minds of this noble people by the lying
and ignorant teachers that they allow to instruct them. The American
people are generally so busy, so intent in making a fortune or a
livelihood, that they have not time, as they cannot have the
inclination, to pay much attention to religious training. Hence it is in