Remarks on Protestantism

Our good friends [Protestants] will perceive our dilemma, and will, I doubt not, lend a willing hand in getting us out of this nasty hole in which we find ourselves hopelessly stuck. Our flights and aspirations may be little better than sentimental nonsense. When submitted to their better judgement our good friends will be able to tell what they are worth. For our mentors belong of right Divine to a superior race. They are "Of those whose souls are lighted with wisdom from High"; while we are the men benighted.

[...] Have our Rev. friends ever heard of a Catholic procession, in the peaceful exercise of its rights as citizens, having been attacked, stoned, and mobbed in the streets of Toronto en route to St.Michael's Cathedral? Have they ever heard some of the members, as the late Hon. C.F. Fraser, being seriously hurt in the melee? Have any of the offenders been arrested, tried, and convicted for this wanton attack on peaceable citizens? It is very nice to call them "hoodlums". The hoodlums never deliberately transgress in this manner unless they feel well assured the respectables are at their back, and throw the aegis of their protection around them. Where were those entrusted with the maintenance of order on this occasion? Can our friends cite a parallel case in which Protestants have been wantonly attacked in the lawful exercise of their rights. In this one of the stereotyped methods of building up an united, homogeneous people? Our good friends know best. They belong to the superior race. They are "Of those whose souls are lighted with wisdom from High"; and we are men benighted, whose business is to obey.

[...] It is a common practice of evangelical Protestantism to cause the distribution of obscene literature in Catholic households, in Catholic settlements, among Catholic families. I say obscene advisedly. Whatever wounds the feelings or offends the senses is obscene. Nothing can be more offensive to Catholics than these Protestant tracts and leaflets, except the unwelcome intruder who hawks them about. What would our dear friends think of the good breeding of Catholics, if they had a regular organized brigade for distributing "Popish" literature and Jesuitical tracts in Protestant settlements, particularly if they were aware that the practice was most odious to Protestants? They know very well that Protestants would notntolerate [sic] any such intrusion on the privacy of their domestic firesides. It is easy to surmise what they would be likely to do to the unwelcome intruder. In canvassing the offence and meet punishment, a majority may oppose summary lynching, but it is safe to conjecture that they would be unanimous in advising the good wives of the village on his next appearance to surround, gag, and manacle him, lead him by a halter around his neck to the nearest horse-pond, duck him in, and keep his head under water until he lost consciousness, then drag him out, and by alternate rolling and kicking resuscitate him. When he became sufficiently conscious to stand erect alone, and while undoing his gags, warn him if ever caught skulking around here again, this is only a taste of what he would get. Imagination can readily see the dust in his unholy tracks fly. I bet five to one that he would make himself scarce in that locality for the remainder of his born days. Now, this is precisely what I would suggest to the matrons of Quebec to do whenever they detect one of these unsavoury colporteurs skulking around their premises. I will guarantee if they do so, he will never again be seen among them. Do our very good friends think that this is an effectual method of helping to build up an united, homogeneous people in Canada? Of course, they know best. They belong to the superior race. They are "Of those whose souls are lighted with wisdom from on High", while we are men benighted. [...]