The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

AGGRESSION ON BRITAIN. 519Nor is it without significance, as tending to prove that thisre-action towards political and papal despotism in Germanyisthe result of concert and combination, that in the July ofthis summer (1851) the Grand Duke of Anhalt issued aproclamation " To my people."This document, which readas if some greater potentate had held the pen, told the worldthat " the German governments have pledged themselves toeach other energetically to withstand the further development"of liberal principles. From the greatest to the pettiestdespot, all have their faces turned towards Rome, asthe grand central and model despotism. Every reformingand liberal influence is extinguished ; every constitutionalorgan and party is crushed. The constitutionalist and themissionary are equally the objects of jealousy. The Jesuitand the jailor only can move freely about. Thus the armsof Continental Europe are once more at the service of apower which would stifle every aspiration towards liberty,and would entomb the world in the dense shadow of one colossaldespotism.The object of this league, avowed almost in so manywords, is to undo the Reformation in both its political andspiritual effects. But success in this object is impossible, solong as Britain remains a free and protestant country.the papal powers very clearly perceive.ThisTheir policy, therefore,is either to convert Britain to Romanism and absolutism,or, if that is impossible, to put it down. To convertBritain is the design of the papal aggression, first, by theerection of the hierarchy ; next, by introducing popishbishops into the House of Lords ; next, by taking into theirown hands the whole ecclesiastical and educational machineryof Ireland ; next, by bringing over England to Romanismby means of tractarianism, aidedby the multiplicationof popish cathedrals, convents, and schools; and finally, bychanging the coronation oath, marrying the heir-apparentto a popish princess, and, along with hisconversion and accessionto the throne, inaugurating their full domination inthe country. But if we resist this aggression, we may pre-