"The Roman Catholic church bids fair to rise to importance in America.
Thoroughly democratic as her members are, being composed for the most
part, of the lowest orders of European population, transplanted to the
United States with a fixed and implacable aversion to everything bearing
the name and in the shape of monarchy, the priesthood are accustomed
_studiously to adapt themselves to this state of feeling_, being content
with that authority that is awarded to their office by their own
communicants and members."
[The Rev Dr Reid observes:--
"I found the people at this time under some uneasiness in relation to
the spread of Romanism. The partisans of that system are greatly
assisted from Europe by supplies of money and teachers. The teachers
have usually more acquired competency than the native instructors; and
this is a temptation to parents who are seeking accomplishments for
their children, and who have a high idea of European refinements. It
appeared, that out of four schools, provided for the wants of the town
(Lexington, Kentucky) three were in the hands of Catholics."