Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-08-16
R.L,s,ou. Nrw.,Arxns.-whhin a few

4 ksLiaioUs Within fes
OF the last years there have been esiablsLe,
M almost e.ery section oi tic country large
nrnbcrs OF religious newspapers advocating
tiia cause of epierent denonn, Il IONS, and ma "a,
Of hem have been Conducted Mith great ab.li-
aud good sense, worthy tie patronage of the
public Among these however, We do not
mean 10 include another class who have APP
peared bearing the cnsigns OF tho cross and
pretending TO advocate religion and morality
but containing in their columns most gross,
abusive and scandalous articles aimed at pub
lie established institutions, and individual
character. II is fact which fow will under
take TO deny that tie mos, scurrilous pub lea
lions aud periodicals Of the day, which are
usually loaded with vile SANDERS and infamous
libels. clam to be moral and re'isiou news
pa pers and are in the habit of vending their
wares once or twice a week among the more
ignorant classes of the Christian community
for The purpose Of creating II fovsrsh excite.
meni aud extending iheir,pa'ronase on the 'u-
ins of religion and moral decency itself. We
marks 10 himsel unless he is richly deserving OF
them. We assure our readers that they need not
go far 10 find proper subj jects for the applica-
tion and 1t is totally unnecessary for US 10 par
tcuarize what every intelligent observer must
Immediately discern will fall under the gener-
al head. Tho policy pursued by these irfa-
nous alters Of scandal and abuse, (fot as
strange as il may seem they have a polIc,
though at the expense Of repu'atlon) is. in the
first instance, 10 assail institutions wherein prl
va,e interest and private character are con
ccrned, as irrelig'ous and immoral. 1t
totally imma,erial what is the object and ten
dency Of such establishments, provided The
least faults can be discovered wherein incon-
veniences may arise. they are arrayed before
the public and trumpetcd forth as Of vital iniu-
ry to morality and religion" 1t is equally
imm aierial how many advantages urc TO be
rcsped from those institutions that will over
balance the evils and inconveniences about
upon the dark side the thing is to be looked at.
IL you undertake to rcmsnstrate, reason,
defend or explain this is an assault Upon
" morality and religion" and the door is then
fairly opened for religious libel.. moral
scandal, prescription, complaint of persecution
10 christianity and allegations Of all sorts Of
wickedness, at the same tme accompanied
with high professions Of marvellous moral
sanctity. In tins way tho ignorant well
meaning christian is gnled into a belief that
he nhabi's the regions of darkness, crime aud
his support to religious newspapers as the en-
gines Of reformation. Ifa single paragraph be
written commenting on this contemplate and
hypocritical course, it usually calls forth a
whole broad sheet Of vituperation and serves
as text upon which to preach sermon
about the opposers to "reis'on and morality"
Tho principal object Of these infamous drivel-
lers is to call out the notice Of the respectable
prints Of the day, that their vile publications
may be introduced to the community, and be
found in decent company,
As We commenced this article by saying
that very large aud respectable portion Of
religious newspapers are conducted with the
utmost propriety, fairness and decorum, VIC
shall conclude by again observing that such
will by no means apply our remarks to them
selves as we think ,1ey cannot be msta
kan.