Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1843-11-21
The Russian POIity.

Peters code of laws gave way TO Catha-
rinc's. and the principles of the last code arc
briefly told in the following first. that liber-
ty Is the right to do whatever the law allows:
secondly. that the law asserts the absolute
power of the sovereign and finally the err
forccmcnt Of ready obedience on the part of
the people. This may seem a novel creed
but its existence is no fiction in Russia More
than this. the Emperor and Is deemed
the great head of the church rs well rs OF the
state He who will read the Russian cate
chism of Catharinc. which has been circuat-
cd within the last dozen years. and the main
principles Of viii h contain the permanent
law of the land, will find one OF the most cx-
traordinary exhibitions of power assumed,
political and spiritual, contained perhaps In
any record which the world can produce.
The catcchism was prepared for the use OF
schools and churches in the domnlons OF
Russia. and for this purpose was circulated
I'm Poland in 1882. In answer 10 various
questions, the articles of this code are. IN
brief the authority OF the emperor in refer
cncc to Christianity proceeds Immediately
from God that religion teaches towards his
majesty the emperor, from all subjects, 'wor-
ship. obedience, fidelity, the payment of tax
cs. service, love, and prayer. the whole being
comprised in the words worship and fidelity.
This worship in catcchism further declares
consists in the most unqualified reverence by
words. gestures, dcmcanor, thoughts and ac-
tions. Obedience, it declares, "must be pas
sivc and unboundcd, in every point OF view
while fidelity is made to consist in ''cXccut
/. ing his commands most vigorously, without
|, examinations" Irrcvcrcnce for the emperor
: is put down as .'thc most hcinous sin and the
\ most frightful criminality : and worse THAI
= ALL the question is asked, "what are the su
d pcrnaturally revealed motives for this wor
5 ship p The answer is that the emperor !
i the yiccccrcnt and minister of God TO exc
d cute the divine commands, and consequent
s that disobediencc to the emperor is idcnthc
" with disobcdcncc to God HIMSELF that co.
,r will reward us in the world to come, for tn
d worship and obedience we render 10 the en-
&c pcror. and punish us severely TO all eternity
d should we disobey and neglect to worsh
, hm. Moreover, God commands Us TO low
H. and obey. from the Utmost rcccsses OF I'll
k heart. every authority. particularly the CT
pcror. not from worldly considerations. b,
e from apprchcn-ions of the final Judgment
&c Beyond all this. il is declared that the ne
v and old tcstamcnts, and particularly Il
Il psalms. gospels and apostolic ePiStleS pf
cd scribe the duties. The doctrines thus adyan
d. cd il IS further affirmed. have 1.-The cXamp
ms of Jesus Christ himself. who lived and di
th in allegiance to the emperor OF Rome, n
lsc respectfully submitted to the Judgment win
n condemned him to death. We have. MOI
nv over" adds the catcchism. "lhc example
" the apostles. who both loved and respect
he them they suffered mcckly in dungeons &C
he formally to the VIII OF the emperor. and
nj not revolt like malciactors and traitors '
adj must therefore. in imitation Of these cXa
M pies suffer and be silent = Here Is ere
of church and state for YOU. the like ofwh
the world never probably saw before. q
u.c is lost in alternate wonder at the biasphc
on. of those who could advance and maint
tv such a creed. and at the subsection and c
DR.. dulity of the millions who are practice
las forced TO embrace it.-Brooks.