The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-16
Christfautty or Ynfldelifv.

elections to vote uoou the amendment modihca-
ton Of the existing common school law, in which
certain small sect in this country are strenuousiy
exerting themselves 10 embody measure wen
calculated, if countenanced in the house of legis-
lation, TO produce the most pernicous and baneful
results II will be scarcely necessary to say that
we allude 10 the atheistcal movement for the eX-
pulsion Of all religious instruction from our public
schools as it has been advocated by the disciples
of Fourier, Brisbane, and the rest Of the socialist
clique-headed by the venerable philosopher of the
Tribune, Massa Greeley-in the late convention at
Syracuse, and in various other Places where this
amendment has been made the subject of public
discussion. Although we have already devoted
considerable OF our space to the exposition Of the
disastrous consequences which the introduction Of
such an odious measure would naturally entail
upon the harmony, tranquility and future prosperity
of this great commonwealth, STILL when We reflect
upon the paramount Importance of such a law, in
reference TO the vast destructive aud corrupting
influence il must necessarily exercise throughout
the whole frame of society, and the great danger
which would inevitably accrue to the welfare of
this glorious Union, we cannot but consider il our
imperative duty constantly TO counsel, TO admonis,
and TO forewarn the people; and, in addition 10
what has already been said on this, We subjoin
the following remarks.
The small party of socialists who have mi
grated to this country within the last few years,
have been necessarily straining their utmost
.inews, in conjunction with their notorious leader
Horace Greeley to engraft their absurd and errone
Gus doctrines republican soil. They commenced
the campaign by endeavorng to nstil their gares
and sbsurdities into the minds of the working por
ton of this community; but fading, by dire ex-
perience, that all their schemes and all their efforts
in that quarter have been most deploraby ffustra,-
ed, and that the grown up population of this
! country are too far advanced not to detect the
futility of their sophistries and the utter imprac-
ticability of their plans, they have now adopted
new line OF policy, aad have directed their atten
ton 10 the all important subject of the reg ous
education Of the rising generation. They now
purpose TO exclude all religious instruction from
our public Scholastic allow the children to grow
up in the paths of inideity; and as was suggest
cd at the late socialist banquet at Hoboken instead
of their ordinary catechisms, 10 give them one
wherein the three Fundamental principles of so.
cialism are e1pounded. This il decidedly toe
worst and most fatal form that socialism has yet
assumed in this country and if this new me asure
should happen to meet with success in the Legisia-
/
have laid the TO the of the right tree that
it will soon lay open the innermost bowels of So
eiety, and hew deep into the foundation of The
constitution
What can we expect from man entirely des,-
tute of religion Having thrown overheard the
existence and authority ola Supreme Beng having
discarded the eternal truths revealed to Us by Dr.
vine eispensation and having divestei hi OF the
ofnftx lob 1.
implicated in the breast of every man, aud which is
TO be regarded the criterion of our actions-exer
cises over every individual. such man is capa Die
of performing any act With the existence of a
God, he has cast aside the idea Of a retributioa,
and has, therefore, nothing TO apprehend. He
then sets up his reason as his god, and his
will his supreme law. II, now, our rising
generation are TO consist Of such men, imbued
with such notions, the heart sickens at the
contemplation of the consequences which would
flow from such state Of things and the manifold
dangers which would menace the perpetuity of
the Union and the preseni organization of society
Might would then prevail over rght-the laws aud
the constitution would be trampled under foot pro-
perty invaded, morality despsed-every tie tina,
binds all classes Of society together rent asunier
and confusion and anarchy reign supreme. To
PRODUCTION of this new measure into our public
schools.
1t is besides, the experience of ages, that religion
of some kind other is indispensable to the pros
perity and welfare of every nation. For an illus.
tration of the correctness of this maxim, we need
only peruse the history of the world. There we
will invariably find that nations fourished in pro-
portion TO the Importance they attached and the
,l,. 4,
impure OF imperfect it might have be-n-for in this
case is not the purity and perfection, but the
pediency and essentially ola religion for the pros
periy and welfare Of a nation tha; We have to coa-
suit We will find that when Rome, for instance,
stood in the zenith of her power and glory, religion
was regarded with reverence and awe-thai, as re.
ligion was subjected to ridicule and contempt,
Rome began yisibly to fall; her people abandoned
themselves entirely to the pursuit Of pleasure, gra
dualy lost all energy of mind and body and IN this
enervated condition became an easy prey TO the
vigorous power Of her Northern invaders Letus
also come down TO modern history, aud consider the
condition of Europe, WHARF socialism and inf
deity have extended their rami6cations to every
circle Of society. Let enquire for the beneficial
results which have emsnated from the doctrines Of
socialism. What was the immedl ate cause of those
terrible revolutions that, within the past and the
present century, have swept across the political
hoiizon Of France and who were the conspicuous
actors in bose periods of turbulence and confusionl
Who fomented all those civil and intestine broils
IN which her unfortunate people have so frequently
been engaged, and which have so often converted
her sunny plains into scenes Of carnage and death
Who fret instituted the bloody cuoiine as the "a
nous instrument OF public execution, which has so
often dsluged the Of her cities with the blood
Of her citizens Who have been necessarily plot
ting the overthrow Of order and the subversion Of
every government, no matter whether monarch-
cal, republican or provisional Ia a word, who
have spread the broad mantle Of inideliy over the
entire length and breadth Of France. and mmerged
her pecple into the immeasurable depth Of immo.
ralffy 10 which they now stlndl Ags.n Ii we ran.