The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-11-07
RELIGION AND POLITICS.


We copy the following from the Baltimore Sun Of yes
terday:
The State election in New York takes place tomorrow
aud that only the secular but the religious
journals in New York city occupied with politics. 10 inc
almost entire neglect of things Of spiritual NATURE
The churches too the field Many of the pulpts ID
that city have been given yesterday esoiae
to politics No preaching OF Christ cruoiheu a
know who wins the ballot box. About dozen Po'
cal be delivered yesterday in a. many chu''
advertised in Saturday mornings papers ihey We.
to have reference particularly to the Name law
the exciting topic in the Other sermons
apolitica chars however nsmed-or instances Ger
the Moral Responsibility of Voters Inc Duy
the American Citizen, suggested by the Question " @
Day. Special Discourse for Scotch, fhghhh' anu h'
Professionals, and SO on.
There is nothing believe in the doctrines OF Christi
any as revealed to by the inspired writer's at all IN
compatible with the exercise of the nestmabe privilege
of the elective franchise. We regard its exercise not
merely as privilege but duty which should alike be
fully and freely discharged by the clergy as well as by the
lay But when we see pulps converted into poili-
cal the teachings Of the lowy and peace
loving Saviour are set aside for the infammaory har-
argues of prosecuting when the ballo-box
through the agency of secret political societies, is made
an engine for the species of tyranny oppression and
ostracism may well trembe for the safety and perpeu-
ity of our free institutions All history teaches that
when religion becomes potent element in the strife Of
politics. the liberties of the people placed in imminent
peril 1t matters not whether the Protestants the Cath
oics the established party in the State the result has
ever been the same Take away the Church of England
from Victoria and the Roman hierarchy from Louis Napo-
leon and it is question of considerable doubt to the
duration the power of either sovereign OF all professions
in the community-phys not excepted-clergymen
;nd, ba 4 for for
evil AS general rule their strictly moral lives their
high intellectual gifts and their powers of persuasion
coupled with their calling, which demands untiring de-
voton to the temporal and eternal welfare of their fellow
men, Inspire confidence and beget affection the extent
of which cannot easily be exaggerated Aware OF this ee
ing aud of the aperyading influence growing out of it. the
founders of republic pgrafted upon our institutions
spirit of religious liberation which they fondy believed
would forever prevent sectaran interference assumption
and persecution With two triAng exceptions the
party politics of this country have been free from the curse
religious interference bgotry and persecution until the
year 1854 Th, year it is painful duty to record the
Inauguration Of order Of things In the place OF
party lines being drawn and party principles discussed
in the place of honorable strife between democrats and
the heirs Of if the name the principles OF federalism
in nearly every State in which an election has
been held this year has turned upon two quesons Are
you Catholic? Are you foreigner? To-day elections
are held in less than five States for State officers and
members of Congress ~ time in political history
we might have hazarded prediction to the result with
some degree of confidence; but it mast be apparent
to the most careless observer of passing events that that
result will depend partially if not wholly upon the zeal
and influence of political parsons and upon the numerical
strength and efficient organization of the various lodges
who are open we'll in secret league against party
which has ever had for its watchword cvl and religious
liberty
In connexon with the article copied from the Baltimore
Sum- we make room for the following from the Church
Journal an acceptable organ of the Episcopal church
"What is the reason Of all ths Has the oldfashioned
Gospel-whch have been accustomed to believe the
Everlasug Gospe-been at length exhausted and worn
thrcadbare? Is text fresh enough now for preach
ers and people except it be taken from the Gospel
cordng the daily papers7 Is it that the ministers
tired the old topics grace and salvation and longer
believe that Gospel of which they pretend to be preach
ers The point wish to make however u.s. that in
the country where had ondly hoped, Church and
Stacreligon and politcswere thoroughly and forever
divided popular preachers rapidly rising to be the lead
political parties and pulpits found to be- in
best recruiting drums to beat voters for
political parsans And corresponding change has taken
place in politics. too, well rs in religon-both of them
rising and falling upon democratic pyot--por popu
As the pulpit therefore, has grown POLITICAL the sump has
waxed pous; and if Nebraska rings out Justify from the
meeting house, it only unison with the higher
law rcsounding from the halls of Congress-"