The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-01

Italy, and in lesser degree throughout all Europe.
The union Of Church and State has made the former
aoeompliee in the tyranny and abuses Of the lat
ter the majesty Of the eyer-livng God has been de-
graded BY associatng His name with the crimes and
foes Of the petty despots Of Europe and as L bias
phemously quoting His authority sustain the rotten
fabric Of superannuated bed-riddeu despo.sm Is IL then
10 be wondered AZ that the Church is shaken Its found
atoms in Europe when II has become thus identified with
ali the abuses Of corrupt and tyranncsl govesnmens7
Hence the language held by European writer's who have
millions Of open aud disciples IN that quarter IN
the name Of religion says one "he reactoniss preach
% the people submission and savsh obedience which arr
in opposition to the destiny Of Religion prevents
progress which only thus become possible BY breach
Of the laws The present ago advanced than thai
Of the Christian Church. heads another great mpeing
principle We could quote passages from these writers
which would the blood Of deyoat Christian to
die il his veins and his hair stand end The orssO
ing sufficient however to indicate se source Of that
ani-religious feeling which anhappily prevails
svey in Europe and stll unhsppily has found it
way 10 the United States II had It's origin in union o.
Church and State which has made the Church the spe
goat Of all the expressions Of civil government nsomueh
that become the residuary egaee ofthe great
Of popular indignation throughout portion Of the Christ
ian world
Whenever Saterclgon and liberty arrayed in direct
and open opposition each other must expect
either the reformed the other overthrow They
naturally in measure antagonstca IL being the prov
noe Of TO impose the other remove rcstrantsone
tighten the reins the other 10 leave the s,eed al perfect
freedom SO long does ntrudc the pastures oh
neighbors Like all other antagonistc principles true
lgon and true liberty highly salutsry when kept with
in proper bounds Religion is powerful instrument in
restraining the Of liberty, and liberty in combat
ting that disposition to encroach human rights which
almost instinct of the Sate-Church In this way
when properly balanced they maintaina due equilibrium
between the despotism OF and the centoasneS Of
the other Liberty without religion is anbrdled savage
religion without liberty unmgatcd yrant exercising
unlimited sway both mind and body Happy are the
people of the United States in being, yet free from the
RIGHTEOUSNESS of and the desposm Of the other They
win only continue while successful in resisting all
temps under whatever disguise they may urk tending
either directly indirectly combine the power of the
Church with that of the State
The deep and it is to be feared, inenrable wounds In
cted religion by union Of Church aud State in the
Old World we think, should be warning to all sincere
and rational Christians in the United States against any
approach however indirect insidious such incest
connexon And yet they not shutting their eyes
or covertly and secretly encouraging such union by
blending religion and politics together by making al
ternatey the tool of the other and by encouraging minis
of the Gospel desert their sacred duties by reward
ing them for their apostacy with civil honors and Offices
The influence Of the clergy when exercised in the char
Of shepherds of their ocks is holy and bencRcent
guardianship if exerted in behalf Of religion and morality
and prostituted to political purposes But what bounds
will there be to their power both temporal and spiritual
when in addition to their function of Interpreters Of the
law of God they become not only the makers but the adj
ministrators of the laws of man. and may condemn
only to temporal but eternal, punishmensg The people
Of the United States should look this in time may
not be long before they crisis raught with the most
sad and deporabe consequences crisis when their lib
critics only be preserved by the sacrifice Of their
gon This alternative already presents itself to the
minds Of nconsiderabs portion of the people of CONT
mental Europe and the period gradually approach
ing when they will be under the appalling necessity OF be
coming nfdels remaining forever slaves.