Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-10-23
lalnnAH1sx n AlxaIcA.


Miiwaukee fes days ago, on account of
the Intention Of Russian to burn the, dead
body OF his wife. 1t appears that Russian
pamed Pfel married woman Of Brahmini-
esd faith, and she had requested that after
her death her body should be burned accord
NJ TO the customs OF her country and the
requirements Of her religion. In compli-
ance with this request P6el hsd collected
aiarge quantity Of wood. arranged i, and
the body in the accustomed manner. and had
every thing resdy for applying the torch.
when the news of what he was about to do
became circulated through the town, and
created intense excitement among the peo-
pie, who considered the contemplated deed
a QUE Of unbcarable hea;henism. The
Sheriff yer, 10 P6el's house. and forbade
the act. The Russian replied that it was
his right and duty to burn the body of his
wife; that to do 80 was in accordance with
the dictates Of his and his dead wife's reli-
r.on, and that the act was not forbidden BY
any law of Wisconsin or the United States.
But by this time the crowd which surround
cd the Russians house Was large and very
excited, and he becoming frightened. gave
his consent to Christian burial, and told
the Sheriff tina, - he could not proceed in
his own way, the people Of Milwaukee might
dispose Of the badly as they saw fit. There
u,oa the body was buried instead OF
burned.
This refusal to lei man obey the re-
auirements Of his religious faith. might oc-
casion some extended speculations, if il
were considered in connection with some
other anomalies that exist in the country
on the ground Of their being the lawful ex-
preston and practice of different forms Of
belief Modes Of disposing Of the body after
death, may be considered BY some as i'm
psvtanr as modes Of baptism or any other
religious ceremonies, and to do otherwise
than burn dead body would, by those
whose faith commanded that kind Of pro-
ceeding, be deemed as altogether sacri-
lAgious. The settlement of California has
rendered it certain that We are to have large
supplies of the various forms Of Asiatic pa
ganism, and though the letter Of the Con-
stitusion 10 very explicit in providing for
the greatest amount Of religious liberty
and in efec,ually restraining any one sect
from dominating over another, it would
seem that some further legislation will be
necessary in order to meet some OF the ex-
trsordinay practices which will be brought
within them by the emigr;nts from Asia
Whatever may be the abstract merit or de-
merit Of those practices, philosophically
considered, or even if it were granted that
for the most part they are OF purely indif-
ferent character, still il is absurd to suppose
thst the people Of this country would per-
nit the daily repetition of deeds not only
antagonistic to al their religious creeds,
but entirely revolving TO their feelings as
men. In this view, it would be much bet
ter for such practices to be regulated Or
prohibited by law, than for them to be stop
ped By the unlawful though not unnst al
action Of the people.
Whatever may be the express LANGUAGE
or the implied doctrine Of the Constitution
n regard to religious liberation, it will
scarcely be denied that all which it contains
on that subject has primary reference to
the Christian religion, or TO systems which
have such relationship to that religion, that
their ceremonies or forms of worship do not
greatly shock the feelings Of the large ma
joriiy Of The people. 1t may be said that
the constitution would not prevent the erec-
ton in this country Of a temple for the wor-
chip OF Brshma or the Grand Lama, or the
assembling together Of worshipers accord
Ing to those forms of faith; but we imagine
II would not be tolerated in this country,
that deluded Hindoos should immediate them
selves under the wheels Of Jugernaut, or
that their widows should make burnt-offer-
ines of themselves, in compliance with the
supersi iiions inculsted and enforced by the
priests of Brahma.
But while the probable immigration Of
Asiatics thus snggests the necessity OF leg
isiation 10 regard to some of the social and
religious innovations which they may Al
tempt to introduce, it cannot be forgotten
that we have . most gross superstition
whose origin was in this country, and
whose followers are even row sufficiently
numerous 10 warrant them in applying fol
admission As one Of the States Of the Union
Bdrning the dead is decent and commend.
able practices when compared with the i'm.
morality that IL the essential ingredient o.
Mormonism. Tie miserable dnpes of inst
most impudent imposture are IS little cul.
tiyated in ssn;;ments Of rational republi'
casisn, as any Of the Hindoos sao aiIib.
ute sjsacred and saving influence to he
writer's of the Gsnges. and we see nc. why
sbsndred thousand Of the latter would not
form - desirable member Of the confede
rsey, ~ the same number OF the believer
according to the creed ofJoe Smith.
Firmly - we believe in the doctrine o
sslf-goYernment and firm ~ arf..our convic
IL 1f