The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-04-19
From the n. Y. Journal of Commerce.
The Progress of Infdelity.


It is most earnestly to be deplored that
so few who are born in this land, and love
American traditions, ore aware of the
rapid hatred of Christianity and its con-
comitants which inspires the vast numbers
who are yearly increasing our population
from the continent of Europe. We do
not speak of the convicts and paupers
that are smuggled into our ports from
Genoa, Hamburg, and Trieste; but of the
tens of thousands Of Germans who from
year to year come from provinces of Eu-
rope completely pantheized, and with
whom freedom is considered synonymous
with the downfall of the kingdom of the
Redeemer. We called attention some
months ago to the fact that large numbers,
who have come Of late years to this coun-
try, are disciples of the anarchist school
of Heine, according to whose creed,
'there can be no true freedom until Chris
tianity is bloodily abolished, i. G. until a
persecution by Inadels of Christians is
instituted, with ends similar to those of
Diocletian or Sapor. We showed that E.
lections had been made to turn upon the
single point whether prayers should be
offered to God in our Legislatures, wheth-
er the Lords day should be kept and re-
ligious oaths be maintained.
One of the most influential German pa
pers in this city published simultaneously
articles warning the better class of Ger
mans, of whom there are SO many in our
city, against encouraging these excesses.
Our remarks were republished in various
parts Of the United States, and We trust
ed that a good result might be produced.
Since then, however, another anniversary
has recurred of the birthday of Thomas
Paine, and it has filed our hearts with
shame to learn how the natal day of this
great enemy of Christianity has been eel
ebrated. The German language consti-
tutes barrier which prevents the most of
our people from imagining what takes
place behind the screen of that unknown
tongue. The Teutonic dialect insures the
existence of the Anti Christian legions,
whose large numbers are reinforced con-
tinually from abroad, as vast secret So
ciety to which none can have access who
do not 60 through an arduous painstak-
ing apprenticeship of study, which in the
end leaves them, when initiated, only a.
mong the first class of novices. Yet its
members are easily naturalized, become
as speedily citizens of these States, cac-
rying Atheism to the polls, and receiving
the homage of demagogue politicians to
obtain few miser able suffrages.
A few Of the 'refoTmS" demanded by
the "Freinaenner"-so they call them
selYes-who have set up Thomas Paine
as their apostle, and who strive to gain
strength to revolutionize free govern
ment by the establishment of the tyranny
of anarchy. are: abolition of the laws for
the observance of the Sabbath; abolition
Of oatbs in Congress; abolition of oaths
upon the Bible; no more prayer in our
Legislatures; abolition of the Christian
systems of punishment; abolition of the
Presidency, of all Senates, of all lawsuits
involving expense; the right of the peo-
pie to change the Constitution when they
like; reduced term in requiring citizen
ship, &c.
These things are not sought after as
mere shadows, nor are they the dreams
with which Missionaries amuse themselves,
but which do no harm; they are seriously
inculcated, principles, earnestly instilled,
for the propagation of which there exists
several chief and many minor societies to
which hundreds of thousands of foreigners
are affiliated, who are in constant COM
munication with each other and act in
concert, and who are beginning to be felt
in every corner of the land, but particu-
larly in the West, where their efforts are
greatly aided by the growing licentious-
nos of FOREIGN vices introduced bv them