Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-02-27
Politics and the Pulpit.

Politics and the Pulpit.
The wholesale ISLANDERS of the Trum.
bull Democrat, two weeks since, upon
the inhabitants of the Western Reserve,
has called out an answer from the Ma
hOning Register, whose comments are SC
just and true that We lay them before
our readers. Last week the Democrat
attempted to craw-fsh, and gave a long
article in defence or excuse of its former
course. As usual, it only begged the
question.
PoL1TIcs AMI THK PULP1r.- y
In no equal extent of population and ter
ritory with the Western Reserve, are
there so many fanatics and bigots /; SO
many divines who preach from Gidding's
speeches instead of Christ's gospel who
would rather be heard declaiming
against Douglas and the Democrats, than
the devil and irreligion.-7rumbuH Dem
ocrot.
The Register says:
Since Arnold Douglas got so excited
over the memorial of the New England
clergy against the Kansas Nebraska act,
the small fry of Loco Focoism have
taken their cue from his TRADE of inso-
lent vituperation, and now, no sooner
does a clergyman dare hint at the enor-
nifty of the sin and crime of slavery,
than the whole pack is after him in full
cry, making the air resound with their
noise about political parsons, "disecra-
ting the sacred DESK" &c.
We are glad to see that the ministry
are not terrified by the abuse they have
received, and that many of them boldly
continue to- denounce what they regard
as national sins, without stopping to say
"by your leave" to any Nebrascal poll
tician whose conscience may become
troublesome under so practical an appli-
cation of the gospel injunction of love to
his neighbor.
1t is no new thing for men TO try TO
drown the still small voice." by loud
and passionate denunciations of those
who rebuke them. It's a stale trick OF
the conscience-smitten rogue, to find
fault with the officers of justice for their
mode of applying the law to his case
An arrested pick pocket will make you
think he's a much injured individual, be-
cause the policem n has so rude a grip
upon his coat collar. But it won't do
Men Of common sense all understand the
use. and nobody feels any sympathy for
the culprit but his accomplices in crime.
Just SO the denunciation of the clergy
for exposing that darling sin which the
present Administration hugs most closely
to its DO ON, is only a proof of a con
science i'll at case.
The very presses which are so furious
because they are occasionally reminded
that the support of a government cannot
make wrong right, and that there is a
/" higher law" which DEGREES that
Though hand join in hand, the wicked
shall not 60 unpunished," these very
journals have heretofore, as occasion Of
fered, been loud in their praise of the
Puritan clergy, who were, both in Great
Britain and in this country, among the
foremost in opposing the tyranny of Eng
fish kings, and they have hardly been
able to find terms Mandatory enough Of
such stout preachers as John Knox, who
could boldly threaten anointed princess
with tie loss of their thrones if they did
not reign in greater fear of God and re-
gard for the people.
We should like to have these indig-
nant politicians tell US, as soon as they
csn control their wrath enough TO talk
common sense, how il is that what was
so praiseworthy a century or two ago, is
so demoralizing and blameworthy now |
How it is that it was right for the clergy
to denounce monarchy, but wrong for
them to denounce slaUeryi How is it
that this latter-day revelation of the gos-
pei of /" squatter sovereignty" makes it
criminal to oppose selling women and
children, and yet gives full permission to
preach down or even cut down the po-
lygamy of those other Latter Day Saints
at Salt Lake.
To our mind the whole course Of con-
duct of these pro-slavery scribblers looks
very like that of certain ~hypocrites of a
former generation, who were said to
Compound for sins they are inclined to.
By damning those they have 70 mind to
Their inconsistencies stick out on every
side, and the only damage occasioned by
their attacks upon the ministers of the
gospel for saying that sin is sin, is done
to themselves, by diminishing what lit
tie reputation for truth and ~veracity they
may have had before.
We are always glad to see the minis
try showing that they are alive to the
great moral problems of the day. Ithas
been to much the reproach of the church,
that it has confined its attention to theo-
logical dogn,as and creeds, TO the neg.
lect of the practical, every day duties
and moralities of our own lime. When
political issues arc fOunde upon grave
and moral questions, it becomes the
right-nay, it is the solemn duty--of
those who Pre- to a great extent the d.
rectors OF the peoples consciences, to
speak out, and to condemn evil doing,
not because it is a politir0l act of a pO-
litical party, but because it is a sin, a
great immortality, a crime against God
and man.
1t is in vain for our opponents to try
10 shield themselves behind the cry Of
politics in the pulpit" The people un-
derstand them. No mere political view
of the questions now at issue, will ac-
count for the feeling which agitates the
whole North. The political conse-
quences of the policy of the the Admin
istration are bad enough, heaven knows /;
but these alone could never rouse the
people to that deep and strong emotion
which they now feel. There is a moral