Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-09-12
poIitial.
Interference of Ministers in politics.

about the interference Of ministers i
politics, and the pulpit is warned t
leave the press to carry'on party warfare
Without meaning to argue that the clcr
gy should make themselves strikingl
prominent in politics, we cannot see wha
particular harm there is likely to happel
to the country because they are so inde
pendent as to refuse to sink their right
as men in their ministerial capacity
Does man cease to be citizen the mo
ment he becomes a clergyman? Has h
no rights to be respected, no earthly du
ties to discharge, because he has accep
ted the cure of souls? Because he is ex
pected to point the road to heaven, ant
to advocate spiritual purity, is he to kce1
silent ON all mundane afairss 1t is by
mems conduct on earth that their Chris.
tar character is either won or lost, anc
to say that politics have nothing to dc
with religion, or religion with politics
is to assert that men are not accountable
tor their worldly conduct in the most
important of all tho affairs of life, which
would be the sheerest nonsense ever ut.
tered. 1t is not uncommon for men to
say that politicians are soulless, the in
ference from which would be that their
accountability is merged in their party +;
but we do not believe, nor does any one,
that it will be an available plea, at tie
bar of heaven, for any man, that he only
sinned with his party. Those persons
who uphold murder, arson, and rapes in
the persons of the Cincinnati nominees,
will find that their conduct is just as
much an offence against heaven as if they
had been guilty directly Of those crimes
Human laws make distinction, but the
divine law knows nothing Of the kind,
and holds all men accountable for all
their misdeeds, as wcll in politics as in
any thing else, as some people are in Il
tair way to find out, when too late, and
to their cost. Unless it can be pointed
out, in the Bible, that special immuni-
ty has been granted to politicians. and
that so long as they shall go for regular
they shall not be regarded
as sinners, it will be the duty of clergy.
men to preach against political as well
as against other sins. We cannot be-
lieve that even the Democrats themselves
are exempted from responsibility, though
to hear them talk you might be excused
for supposing that they hold themselves
to be the most angelic creatures breath
ing. Perhaps some future Moore will
give to the world another poem on tn,
Loves of the Angels-for office.
1t is not to be overlooked that the OBJ
jections that are made to what is called
the interference of parsons in politics,
tant clergymcn. There is not word
said against the action in party warfare
of Romish priests. That Is all right in
the opinion Of the slavery-extonsiou
press, because those priests are their al
lies, and exercise direct control over
tens of thousands Of voters, who are to
be coerccd into the support Of Buchanan
by threats Of eternal perdition if they
shall venture upon the exercise of the
right of private judgment even in those
worldly matters with which, the demp-
Gratis assert. the Protestant clergy have
no right to interfere, in any way shape
or fashion. Oar Protestant clergy have
no very. great influence, and, such as that
influence is, it depends altogether upon
their talents and personal characters
but the priests Of Rome, who are so nu.
merous here, claim and WELD a power OF
the most formidable and terrible nature.
From Archbishop Huges to the humbest
of Popish priests in America, the claim
OF a divine character is asserted, and al
lowed, for all these men. The prizes,
has been consecrated, and set apart for
the work of heaven, and is therefore a
far more important parsonage than the
ablest and most illustrous of laymen.--
He has power over the souls of men, and
can decide upon their fate through al
eternity. Such is the belief of tie Ro.
manists and such is the order of men
whom the democrats are very glad tc
have the aid of, while affecting to b,
Mortified at the prospect of union o
Church and State being brought about
because some Protestant preachers occa
sionally SO far venture out of the beater
track Of pulpit eloquence as their ser
mons against the sins and crimes of dem
ocratic leaders, men who have brough
misery upon the land, and make the gov
ernmcnt a byc-word, Kissing. and ri
proach in the mouths of all things, tina
while popish priests are laborins so as
siduously in behalf of their religion, ant
scheming with politicians for its advance
ment, Protestant divincs should b,
prompt in combating them. That i
one of their duties, no matter what po.
litical party they may offend. 1t wa
in that way that the immortal founders
of the Reformation acted, and so savet
no small part of Christendom from tal
ling prey to Rome. Our Puritan an
cestors were fond OF political sermons
and in those long struggles which end
ed in the establishment of the Englisl
Constitution, they were of common &C
curcence, and their occasionally bein:
heard in our time oan do no harm. anC
most probably will do good.-Bastoa
Bee.