The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-23

The ball opens.
The Religious Press IN Politics.
| We have had occasion to say more than once
that interference in political contests appears to
| be hey ond the proper province of religious
newspaper. The peculiar elements entering into
the late contest for the Presidency impaired to
tina. canvass an exceptional character, and may
10 some measure justify departure from the rule
| in this instance. 1t was perhaps Christian as
web as a political duty to denounce the scenes
| which had taken place in Kansas, and to forewarn
the people against the interruption OF our peace
full relations with the world. But, now, on a
camer view Of the circumstances, we feel satisfied
/ that q repetition OF the course pursued during
| September and October by the religious pcess
would be fraught with dangerous consequences:
and we trust that it may be the last occasion on
which the clergy shall mix in our political
| strifes
| IN the first place, they can do no good. From
pretty thorough study OF the net results o. the
elections We feel justified in saying that the ALI
| ance of the religious newspapers and the pulpit
| generally rather weakened than strengthened
| Fremont Nor is this wholly unnatural. Cler-
gymen are VIGOROUSLY unsafe guides in worldly
matters: they are men Of slender worldly
! experience, habits Of abstract thought, and
perhaps very imperfect acquaintance with
the bad side of human nature. No one
would think Of consulting his parson abou.
business operation. The same reasons
| would deter voter from taking his minister's
advice about President. Again, the people Of
this country have, as general rule, a lively hor
ror Of priestly despotism. Parts OF New England
have groaned under theocratic government
from the settlement TO the present day the peo-
! pie know ii, and hate the thought. In some
places, they 60 against their preachers merely IN
order to prove their independence. In others,
| where the theocracy has been long since over
| thrown the people are so afraid OF its restora-
ton, or OF the name Of such thing, that the az
| gumenis of the minister on secular matters al
most always defeat bis SIDE Altogether, though
the clergy appear to have weight when they drop
into the stream and follow public opinion, it is
quite doubtful whether they can ever move the
public mind in any independent secular direc-
tion and when, as in this case, they are aided by
their peculiar presses, and go into contest with
warmth and bigotry they are almost certain 10
strengthen their antagonists.
II has long been the settled opinion OF many Of
the best Christians Of this country that the most
formidable enemy against which religion has to
contend is the religious press Nor can any one
who has made business Of reading the journals
classed under this head dispute the soupdncss OF
the basis on which this opinion rests. The basesA
! and meanest qualities of human nature-dis-
honesty, bigotry, intolerance. csntand falsehood-
receive their most complete Illustration in this
| country, in the columns Of the religious press.
| II hardly ever happens that any of these jour
| nails call attention 10 noble instance Of self.
devotion, or unselfishness or charity or courage
under trials, or heroic integrity, or any other
manly virtue. The types they point out for imi-
tation are merchants who, having made fort
| tune, gave $4,000 to the sect Of which the
journal il an organ Wall street operators who.
under the influence of a sermon from I" a noted d.
vine har ded thousand dollar bill 10 the sexton;
| young ladies who worked gowns and bands for
| tie Reverend Cream Cheese congregations
| which raised money enough to send their parson
TO Europe; wealthy men who build cburcbcs,
and pay subscriptions TO support idle youths IL
60 called missionary stations, dc, &c, e.
/ Mingled with these stirring narratives OF virtue,
are mean petfyfogging attacks on other sccts.
| The Catholic sBeers at The Protestant the evan.
eelical groaps over the high churchman the
Methodist signs at the Congregstionalst the
Presbyterian snarls at the Baptist: the Episcopa-
-. ~ II. a.
pious editors rehash their contemplate cavils at
each oiber-sometimes openly, but oftener in an
undeIbaDd snesking way, in such a shape as an
emotional letter from pous clergyman who
bas been sent TO Mount Lebanon Tor a tendency
1 to bronchitis.
Now, how does the public view these journals?
| How can they be viewed save a. a nuisance?
They not only earn contempt for themselves, but
they produce a general feeling-of at least indlf-
| fertnce-for religion, and they coafirm the great
mass. The thinking people Of the country, in
The determination 70 keep clear Of IT, They sub
sist alone by the weakness Of women and
children.
There IL another reason why no political side
\ should hereafter desire these journals as allies
/ With the single exception Of the Protestant
| Episcopal and the Roman Catholic churches,
every religious sect in this country Is Jisunionist
| IN character. All the Protestant churches have
been split by the slavery question. II il reason
able to expect that their influence viii be
cxcrisd to induce the whole country TO follow
their txample.
/ The contest j. over now, and there is no use
/ returning upon II. But Yet us have no clerical
I influence in politics.