Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-06-25


We have he'd occasios 70 say moro thea
once that Interference in political contests
appears 70 be beyond the proper provisee
calmer view 0f the circumstances. we feel
satisfied that repetition Of the course pur-
sued during September and October, BY the
religious press. would he fraught with dan
gerous consequences, and we trust that il
may be the last occasion on which the clergy
shall mix IN our political sirifes.
In the first place, they can do no good
From pretty thorough study OF the net re
suits Of the elections, We feel iustihed in
saying that the alliance Of the religious
newspapers and the pulpit generally, rather
weakened than strengthened Fremont Nor
Is this wholly unnatural. Ciergymen are
VIGOROUSLY unsafe guides Of worldly mat
ters; they are men Of slender worldly ex-
perience, habits Of abstract thought. aud
perhaps. very imperfect acquaintance
with the bad side VI human nature. \.
one would think Of consulting his parsol
about a business operation. The same
reasons would deter u voter from taking
his ministers advice sb, ut . President
Again, the people Of the country have, ~ ,
general rule, lively horror Of priestly DIES
pOtisrn.
Parts Of New England have groaned un
der a theocratic government from the SGT
tlement to the present day the peopi'
know 1t, and hate the thought. Ia SOM
places. they go against their preacher
merely in order ~ prove their independence
In others, where the theocracy has becI
long since overthrow. the people are 81
afraid Of its restoration, or ot the name Q
such thing, that the arguments Of the mi
mister on secular matters almost always dc
feat his side. Altogether, though the cler
~ appear to have weight when they droI
into the stream and follow public opinion, !
is quite doubtful whether they can eve
move the public mind in any lndependeh
secular direction and when, as in this case
case, they are aided by their peculiar pres
SEES, and 20 into contest with warmth an
bigotry. they are almost certain " streng
then their antagonists.
II has long been the settled opinion q
many Of the best christians Of this country
that the most formidable enemy agains
which religion has to contend is the reiigl
Gus press Nor can any one who has mad
business Of reading the journals Chased un
der this head, dispute the soundness Of tn
basis on which this opinion rests. The ba
sest and meanest qualities Of human natur
dishonesty, bigotry. intolerance, cant an
falsehood-receiye their most complete il
Illustrations in this country in the columns q
the religious press 1t hardly ever happen
that any OF these journals call attention L
"A noble instance of self devo tion, or unsel
hshness. Or charity, or courage under tn
ais, or heroic integrity, or any other mani
virtue
The types they point out for imitation
are merchants who. having made fortune
gave $4,000 to the sect Of which the joul
nal is an organ; Wall street operators who
nnder the infiue Of sermon from
noted divine handed thousand dolla
hill TO the sexton young ladies who work
ed gowns and bands for the reverend creaI
cheese congregations that raised none
enough to send their parson to Europe
wealthy men who build churches. and pa
subscriptions to support idle youths in &
called missionary stations, dc. Minglc
with these stirring narratives Of virtue ar
mean pettitoging attacks On other sect
The catholics sneers AT the protestant; tn
evangelical groans over the high church
man; the methodist signs ut the congregl
tionalist the presbyterian sneers at the bal
list, the episcopalian reyiles them al
Week after week these pious editors rehas
their contemplate cavils nj each other
sometimes openly. but oftener in an unde
hand sneaking way. in such II shape as a
emotional letter from "A pious clergyman VIII
has been sent to Mount Lebanon for tel
dency to bronchitis.
| Now, how does the public view the:
journals? How can they be viewed save 1
a nuisance? They not only earn conteml
for themselves. blu, they produce gener
feeling-cf at least indifference-for rel
gon. and they confirm the great mass, IL
thinking people of the country, in the d
termination to keep clear Of II. They SUI
sist alone by the weakness of women al
children.
There is another reason why no polite
side should hereafter desire these journa
as allies. With the single exception Of Il
protestant episcopal and the Roman cath
lie churches. every religious sect in tn
country is disunionist in character. All Il
protestant churches have been split by Il
slavery question. 1t is reasonable to expe
that their influence will be exerted to i
iuce the whole country to follow their e
ample.
The contest is ever now, and there is !
use returning upon it. But let us have l
clertal influence in politics.-N y, Heral