Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1857-05-01
Politics and Religion.

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and religious sentiment Of the country, and
ignores the great fundamental truths OF
christianity, stands upon sandy founda'
ton. Under our form Of government 1t is
tho duty Of or,ry man to he q politician,
no, perhaps in the sense in which this term
is sometimes USED, but in general sense, as
applicable to the proper discharge OF his
duty as citizen.
Every man who possesses the elective Tran
chisc is, in common with ms fellow citizens,
responsible for the way and manner IN which
the laws Of his country are administered.
IIeis responsible Tor his vote, hence he should
he sufficiently informed upon all public mat
ters to cast 1t upon the right side. Not
only laymcn Of deep and earnest picty, hut
clcrrymen have duties Of a political charac-
ter to perform. 1t /. not only the right but
the duty Of the clergy to % to the polls and
vote. No class or profession can feel more
deeply the importance OF good government
than they,
Issues between political parties often IN
volvc moral and religion. considerations.
Tho questions now dividing the two great
rar,i,. Of the country at the present time
are prominently -. II the Bible is true,
chat,cl slavery is ,iq ngains, Col. The
whole system is founded in wrong and yio-
lsnc,. and the piaus and learned John
Wesley but rc-cchoci the common scnti-
men, Of the religious world. when he de-
clarcl it the "nra Of az riHaiH,o,. It is
not only a great political evil, but moral
and s,,ial wrong Being great sin gains,
God aul man, Ministers Of the gospel
would b. dercic,t in duty did they not only
vote against IL, but pr-1oi against it, As
well might they neglect TO preach against
any OF the sins enumerated ia the ten com.
maudmcuts. Although this isa plain, posi-.
tive Bible duty, Yet for few year. past no
class Of men hay, morn violently abused and
,anirrcl than have the clergy for its honest
Performance. The, vile and infamous
s,ulcr,rs have had their origin in the so
clllrl democratic party. and by that party
Iay, I.,an Sspt hr1lIcls, over the land. IL
6, an interesting inquiry, why Is this party
found arraycl against the clcrcy, against
thr moral sentiment ct the civilized world ,
This iutsrros,tory finds an answer in a
.imr', s,amcnt Of existing iast'. Thcrrty
calling it.,lr democratic in this country has
urt only become ,he ar'loci't but 61mar
ul African slavery. Il. policy isuot only 10
uphold and support DO whore it new exists,
hut Ur.15V m'1 rrr"r7 T1- fr-r. Tins is
iNe reason why the same rariy repealed the
Missouri restriction vli. great barrier
which stood as, wall % fire O. keep slavery
.af Of Kansas and Nebraska. W.. ruihlc,,ly
torn down &, Oct iti7. And when three
thousand cIyrsymru, in a legitimate, legal
manner, respectfully demonstrated against
10. their rcmoustr,ncc was treated with in
suit aul c1utemr, by 10, leaders Of the
democratic party n Congress, who were
then engaged in thi. work OF treason. From
tlat day &, this, thi, same party has induls-
Cd in the most vlu,,u, diaholir1l attacks,
MT only upon the minister, Of the gospel,
hat upon the whole CHRISTIAN church It,
papers and leading men indulge in the most
sgurrillu.. li'rllrus ahus, Of pi5us men
merely fr Speaking and acting nF1ms, the
hrinna. siu ul slavery. Tho leader, pt the
..4u democracy. We mean those who have
u.t iu4al.rl in thi, iuGIrl crusade % such
un extent "a. 90 De- conscience scared, lHor
tay are wrong. hruc, when rahukoi Tor
t..r ,.u they rave aul foam because they
az. exposed. IT,, now the boast Ut the
leaders 1f ,hc rr,.,lnygry democracy, that
thy have ySrurcrI an moral IDEAS from
il.r platform, and because tie Republicans
stand by ,bc doctrine. ul thc Bible, doe doe.
tr.u., af au enlightened christianity b.
cause minister. OF the gospel o! Chris, faith
mliy preach these J,siriuo. they are de-
uaYu-rl "a, crazy fanatics, astriior, 20 their
country, Ia, hypa.u,r. and impl,,ar' -
long a. tae sham democracy stands forth as
90. public defender of one Of the most God
provoking, lInygu.daru- sins that ever
glr-.I ,h,, sinful world, jus, b, long will
iho party aud It, leaders NEE, thc dstermiu-
"a opposition Of the christian patriots, jus;
50 long will a free pulpit thunder forth It's
hons., dsnuncil,ion, against iniluity in
high places.
The only hope Of our country rests in the
and moral element among the poo
PIE. Etiucui.h obi, pillaroflrc which
has l.l o.. through an our perils aud troubles
from the early struggle. Of the coloui,. up
Q, the rr.-su: time, blot out this sun from
our political Grmlment, and We 90 down,
cuslrluleI in the darkness Of barbarous
dr,p1,i.m.
col is just, and he Furnishes nations as
well as individuals Tor their sins, aud as
Mr.. Jefferson truly said when speaking Of
the wrong. Of slavery, " his justice will not
sle,p forever"
Who are Responsiblel
W. should like TO put tai, question per-
slualIy 10 all our democratic iricnds,-if