Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-07-16

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corner stone Of the edificc. Whenever Il vi.
tiates or deprnVes or throws suspicion and
contempt, on that sentiment, il poisons its
own blood. II cuts its own nerves It sun
ders the strongest cord that binds the masses
to harmonious action, TO virtue and obedience.
1t destroys the barriers to vice. Ii impaTts
new life TO every species Of sin. II Is certnin
tO work degradation in society, and to quick
Ell to activity every debasing influence and
practice.
Tho cnunciation Of principles and the en-
| iOTccment Of customs that ignOTS and deny
our connection in any way with the bible,
and God (as for instance in the reasoning by
which the christian Sabbath wAS rejcctcd) do
more to retard our IDOyMl ABd Socinf progress,
more to quicken vice Of every sort, more 70
cause to rctrOgradc in the better sentiments
and hopes Of the masses, and thus more to
defeat our growing prosperity and happiness,
more to destroy on prevent our love Of coun-
try, and to crush the public hope. then all the
disasters We ever experienced. The faith and
courage Of tic people always give way before
growing vice more than before On.coniingNlis-
aster For the same reason wisc national
policy, outside Of every religious cOnsidcra.
ton as an end, would put the bible in every
school. Asa political measure it would DO
more to strengthen the cement Of government
than any thing else. The SIatC in diScarding
the bible knocks down the pillar OH which It
rests more than any other. Nothing tends so
much to kill out the peculiar genius and spirit
Of our free institutiOns and weaken loyalty
among the people. 1t is bud policy to throw
any diSrespect upon the great source Of our
strength. And yet the rejection Of the bible
from our public schools, regard ~ small
matter and little evil, compared tO the RIA
sOning by which It IL done. The thing itself
is not so bad or detrimental as the totally god
less premises Of its abSttOrS. Should their
principles ever thoroughly pcrvade tile popu.
lar mind, our strong bands Of government
would begin to snap, We would soon be tub
without bottom.
Tyrants generally understand the power Of
religion over people and avail themselves OF
it. They succeed because they carry their
high hand in the name Of religion. The na-
tiOns Of the old world, would fall to pieces
were it not for their religion, vic and deprav-
ed as they arc how much more then would
we cease to be happy people if We should
cease to be people whose God IL tho Lord.
The recognition Of this great truth should be
in all our places Of authority and before oil our
minds. Our happiness is connected with it
as with nothing else.
No sensible man Of course will understand
me as favoring any sort Of union between
the civil and religious powers, or suppoSing
that any force or law should. ever be applied
to support or directly promote Teligion. sOr
compel regard for it in any way. Mc have
no words with him who Is 10 crazy as either to
hold such belief or to charge others with
holding it on this day, and In this land; bat
what We mean rs, that that people Is hAppiest
and surest Of prosperity and growth and peace,
who recognize the fact that the Lord Is their
God, ,and that they owe their greatness to Him;
that they are built on Him, and ere bl0siod,
and happy just ~ prUpOrtiOW - they, own
Him, and arc moved on by Ills spirit and
truth. No people arc no short sighted as
those who cherish among themSelvcNs spirit
Of infidelity. The infldcls curse will follow
them. II will work itsslf eSt Into dissipation,
vice, crime, poverty and uRlappinsss Of every
kind. 1t will AT them with curses while
they perhaps dream not Of tlae true cause.-
Nothing leads to iTFsliglon aIsOag Pe0ple 20
much 81 that one-Sided soEt of reasoning by
which some in high places hare Attempted TO
show that there IL not even On ingredient Of
religion, and no trace Of the Lord aS our God,
in any Of our foundation steneN, IN anything
Of our constitution, laws Or society, and that
we thus recognize no God, but ignore Him
and disclaim any public blessing from Him
and any public dependence on Him. Nothing
| say leads to irreDigjOn and infitlel pride 80
much az this. And then still further nothing
leads to sin, to prevailing vice, to general dc.
prcssions, and to every unhappy fruit Of sin
80 much as irreIigion. Il Is therefore that we
say the chief care Of any people is its religion.
II requires no prophet to declare that our
county will never suffer or fall or stop It's
growth until pure christianity ceases to be
our religion.
We infer again, in view Of what wo have
said, that people il happy just in prOpol ton
rs the Lord is their God. Observation shows
it. A partly christian people, such as many
Of the European states, enjoy just about a.
much light, liberty, privileges, happiness and
prosperity. az they have christianity. When
ever christian truth Is working its way, there
change is going on; light is dawning; dark
ness is giving why, aud freedom begins 70 be
understood and felt Among our own states,
where christianity most prevails, there, there,
is the fairest reputation, the least crime, the
most general peace. cOntentiNeDt,, prosperity
and happiness. This is not random assertion
Our own observation witnesses to it, and the
statistics prepared by DIR. Baird and others
confirm it.
Our own is by far the most Goddess State in
the Union, and the most deficient in christian
influences. This Is 80 by immense 0dtls.-
.And what follows? No State is SO eaten up
with its sins, as this; none is no cursed with
lnfanles and crimes, and Open, bareGaccd, tol.
Grated vices, aS this; none has such deep
lrrcligiouS current among its people. And it
Is only natural consequence Of this irreligion
TINT no other state has bCen benefited 80 IT.
tic by its unparalleled natural advantages as
this. We arc to-day, Notwithstanding our
marvellous resources, the most stationary Of
the States. We are growing the slowest-
scarcely incrcasingat aIT In population
mulating permanent wealth the least rapidly,
and are the fullest Of cOrrMptiONS and vicea-
And yet we have tho best facilities, the richest
hills and the richest Valleys perhaps the
most commanding position. Why II this un-
less it be because we most openly MeslsSA and
discOuntCnance those inilIeness which evss
give birth to true happiness aDd prosperity,
and withOHt which no people on tlIo earih.
however rich and fair their ccantry, has cVes
been happy and prosperous AsAOWg III SGhSkAsssSsI
In tact We arc the only Oas Os our 6tAsAsithal
has by It's highest authority boldly dessaFsd
that the Lord y pOt our Goa That AeclAEa-
tion has run through ell oIv Hills and valleys
nor are its thB influence and effect yet rCAIlz'
cd Lea tim - psoplst eoAld sayvi Wisapstsl
fullest assurance Of its stlath.i thaa ifs NE wsss
tut pure and fair ana strVpgtin mppala6d Ne-
ligIous respects, there are no natural hind.
rsHce ShSt would prevent fiGAdtedt df tho