Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-05-05

Falsehood, was nevertheless, in either case the
resort Of the whole human race when seeking
for source Of sympathy, enjoyment and pro-
lection, that they failed to find In the forms
and prctensions of governments, which they
had erected.
Religion has been invoked In all countries,
by all people, as n grand moral remedy for
the numerous ills and inquitcS which result
from all legal c"mracts ofS0cal beings What
ever idea Religion assumed, however exalted
and perfect or grovcling and absurd the theory
uponi which the function Of religion was
founded, il was nevertheless a powerful agent
in promoting the relief and comfort Of the
masses who are the general sufferers from
governments.
Religion did much in the way Of intoxicating
the higher social duties and obligations. II
infused benevolent breath ot cTtity, t'tt,-
licncc and kindness into the lrcrcpt> Of law.
1t cultivated spirit 0i furhcalanrc with the
masses without which governments could not
exist 1t was indeed n source "f patriotic
conservatism which cNtng'lislcd the very cIc-
ments Of revolution AMI even sustained tlran-
nicS so monstr0uS that no time can cilarr
their bloody aud revolving record.
- But then this grand natural, Inspired RENE
dy for the evils Of society and government,
though divine in essence, was not by any
means divine in its social relations aud ten
denotes Though born Of r;01I, L WAS 7t'7v0t-
opcl and disciplined by man. 1t hcramr i'm
prcgnated with error acquired an ung"'cri'-
able intolerance. SOwcd the seeds Of prejudice,
and harvested bigotry, superstition and unut-
tcrablc cruelties. Instead Of restraining in
furious impulses, it cnkindlcd the most dcspcr-
ate passions, INSTEAD Of cultivating peace and
quiet and bcnevOlence, it promoted diSallcctinn,
nartyrdom and war. Fines, iHpiiSOnmcntS,
tOrtureS, stakes and blocks, were invoked as
means by which religion was to be made, not
q disse,nhator 0f.IrutA, love and Lhatity.
but an iron rule Of Faith, which must in its
erratic movements predeminatc or die.
In its purity it was. as ii must ever br, the
strength, the counsellor and friend of the poor.
In error it was the curse of government.
law and man. II paved the road to iniidcllty,
opened the avenues Of atheism and illustrated
its power Of destruction in the French Rcvo.
luton of 1889. For period of seventy two
years the government Of France was but the
reflex of the will and pleasure Of single man,
the most successful absolute Monarch Of the
French people, il not Of the world. In abSo-
lutte display, in the immcnSity of wealth, Mn
the gigantic concentration of political powers
would not and could not he restrained, it has
scarcely parallel in history.
But amidst all its SplcndorS, underlying all
Its grandeurs, mingling with all its success
and brillancc, there was a subdued wall of
SORROW, sadness and starvation, rolling its pom
derous weight over the hearts Of the cnsavcd
masses, which would have risen and destroyed
the government and the dcspot who welded
it thousand times, had it not been for the
conservative power Of religion over the pas
SionS and recorded grief of those who make
governments, sustain and perpctuate them.
Religion. and the endless collateral moral i'll
tucnccs which it eliminates from society, i'm.
parted to the people such a degree Of forbrar
ance, such q spirit Of submission, that even
the heightened tyrannicS Of Louis NlN. could
not, or did not gOad them into revolution and
redress.
The rights of the many were completely
usurpcd. The people were mere puppets in
the ante-chamber of an arrogant despot's will.
The kindlineSs Of legislative protection was
denied them the equities of judicial redress
were inaccessible between them and the privi
legged classes; the bcnctircncc of executive
clcmency lighted not upon the dark and
gloomy horizon of the injured masses.
Yet these masses were not unconscious Of
the unuttcrable wrongs which they were SuS
tanning. 1t was the full knowledge Of their
wrongs that made the spear Of alliction more
poignant, as it waSfUrevcr piercing their hearts
and hopes.
But the restraining, forbcaring spirit of re-
ligion, which is in is purity hut the cmbodi
ment Of peace, preserved them in their intcg
rity, to so rrotractcd reign of tyranny and
oppression.
From the death Of this Monarch to the ec-
walton of Louis XVI, an interval Of iilty-ninc
years, the government of France seemed to
have been turned over to the hands of those
whose principle Office was to spend the wealth
accumulated, and destroy the government
which preceded. LiccntiouShrSS, libcrtniSm,
tyranny, impriSonmcnt aSSaSSinationS and
decay mingled together to the destruction of
religion, fraternity and lcccncv.
Succeeding such state of affairs, Louis
XVI aScendcd the throne Of France. He was
Just man, devout man, loved his country,
SympathiZcd with his people, and would have
made good King to better ,uhirrtS; but the
masses had now become corrupt. All those
social organizations which are so Salutarv in
restraining the mhSsrS-in cvuking an! re-
filming the principles of fraternity and Sympa
thy, were utterly abandoned. The Church
had become powerlcSS, and the sanitary rcli-
giOn of the masses perverted into atheism and
in(amy. The result was the blind, bloody,
mcrciesS. satanic revolution of l7e9.
\ revolution so Infamous, 50 lrrghtcd with
ignominy so dire and damning in connection
with human beings, so stained with crime, so
drunk with riot, so drowned in blood that the
wonder is that the light of heaven could ever
again smile upon the country, or the countcn-
ance of God beam upon its people.
This revolution, which was born of insanity,
reared in blood aud died in inlamy, is death.
less illustration Of the fate Of all governments,
which neither seek the protection of their sub
jects, nor encourage the cultivation of those
moralizing and fraternizing organizations
which infuse the elements Of mutual relief,
protection and contentment into the minds
and feelings of the masses
Religion we acknowledge MS the great NOR
aliZer of mankind-the great conServit0r OF
governments and necessary source of pres.
ent happiness and promise Of future and un-
ending bliss.
But whilst we thus acknowledge the func.
ton and moralizing power of religion, We
must be permitted also to toacknowlcdSe that it is
an element Of the greatest eXcitability, and
from time immemorial, one of the most pug
nacious and mcrciless principles that has ever
operated upon the destructive forces Of gov
ernment and authority. Whatever the creed
upon which it was founded-whatever the
light by which 1t is guided, it Is ever ready tc
vindIcate its claims In war to the knife, and
the knife to the hilt.
For the maintenance and vindication Of the
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