Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-12-12

of law wholesome and safe2 If the church
is not to use its influence to make the State
sound and healthy and christian, we would
like to know if the State is to control and
fashion the church to its purposes And if
heiiher Is to exert any such influence, we
"sl again. if they are practically so divorced
as if the one were in heaven among the
angels, and the other on the earth in the |
hands of the demOcracy2
We submit these are fair questions-let
us know.
We are told that by reason of the dispo-
sition of the church TO meddle with State
affairs and make mischief, and ruin, "the
Democratic party and the wise class
Of statesmen raised up by that party took
such decided grounds against mixing up the
politics of the day in any way with the reli-
gious dogmas that existed" Here we have.
Gu high authority, a very lucid account OF
the origin and mission of the loco-loco-
democratic party. Maryland we confess
ourself Of the number-have always been
puzzled 10 know why that political organiza-
tion was ever brought forth. The problem
is now solved, and we ought TO be duly
thankful to have such mystery cleared up.
1t was the special function of the democra-
tic party to prevent politics from ever being
contaminated by religion. So far as their
own party is concerned no one will ever dis
pute that these "wise statesmen" have sue
ceeded to demonstration Amy doubter
has only to refer to the party machinery that
elected Horatio Seymour and Fernando
Wood in New York, and William Temple in
our own State.
There happen, however to be a few facts
that do not harmonize entirely with the
theory of this democratic editor. Has he
any recollection of n certain Rev. Mr. Van
Dyke, who in his flaming pro-slavery zeal, at
the commencement Of the slaye-drlyers re-
bellion, delivered himself Of II sermon of
the most approved democratic-partizan
stamp, against abolitionism," &c, and who
on the strength Of such delivery, was invited
to Charleston to preach, at the very time
when the traitors were beleaguerng Fort
Sumpter and making war on this govern.
ment Does he remember also that about
that time he was filling his rebel columns
with slang against the loyal ministers of this
city for preaching politics?" With lit.
tie effort perhaps, he may also remember
That at that same time certain " wise states.
men raised up by that party took extra
pains to print or import some thousands Of
Rev. Van Dykes political sermon and sneak
ingy thrust them into the faces and under
the doors and into the windows of respecta
Bile people, very much 10 their disgust ?
And does this editor remember in what
glowing terms he quoted and commende,
that political diatribe and its Reverend au
thor? 1t was NOT WRONG THEN for the churcl
In Brooklyn, n. " 10 influence the loco
loco-lottery-ridden little State of Delaware
Oh! no, it was all right, because, forsooth
= it was all in the interest of slavery, treason
and rebellion. There is another fnct Tim
hardly squares with the Gazette's theory
For years the South has been under demo.
cratic control and its policy dictated b,
these wise statesmen raised up by tina
party If any tohere we might well sup
pose the church would there know its place
aud let politics alone. But it so happen
that there, mischief and ruin,' with III,
q most terrible excitement, eliminated /,
. rebellion, while the church did nothing I,
E soothe the angry extremists into NOR,
, peaceful mood :" On the contrary. th,
most violent partizan harangues, and tn,
q most eloquent appeals for treason and rebel
lion against the government, have ther
3 proceeded from the pupits. The church o
the slave-secession States has eyidentl
5 failed to learn the democratic lesson, or beel
t recreant to the principles Of its education
9 But enough of this. The truth is, all thi
! pious babble about the awful sin of "mixini
up religion with politics. is the most sense
less sham and hypocrisy. If it is the mission
of the Democratic party TO prevent tn
church of Christ in this world from inauenc
ing the State, and to subsi6ize the pulpits q
this land into the interest of loco-locoisu
and rebellion, all we have to say about it i.
. that such mission UiN taa 1t may her
; and there succeed in keeping the light G
the pulpit under the bushel Of policy an
the hope Of full pews and large congrega
tions but the time is not distant, when eve
this will fail, and the church and the pulp
will learn that it is best 10 proclaim til
truth in relation 10 man aud the State, with
out the fears of the Delaware Gazette belor
them.