Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-10
Communicated.
The Pulpit and Politics.


There never was time when the reli-
gion and the politics Of nations did not
intersect and influence each other.
Contention between theitwo agencfer, OF
their mutual efforts toward the same
ends, are as old as religion, as ancient
as reason. Governments, in form and
practice, always reflect the moral and
religious sentiments of the governors, II J
not of the governed. Who will be so
foolhardy as to dispute fact that the
history of all peoples and all time COM
bines to prove. Yet we are grayely told
that the pulpit and the political rostrum
are SO far apart that there should be an
impossible gulf between them.
The truth is, that the statesmen and
churchmen were alternately led astray
from the simple truths at the basis OF
good Christianity and good government
by the spirit and designs of the Ignorant,
bad "old times" Certainly that time
never was when laws could be passed
but in accordance with the prevailing
religious sentiment, without opposition
by its promulgators and adherents;
and if such time could be possible
lever did or ever could exist
that period would be deserving,
of quite another than the desig'
nation of the "good time" Such
condition could only be coincident with
society rotton to the core, or with
religion that was not "savor of life
unto life, but of death unto death.
Since the advent of our era, we say the
"good old time" has not been when the
action of Government in opposition to
the sentiments of preachers of the day,
passed without opposition on their part
never has been, and in the nature of
things, never can be-those who magni-
fly themselves as the Democracy, " to the
contrary Notwithstanding"
Cant is the staple Of those Democratic
politicians days. "Christ, and
him crucifed" is continually flowing
from their tongues and pens. They are
in danger OF fanaticism in their exces-
sively urgent advocacy of the exclusive
preaching of his death. Panaticism
is zeal without reason, and we doubt if
they understand what he who used the
term first, comprehsnded under it that
he would preach or "know nothing but
Christ" and the teachings for which he
died. The death must ever remain
valueless to the world without the adop-
ton of the words of the life.
He was 40 milk and water teacher, and
those who follow him must hurt the
sensibilities of the unjust, ungenerous,
and tyrannical and inhumane, whether
these are 80 merely socially, or, in
larger sense, politically. He died be-
cause he taught that every man is
equally judged at God s bar, and should
be BY man-that every man may be
spiritually a child of Abraham and
equally entitled to the favor of the Su-
preme-that He is no respe ctor of per-
| sons, and that no "Gentile races are
forever under the ban. He taught that
the covenant between man and God was
| reduced to this: that as men and nations
act, so shall be their Judgments, con-
ditions and progress. 1t is very certain
that the Cruci6ed is of no benefit to the
world without the acceptance of His
sayings and sentiments. That is ortho-
dox as well as. common sense
These were the laws of society, of
Ia cultivated nature, of nations,
and of God. Those who advocate
"Christ and him cruci6ed" must
preach the observance of the same rule
of conduct whether applied to the indi-
vidual, the community, the nations, or
the races. DIG
No one in this country is debarred
from holding or expressing whatsoever
opinion suits him on public questions.
None worthy to be leader among men
would accept the position of the clergy
| if not allowed to use his abilities in pro-
noting his conceptions of right On the
great questions of the age or nation.
We are willing to hear an eloquent ex-
position of his views from the Devil
and truth from him if such thing were
possible. Perhaps, if . the Democracy
had tears to hear" and could listen un-
conscious of the source, they might dis
cover that the disquisitions of the cler-
gy are not so devilish in tendency as
they imagined even when insisting not
only on eChrist cruci6ed,n but on his
life and sayings, and their application,
Nothing more is required of the ex-
ponents of Christianity than that they
be honest, disinterested and true to the
authoritative summing up of all "the
law and the prophets"
The foregoing observations may seem
to conflict with the structures on Beech
er's habit of Sunday political lectures,
but it is not so. We do.not advise Sun.
day harangues, though we do contend
that he is at liberty to express his views
as clearly and eloquently and forcibly
as he has the ability, and that he ought
to have that privilege as we'll as "any
other man" and that, too, without de-
tracing from his usefulness in his spe-
cialty. Every sectarian authority, in the
shape of bulls, resolutions, or addresses
from assemblies, conferences, convoca-.
tons, and bishops down, have issued
their orders, opinions, or advices in
reference to the moral aspects of politi.
cal issues. 1t is the habit of tbs
churches, and a proper one. None
ought to think otherwise. Is that wrong
| in the individual which the collective
body may do with impuhity or applause7
Surely not. Our opinion is, that it is
eminently the duty of preachers of the
Word to discourage that uncharitable-
ness and intolerance which prevails too
much among the brethren. Also, that
inasmuch as they advise liberty of
thought and expression, they ought also
to practice it, regardless of opprobrium