Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-07-27
Review OF a ,Prcsbyterian.

EDrroR CHRONICLE: In the CHRONICLE
Of July 18th, we noticed an article over the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS" As your paper
is free, aud open for free discussion, we
presume we may ask to share little 10 the
free discussions Of these free times in this
now our free country. And while we speak
freely in Review Of q" "BtesIyteyian, we do
not wish to be understood a. defending the
Gazette in every thing, or yet its cause, or
yet 10 censure the Presbyterian Church 10
which the Gazette has 80 freely paid its
compliment is for some time past.
We admit in the outset il was misrepre-
sentation Of that political sheet to charge
upon the Presbyterian Church, or Presby.
terians either, secret League" or ''p~e
eution" Of Catholics. The Editor himself
should have known when be was spreading
out before the world these charges be was
greatly wrouging the Church. But then,
there may be seme apology. If Protestants
speak out against Catholics, and expose
their jesuitism, and show that they always
have been. in every country, aud are now,
dangerous to liberty both ciri1 and religious,
such exposure will injure the Democratic
party. Against this danger the Gazette as
faithful political guardian, felt bound to
make timely effort to guard. And who can
blame him? If Churches win say or do
any thing tending to iujure political parties,
and SO meddle with polities-if they meddle
with any thing directly or indirectly which
tends to prejudie the minds of citizens
against any political dogma or party, or any
policy Of the State, then politicians, of
course, will feel disposed to retert. If Cath
olicism is dangerous to cicH liberty, let poll
ticians attend to that part oft. If danger.
Gus to religious liberty, let the Churches
attend to that, and not mic things.
Whether Presbyterians have any right to
say any thing against Catholics or the Gath
ollc religion we shall not say here. Nor
whether it is any of their business to med
die with the Catholics especially now, when
they are SO generally identified in interest
and feeling with the cause of large and
strong political party in this couutry. 1t is
we'll known that Catholics in the North
generally sympsthized with the cause Of the
Confederacy. 1t is we'll known that the
Catholics of the South almost universally
made common cause with the Confederacy
They are stauneh friends Of slavery and hate
the negro and dread negro equality. The
tide Of emigration to this country is largely
Catholic. And this emigration is the right
arm Of the strength Of the Democratic par.
ty. To oppose Catholics then, is to oppose
the interests and the success OF political
party, aud therefore. on the very face of it,
. just cause Of opposition by that party &C.
cordipg to the rules of political tactics. The
Democratic party has the right to defend
itself and its interest as party. And if
Presbyterians oppose Catholics, the Demo.
crscy may oppose Presbyterians as a mere
political right. Every political party aims
to secure sill the votes possible. This is its
business. and this is its right. And what
political party would not buy a vote for q
dram, if it could be had at 90 cheap price.
even now when dram does cost something?
And what raw Catholic don't love dram ?
Since politics and morality and religion
have nothing to do with each other, then
each should let the other alone. Politically
no citizen should be called in question for
his religion or morals. And while it is in
bad taste for Presbyterians to interfere with
political affairs, so politicians should let the
Church, and religion and morality alche.-
What business has political E]itor, in a
party political paper, to comment upon the
deings Of the Churches? For so sure as
the politicians will meddle with Church af.
fairs, so will the Church defend herself, and
in the end injurs political parties especial
ly, among the religious and moral part of
a mi IN, ttu. fnr uv;i Gal
themselves identified with the cause ef re-
ligion, of the Church and morality. These
things must be kept separate.
Again, political newspapers have no bust
ness to meddle with Church news ard
Church newspapers; 50 religious newspa-
pers, and religious writers-like "Presby-
teTtan"-havs no business to meddle with
political newspapers. This whole business
of mixing up political affairs with religion
and morality is threatening to bring trouble
upon our country now settling down into a
lasting peace. II political newspapers will
let every thing but politics alone and then
the Church, and all religious men, and all
religious newspapers will let every thing
political alone, and no more meddle with
war or peace, or any other kind of politics
then We may have peace and harmony.
What business has any Church, or any
preacher, or any professor of religion to
decide whether the war was right or wrong?
Whether the Confederate" or the Fed.
erals" were right or wrong? Whether il
was right or wrong to volunteer into the
Union army or the Confederate army p
What business had the Churches to med
die with the question of loyalty. ef patriot
ism, of tho support Of the Union, or the
war, or the Lincoln Administration. or any
other administrations The gospel has
nothing to do with any Of these things =
We don't learn from the gospel, or from
the Church, or from religion. or from the
Bible, or any other rule of morals whether
the Union should be defended or the Con
federacy be defended. What religious obi
CATION can be about any OF these things e
And then how can Bible sxpounders have
any business with such things7 The Bible
says nothing about Catholics or Protestant
it says nothing about Democrats or Union
lists; and thenthe Churches and the preach
ers have no business to meddle with any
such things. They all belong to politics
and let the politicians have them.
| Since all slaveholders are Democrats, O,
politioaily opposed to "aboliitenism, tc
msddle with slavery--it being politica
qhestioD--is to meddfe with politics and
levsry preacher who breaches about slavery
for or against, is presching pclitics s~anc
that is none Of hisbrsiness. IF any preach
A "A i.