The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-04


lics," and go forth, we cannot help suspecting
the declared motive for the war is not the true
one. We want light on the subject. We want
to know whether this il war against the re-
publican system of government or not. Has
our Minister ct Rio Janeiro informed himself
and the government at Washington on this
question: Seeing 80 many monsrchical in
trigues on this continent, 1t 10 important we
should know.
Religious Reco observation-disclosures Let
ters OF southern Church Bishops.
We publish this morning an address Of the
Bishops of the Methodist Church in the State Of
Georgia to the ministers and laymen of that
denomination; also pastoral letter of the
Bishop Of the Protestant Episcopal Church Of
Alabama to the clergy and laity Of that do
cese, together with the action Of the Presbytery
in portion Of Virginia, which furnish very
good idea Of the spirit that pervades the several
ecclesiastical churches Of the South. From
their letters and addresses it will be seen that
the spiritual advisers Of the Southern people
have learned nothing by the sad and severe
lessons Of the past. While the politicians and
statesmen of that section cordially acquiesce In
the decisions and results of the war, and are
iaboring for the early amicable adjustment Of
the affairs Of their respective localities with
the federal government, the religious leaders
adhere to their old animosities, and urge the
continuance Of the schism which separated
them from the churches of the North. Like the
fanatical bigots of the Old World, who pre-
tended to preach the doctrine of love, charity
and forbearance Of Christ, and yet enraged and
embittered all Europe, until they plunged
almost every nation into q fierce and relentless
religious war, lasting nearly City years, these
Southern spiritual teachers adhere to their old
prejudices, and to all appearances would prefer
war to peace, harmony and hrotherly love be-
tween those who are laboring In the same cause
for the conversion Of sinful mankind. and pre-
pairing them for happy hereafter. Tho Epis-
copal Bishop Of the diocese Of Alabama goes so
far as to direct the clergy not to offer up prayer
for the President Of the United States until
civil authority Is restored in that State.
The same spirit or determination not to unite
with the religious denominations Of the North
Is manifest in all their documents, while the
charges and examinations are enunciated with
all the bitterness and aoeimony which charao-
terized their utterances before the rebellion.
There ID no disputing the fact, however, that
the accusations against the clergy Of the North
of incorporating In their church doctrines
social dogmas and political tests are to great
extent too true; yet the spirit manifested in
return does not come with that grace which
should characterize those who are laboring to
correct the errors Of sinful world II we
turn to the past record Of the churches North
and South, we find that both have travelled
far outside Of their legitimate sphere. Long
before there were any signs Of a'rebellion they
commenced an interference in the secular
affairs Of the country. and, from the general
confidence Of the members of the several
churches in the superior honesty and elevated
character of their spiritual instructors, what
the ministers said had great effect Step BY
step they drew their followers on until they
succeeded in bringing about q secession or
division of the churches Of the two sections
and arraying them in antagonism TO each
other. They Boon exhibited q spirit ten times
as bitter as that which existed between the
political parties Of the country, and may
be said TO have done moro to bring
about the rebellion than any other class
Of men. Tho churches OF both sections
must share in this great responsibility. To the
religious denominations is chargeable 10 q
greater or less extent the Immense sacrifice oil
blood and treasure Of the last four years, and
the future historian, In recording the causes snd
results of the events of the last twenty years
will put the clergy and church managers in the
foremost ranks as the authors and abettors O.
the rebellion.
II would seem that In the bitter fruit
which have been gathered during the war
| and the enormous amount Of crime and herri
BILE tragedy which Is now prevailing the whole
country--which ere but the logical result
Of the decentralization Of war-the divine'
and religious teachers, both North and South
would learn wisdom, and profit by their errors
in the past But this seems further than evel
from their purposes. They are evidently fear
full that thcy cannot retain their position ant
influence except by continuing their chickering's
and thus peril the Christian cause and the peao
and harmony Of tho country to crafty their owl
selfish ends. II men who wear the livery o.
heaven and claim to preach the gospel o
Christ inculcate war and bloodshed, and fail h
exercise towards each other that love AM
charity which they pretend to preach, how Cal
they expect otherwise than that the uncou
verted will indulge in ell manner of evi
deeds, and that crime and vandalism will ru
rampant'
CATTLE ON THE RAMPAaE.-The cattle diseas
is creating intense alarm abroad. Here W
have different form of the pest, but scarcel