The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-01-19
Drifting towards Heathenism.

him to abscond, the Concord Patriot, the lead
Ing democratic paper in the Granite State,
says:
This political priest was one OF the nepu0-
lcan stump orators during The iate oa1sa a.
- and WIS highly applauded for bis zsai anu en-
60. ~. h,.ca,na sdemoralizsd,' as most oil
the clergy have and is only u little ahead oil
the crowd in exposing his true character.
Hare we have it that 'nsost of the clergy"
h4vs become demoralized in this country
This Is the common slang of copperhead poll
ticians. They are sure to denounce the cler-
gy; to denouuce the church; to denounce ev-
cry humanitarian reform of the day that con-
hicts with the policy and aims Of party that
would protect and perpetuate what Mr.. Wes-
ley was pleased to style "the sum OF all VII
lauies." A short time since copperhead pa
per in Bangor boasted of what its party had
d,ae spite of all the Protestant churches in
the land. W
Now what is the head and front of the Of
Tending of the church and clergy, that they
should thus come ia for denunciation from the
leaders OF great political party? What is
their sin2 WHAT have they done that should
entitle them TO such treatment; that justifies
the charge of demoralizationa rmEus
DJn't the clergy, with scarcely an excep-
tioa, stand BY the Government, pray for its
preservation, aud preach and exhort in favor
Of unfolding its honor and its flag? Don't
they denonnce treason and all armed and un-
holy resistance of the constitutional authority
of the IandP Why, then, should they be de-.
nouuced? Is IL immoral to be patriotic? Is
IL wicked to stand by ones government in Its
conhict with gigantic rebellion?
The truth is-aad here's the rub-the cler-
~ believe in aud contend TOR the supremacy
of Right and Justice. They believe, as the
expoundels Of Coos Law, that nations like IN
divlduals, can prosper only IS they regard the
principles OF recttude, aud that 1t is no less
sin in a nation to do violence to right than 1t
IL IN an individual to do so. They believe in
she great doctrine which underies all Demo
cracy and runs through all practical Christian
ity-the doctrine of the common brotherhood I;
and, believing in that, how can they avoid OPP
posing all forms of oppression and slavery p
Add for doing this; for insisting that every
soul for whom Christ died has an inallenable
right to lie, liberty and the pursuit OF happ-
meas, aud that to divest any one Of this right
except as punishment for crime-is sin,
and that he who would do this is sinner, the
clergy are denounced by politicians as immor
al; IS unworthy the favor of God or the res
pect Of mani 4 9huG
We appeal to the readers calm sense to say
II this Is not so? And what does it show?
Does it not show that political leaders, in the
strength Of their party prejudice and in their
hatred of others, are actually treading the
path that leads off into heathenism II not inf
deity? The priest at the altar of religion is
denounced because he will not prove false to
his owa convictions. Tue church is assaulted
because, like the Great Master,i it would have
men free; would break every yoke and let the
oppressed go free.
The clergyman, we are told, has no right to
middle with moral questions because they
are mixed up with politics. In Heavens name
II the clergyman shall not touch moral quet.
tlon what shall he do? Must he humble over
religious creed that has no affinity for the
souls life? And can that soul have life which
ignores moral subjects; or, having no life in
itself can it impart II e to others?
Religion, say these politicians, is suff ring
because the clergy and the church are given
no TO questions OF moral reformi Aud what
kind OF religion, pray? Is it not the religion
OF the heathen, which stands aloof from con-
sideratious of right and truth and justice? Is
toe religion that is worth reviving IN ere fan
cy thing, having nothing TO do with the life
l. it thing Invested of moral obligations? is
II a condition or state that has no respect for
the rights OF friend, neighbor or stranger?-
Can the ChristianIy religious man be insen-
sible to the good of those around him? Can
he ignore the claims of humanity? Is he not
required, like his Master, to go about "doing
good?"
Ithese questions Suggest their true answ ers,
then what but heather religion is that which
csa look unmoyed upon slaves bonds p
Vast be ter tnan b rbarism is religion which
taxes care oaly of number one" serenely
looking upon the suffsrings ofothers with no
will to aid Them? And yet this is the religion
with which party politicians would curse the
world. Tnis Is tina midday, impiously styled
religion. that they would have revived; reli-
gion that glorl6es God with the mouth while
trampling on bis image with an iron heel a
religion that would break the communion
bread on table bensdth ,ohich lie the whip
aad the thumb-screw; religion that would
be content to see those for whom Christ died
sold on the auction block like cattle In the
shamblesl Dat upon such mockery! Thank
Heaven, this is not heather land; the church
OF America Is not a Buddhist association, or
made up of the devotees Of adethroned Div
Unity. nor are the clergynen of this land set
OF conseerated, vitsliz I'd statues, but they are
human beings, having fellow feeling for the
su1ehng children Of common Father.