The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-09-08
DR.. Benson and the Methodist
Church.

Cnurcns
The last number of the Christian Ad-
vocate, of which Dr. Benson is the 3D.
itor, contains some thrusts at us, and
through US tho Democratic party of Ore
gon, which We deem it our duty to notice.
He says there arc few weekly papers in
Oregon that "make frequent and uupro-
voked attacks on the Methodist Church
and ministry" and he subsequently points
out tho DEMocRAT as one OF the afore-
said papers. 1t is false that we have ever
attacked the Methodist church. We have
never written or spoken line against it.
aud we defy this Reverend "Doctor" to
show that we have by our "record." The
Orcgonian-into whose hands the "Doc-
tor" plays coustantly-boasts that it has
our record" 1t will be easy, then, to
search it by calling on the venal condnc.
tors of that immaculate sheet and We
hereby demand the proof of this foul
charge, or else a public rctraction. We
have attacked ALL ministers who preach
partizan politics from the pulpit-wheth-
er they be Methodist, Presbyterian, Con-
gregationalist, Baptist, Campbellite, or
any other persuasion. We shall continue
to do so as opportunity may present itself
and occasion demand-not out of hostility
to churches, but because We believe VIC
shall be in the line of duty.
doctor" Benson says he has for many
years enjoyed the privilege of voting
Democratic votes, and he loves Democra-
cy just as we'll now as ever. All this may
be so, but the doctor" will permit US to
say he has a queer way Of showing his
love for Democracy; for he writes against
it, and talks against it, and votes against
it. In the same way Joab showed his
great love for Saul's generalissimo when
he took him by the beard aud, calling him
brother, smote him under the fifth rib,
so that he died.
The Doctor" falsely assuming that
we, with others, are trying to cheap obi
um on the Methodist Church." says "it
is not because of politics, but because of
patriotism" The plain English of this
| is that Rev. Doctor Benson is patriotic,
but the Editor of the DEMOCRAT is not.
One cannot but be impressed with the
excessive modesty of the doctor" and
as for that love enjoined in the Bible, we
fear he will one day die of charity on the
brain.
The "Doctor" roundly asserts that We,
with others, treasure "up wrath against
all who were valiant for liberty, truth,
humanity and God, during the fierce,
prolonged and sanguinary war" In
other words, the doctor" charges that
the Editor of the DEMOCRAT is opposed
to liberty, truth, humanity aud God and
that our opposition to all these is so vio-
lent that it amounts to madness. This
is what he means, if he means anything.
What is offered in proof of this most
most foul and libellous charge! Not a
thing. 1t is merely the base and naked
assertion of the doctor" We deny
each and every allegation, and We chal-
lenge this Reverend falsifer to produce
the proof And in conclusion we add
that he exhibits, in making this charge,
the cunning and deviltry so frequently
displayed during the war, of base men
appealing to the passions of the common
soldiery; thereby melting them to the
perpetration of acts of violence which
they had the disposition, but were them
selves too cowardly to commit.