Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-26


dicted that when the fanatic portion 0
the Northern people were done will
slavery, they would next begin war OF
the systems of religious faith differing
from their own, suggesting also the proba
bility that they would begin with the Cath
olics. And now il seems from the tone
Of our exchanges, that the portion of
Radical party which comprises this class
of men, have already begun their war
| against religions, which they have com
pleted against civil liberty on this con-
tinent As to the Catholics, their doc
trine, from the day Of the elder Beecher
down 70 this, has been that the control
of the Pope over the Bishops and Clergy
of the Catholic church was inconsistent,
and could not co.exist with republican
liberty. And now they say that, because
this is q Christian government, the re-
ligious liberty which it guarantees is not
liberty to worship or not, and to believe
or not, as one pleases nor is it liberty
to believe or teach what is inconsistent
with Christianity by which is meant the
dogmas and doctrines Of the Puritans,
With them everything else is infidelity;
and their own views and isms being that
Christianity, which is thus the foundation
of a Christian government, they are now
quite extensively agitating, and will, so
soon as they can do so with reasonable
ground to hope for success, attempt to
enforce by all such means as they may
be able to command. We have not a
doubt that these men lack only the
power, and not the disposition, to per
secute all opinions which oppose their
own; and we would as soon trust our
selves TO the hands of the Spanish
inquisitors, in the darkest period of
persecution, cruelties and crimes. In.
deed we would prefer it, because highly
educated and intelligent malice, backed
by a perverted conscience, is the most
unrelenting and heartless of all. You
will find cruel men and mean men the
world over; but the Puritan is conscien
tiOusly mean, as vel! as vndictive, and
therefore stands without his peer.
In view of this state of facts, meetings
of Germans have been held in several of
the large cities, at which they have lately
adopted a series of resolutions, in calm
and decided manner, indicating their
true rights and their firm determination
to maintain them as best they may.
They say they deny not religious liberty
in the largest and fullest sense to any
but, on the contrary, will defend it, not
only for themselves, but for all others.
We wish them good speed. We hold
that the spirit of our laws, having their
foundation in the principles Of independ
ence, is 10 leave men free to form and
express opinions as they will. This is
Christian government in the sense that
its foundation and superstructure is the
work of Christian people, who believed
true Christianity strong enough to defend |
itself They asked that reason should |
be left free to combat error, and no more.
Nothing more can serve Christianity |
or liberty or anything but fanaticism,
unless it be some prosecuting sect The
best school for hypocrites is that which
men because of unpopular
opinions. Give but this and the whole
land will be dominated by Pharisees.
has, thus far, proved strong
est whore the most perfect liberty has
been enjoyed to assail it. Truth, like
pure gold, comes forth all the stronger
and more brilliant the more it is OPP
posed and even crushed to earth.
And civil liberty will perish whenever
he reign of religious intolerance begins.
These fanatical northern Pharisees
ack only the power aud they will show
he cloven foot. We hope our German
will hold their ground.
They may entertain erroneous opinions
But when the right to utter any false
opinion is withheld, that moment you
put an end to all right to difference of
opinion with any prevailing and popular
view, whether it be true or false. And
his will be found far more antagonistic
o republican freedom and to Christian
than the utmost liberty and
license of speech and the press can ever
become. If we must have a tyrant, give
IS any one but Praise.god Barebones.
# Christianity is unable to stand against
error, it is no more likely to be sus-
aimed by compulsory statutes than by
Puritan charity. Aud that government
s despotic which coerces opinions by
anything but reason, and freedom to use
he language Of reason.