Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-02-05

WE have before US a manuscript
copy Of a discourse delivered at the
Linden street Christian Church, by
Rev. PAUL BAGBY. The speaker
said that, having recently been in
vited by members of the Mississippi
Legislature to deliver a lecture in the
hall of the House on the subject OF
the immigration of the Chinese, he
had "felt the necessity of examining
the question carefully in order to be
right" That was certainly quite COM
mendable. Bot examination for such
a purpose Sin order TO be right" pre-
suppOses entire candOr and diligence
IN searching for arguments on both
sides Of the subject. With all respect
to the speaker, we think that he has
committed ar error quite too common
with clerical gentlemen, and SINH
lar TO that OF the antagonists
Of CALLED, when, as to the mo
ton OF the earth, he had reasons to
give them which they took no pains
to discover, and were unwilling to
hear. He thinks il better the South
should be a "hOwling wilderness"
than that il should be ''hOwling with
the worship Of the devil" And so he
omits wholly to howl against the viii
derness, and sets up a howl against
idOlatry in general, and the Chinese
in particular. When our wilderness
is filed with population, prosperity
and plenty, we need not fear the
whims of barbarians. We have con
fdence in the capacity Of the Christian
religion to overcome idoI-worship all
over the world. If Christianity can
90 into heather lands and overcome
idolatry there, it ought at least to be
safe at home, on its own throne, and
in its own glorious dominion. To fear
the introduction ofthe Chinese on this
account is to distrust and undervslue
the Christian system. nitis not capa-
bic Of taking are Of itself, though
all nations Of the earth should
rush in with an overwhelming
tide and crowd the continent to
its utmost capacity il is incapable o.
performing its mission in the CONVEX
sion Of the world. And it does not
become a people, who boast its power
and trust its ultimate victory over all
nations, to object to the most intimate
contest with the largest number the
Unfolding tide may bring in through
the open door Of the East. Practically
this is a question of dollars and cents,
Of business, Of demand for labor, and
how its use may promote our interests
and build up Our country. Religious
Iy, if there is any question at all, we
should say it wa a question whether
civilization and religion could be most
advantageously prosecuted and pro-
NOTED at home or abroad. But real
", the question is q political one,
which should not be introduced into
the pulpit.
Mr.. BAGBY says he found on
one side the argument that there
is in all this the hand Of Providence,
that they may come TO the light Of
Christianity, and 90 back to enlighten
China" And he says that on the
other he found the first command
ment-thOu shalt have no other Gods
before me-" He fails TO tell US, how
ever. how that is an argument on the
other side, and as TO the question Of
immigration, which is a command to
ali the world, and affects men equally,
whether they live in one hemisphere
~ another. We are unable to see
wbv he omitted any other command
ment. and did not bring also all the
o4ber nine TO fortify his novel argu-
mant. He talks Of the danger of set
.ing mn "idolatry by law" in this
country. But as that Is not proposed
or-obable. he talks idly, notwith-
rS;ng his discovery that "the
---e IF God does not occur in our
Ganst;tution." Atheism IS not set up
bv allowing freedom to our people
- worship God, or to omi. II
tbev win, and idoiatry
). ~ more so by allowing the same
liberty. The reverend gentleman