The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-20
RELIGION AND POLITICS.
Press will appear.

AN animated and exciting debate sprung up
in Congress yesterday on motion to make
an appropriation for the support of Minister
Resident in Rome. This motion was favored
by large mai jority of the Democratic men,
bers on various grounds, and it was also ad-
vocatsd by Mr.. Banks (Rep.) in brief
speech, declaring that ''the omission of Rome
would be considered by portion of the
American people as intentional, and he did
not wish that besides, one of the great relS-
gioWs conclusions Of the aoOrld aoaS approaching,
and the United States should have at least
representative there to furnish accurate re-
ports of the great events transpiring there"
The appropriation was opposed and defeated,
however, by the mass of the Republican
members, and the deep feeling evincsd during
the debate makes it not improbable that
the threatened religious convulsion may
affect the politics of this country. Mr..
Bingham CRep.) sounded keynote which
may be heard this fall on the stump as well
as in Protestant pulpits, when he bitterly
denounced the Papal syllabus. He declared
that cit is AN attempt to retter the freedom
of conscience. 1t il an attempt to fettsr the
freedom of the press. 1t is an attempt to
every despetism on the face of the earth, in
foremost among which is America, the child
and the hope of the earth's old age;" and he
predicted the destruction of the Papal
power by ''the consuming breath Of the
enlightened public opinion Of the civilized
world, which declares for free governments,
free churches, free schools, free Bibles, and
free men," 1t is long time since speeches of
this character were made in Congress, and we
do not wonder that deep sensation was ex-
cited by the indications afforded of the crea-
tion of new issues in politics. The Demo-
Gratis were not slow to take up the gauntlet.
The story of the witches burnt in Massachu-
sets was duly rehearsed, and sundry refer
enees::were made to Nothingism, which,
however, lost much of their point by the
necessity of an explanation and denial on the
part of Mr.. Brooks, now prominent Demo-
cratic member, of charge made by
John Covode that when he (Covode)
was taking lessons in acknowledgement,
Brooks was ''the man who edited the
paper to light them on their way" and to act
as their ''great head centre" The debate
finally became extremely personal, and it re-
uuired the most vigorous efforts of the
Speaker to restore order. Although of COM
paratively small importance in itself, it affords
a significant indication of the drift of public
sentiment, and of the tendency of the time
to seek political expression, in some form, of
the deep religious and politico-religious emo
tions which are gradually being aroused.
These feelings will be greatly intensified if
any serious effort is made to carry into prac-
tice, in this country, the doctrines enunciated
in the Papal syllabus, which strike at the
root of our whole system of govern
ment. The proposed meeting of the
Evangelical Alliance in the United States,
which will probably give increased emphasis
and unity to Professionalism, may also have a
tendency to increase public interest in the
issues suggested by Mr. Bingham's speech.
Meanwhile the proceedings of the Presbyts-
rian Assembly and the Episcopal Convention
new in session in Philadelphia, although they
have been confined to matters of immediate
practical Importance to the congregations
and dioceses they represent, and although
they have carefully avoided the introduction
of any description of partisan issues, indicate
that these two important branches of Protes-
tantism are in full accord with the progressive
spirit of the age, and prepared to offer a
spirited resistance to any ecclesiastical
attempt to destroy the public-school system
or to undermine the civil and religious lber-
ties of the nation. The freedom of religious
faith and modes of worship which is guaran-
teed by the Constitution and public opinion
should secure the rights of all sscts and al
crssds, but if invidious attempts are to be
paae. directly Or indirectly, 70 limit this