Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-06-16
an> Religion IN Government,


| address to the people Of tho United Stttcs,
cxhor'cd them to cncourlgss education and
morality. He contendcd these were the
main pillars of Republican Government and
could alone secure tho purpetui,y Of Repub
lican institutions lie also truly stated that
snund religious instruction constituted the
basis of morality. Much Of the boodshci in
Paris is doubtless due to the absence of all
ideas of God and religion among the Com
muniss. However impossible it may appear
that civilized, enlightened aud scientific Parls
shoull entertain such ideas, yet it is true
that the Communist leaders discarded all
belief in God and religion. This is doubt.
less the secret Of the weakness Of Catholic
France, and should stimulate every good
citizen to encourage and promote religion
among us, as security against like consc.
qucnccs AS an Insight into the true char
actcr Of the Commune, we publish the fol
lowing report Of an interview with one of the
leaders, Gen. BERGEnEr, with correspond
cnt Of the New York Wcyaid:
BERGEREr ON REIIoIoS
Corrcspondcnt-Yo on have no religion, of
course. Do you. however, believe in The
Immortality Of the soul?
Bcrgeret--I believe in the immortality Of
the human mind; but not Of the individual
soul. We live; we grow up; we fall aud die
as the leaf, and return to the dust, from
whence we came; and VIC arc only immortal
in our children.
Correspondents DO you believe in Cod?
Bcrgcrct-No.
Correspondcnt-W Why?
Bergerct-Bccansc it is not republican,
Because, if there were
COD lie WOULD BE a TYRANr
fight God in the universe as I did the en-
prc in FraEcc. 1t is the ono man power. the
pourroir personel of Napoleon III. If there
were such place as heaven and | went there
and found God I would Immediately com.
mcnce throwing, up bafricadcs. would
hoist the red 'Ang. would rebel. 1t is
contrary to justice, is contrary to reason, it
is contrary to right that one should govern
the muny-that there should be a God.
A SUBSTITUTE FOR GOD.
Correspondent What do you substitute
for God ?
Bcrgcret-Univcrsa harmony.
Correspondent What do you moan by
that2
Bergcrct-The union Of everything that
exists in one harmonious whole. Man, ami.
mails, flowers, plants, trees, stars, planets =
everything
Correspondent Otherwise the universe
itself
Bcrgeret-Ycst
Correspondent Did this universe or uni.
versal harmony, as you call it, create itself ?
cAUunp ON TIE HIP.
Bcrgcrct-Ah, that is question cannot
answer. 1t is something the human mind
cannot grasp; probably because we lack a
faculty. AS a person who is born blind can
not comprehend light, SO VIC cannot under.
stand the Creation. IL could ask you as we'll
who created God. aud you wonla probably
give INC the same answer. Try to think it
out and you will 60 crazy.
Corrcspondent-Thc at this limit of
tho human understanding there is barrier
which you call universal harmony, whereas
wc call it God
Bergcrot-That is my meaning exactly
LONDON, June 8.-.Dispatchcs from Con.
stantinople dated yesterday, say: Fires broke
out this morning simultaneously in four places,
and at ono time two hundred houses were in
flames, fortunately tho wind was light and
there was prospect Of getting tho conAagra
tion under CONTROL The damage dono already
was very heavy. Fires arc supposed 10 be
the work Of inccndiaries