The Portland daily press., 1871-10-13

church and state,
PORTLAND
FRIDAY, OCTOBER ID. 1871.

-------- |
Church and State.
The Methodist Convention held in this city
Tu,sday and Wednesday of the present week
wa, undoubtedly one OF the most important
ne atings ever held by that powerful and ag-
e1e.siye denomination in our State. 1t was
mo. than conference; it was free and
cal did consultation of the leading minds in
tho denomination both ministers and laymen.
Whatever may be said of other religious de- |
nominations, the Methodists are i'm earnest |
AM mean business. They believe in It. live
foI it, strive for it, glory in it, To them
Methodsm is slogan as on nipotent as was
Il e Sword OF the Lord and of Gideonn 70 The
il aelites. In this State as in the whole
country, the denomination has been an ever
a'llVe and visilant alley to every reform.
never conservative but aggressive; and whole
hearted.
But while we most cheerfully accord to
Item the full measure OF praise their due,
nd 1t is no mean measure, we must protest
against policy that received, as it seems, the
hearty and unanimous app oval of the Con.
vention. We refer to the demand OF the
Convention for State aid for sectarian
schools in the discussion on the topic of
estate and Church." Whether intended or
not, the discussion would lead one to infer
that it was the duty of the State to recognize
and foster the Methodist church even as that
Regularly established as the national one.
II we remember rightly, no journals have
denounced more imsparingly the appropria-
ton OF public money in New York to Catho-
lie schools than the organs of the Methodist
church. Now for the leading members of the
denomination in Maine to claim and even de-
hand Safe aid for the support of their Sec
talian schools, is to say the least, inconssts
emit From their stand point, with their
thorough convictions OF the entire ability of
Methodism to make the State a model com
monwealth, they desire the aid of the State
IN planting and nourishing their schools, the
cardinal purpose OF which is TO extend that
church. Tue Baptists and the Universaists
are doubtlessas fully impressed with the DO
tency OF their churches to accomplish
the same object. The leaders of the
Romish church certainly claim for its
schools the aid and protection of the
state. Such is the case with every sect. The
result will be, il this policy is pursued by the
states that whatever denomination has the as
tendency in the law-making departments that
one will secure the exclusive aid and protec-
ton OF the State, and thus we at once return
TO the Old World despotsm OF church and
state aud renew the contest that sent the
Mayfiower to America.
Under this policy the church would at
length become the engine of political and
legislative corruption. We all know why the
Democratic Legislature of New York granted
such liberal aid to Catholic schools and char
liable institutions at its last session. The
corrupt ward politician who bluff1y said: zone
dollar for St. Patricks day is worth thou
sand dollars for the Fourth of July to the
Democracy, and thousand to Catholic
sand for the aid of crippled soldiers to our
party" well knew the power it moved. In our
own legislature, have we not seen crowds of
sectarian lobalists laying the pipes so skillfuly
that they would do credit to the sagacity of
professional wire puller? Have we not seen
them form ring of these contending inter-
ests to carry through an appropriation? Have
not the friends OF the measures been led to
support schemes to secure aid to their bills
that otherwise they would have Indignantly
denounced? No appropriation the past ten
years has been carried without resort to
such disreptuable tricks of the lobby.
1t is justly claimed that the whole policy is
antdgonistic to the genius of our government,
which proposes to secure to every individual
the fullest liberty of opinion in matters OF
conscience. Like all governments which
unite church and state, this policy allows one
to believe what seems good to him but taxes
him to support that which he abhors as here
say.
If the State OF Maine is to adopt the policy
of aiding sectarian schools, let it be as consis-
tent as possible, and aid each in proportion to
its numbers, regardless of its particular creed.
But the people of Maine are hostile to any
such policy. They are too heavily taxed for
various purpose now to have additional bur-
dens imposed upon them for the support of
sectaran schools, whose first purpose, what
ever else may naturally result, is to extend
the power and influence of the sect establish
ing the institution, and particularly those
that met in this city the present week and &C.
voted SO much time in advocating the plant
ing of new schools by State aid should under
stand that the people Of Maine are, from prin-
cplle and from their financial condition, hos
tile to the appropriation of another dollar to
sectaran school in this State. 1t is and
onsht to be question of the past.