Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-07-13

en- laymen" Of the Presbyterian
Church against any undue expression
Of preference tor my esteemed per-
sonal friend, the Hon. w. b. Allison,
for the Senate who il said to be a
pew-ho!der and supporter ct the
Presbyterian Church in Dubuque
or, for my recent colleague, Senator
Howell, who is consistent member
OF the Presbyterian Church at Keo-
kuk, or advise the ministers and
Schosen laymen" of the Congrega-
tional Church to bo coy OF any such
expression in favor of Governor Mer-
ri, or my esteemed colleague IN the
House, Mr.. Palmer, all four of whose
names have been mentioned promi-
nently az candidates for The Senate ?
AM, ii it should be rumored that
any one Of their divines or "leading
members" may have written . private
or confidential letter TO q brother,
couched in kindly terms of Allison,
Howell, Merrill, or Palmer, recon-.
mending his election-not on relig.
ious grounds, but for personal merit
why not "go for it" with search.
warrant or An offer of "a thousand
dollars reward" !" And, when it Is
found, publish it with . flourish of
trumpets and gibbet the author a. an
objectionable .busy body" and "in-
.termeddler in other mems matters ?''
And, If tlis generous attention is not
given to the ministers and "leading
members" of other denominations, is
it merely because Methodists need
political guardians more than other
religionists
In conclusion, may / be rardoned
for saying word or two to my fel-
low citizens OF Iowa OF German ORR
gin, who may be followers Of the
German schools of liberal philosophy,
free-thinkers, for materialists. Is it
wise to select your candidates for Of
fetal station, because of their sup.
posed liberal views IN the accepted
theological sense Of that phrase p
IN the language of Der Demokrat, to
labor to unite ''the liberal element
for political ends ?" Would not that
be as dangerous to civil liberty a. q
union of sectarians for such a pur-
pose? Would not successful intol-
erance against members of religious
sects be as fearful IN its consequences
to our free institutions as intolerance
by a sect? Is it not the same epirit
which has made the guillotine drunk
with human blood and led untold
thousands to the stake? And would
not the support OF candidates for Of
fee from such considerations engcnd
er and cultivate hypocrisy? Even
in this case, either you are deceived
in supposing that the Hon. w. B.
Allison is a free thinker, or the Pres
byteriaus of Dubuque. in supposing
HIM to be sincere worshipper n
their religious temple, where, I am
told, he has been pew holder and .
reasonably faithful attendant, as well
as a generous supporter Of their
church enterprises It occurs to me
that, Notwithstanding long personal
acquaintance and association ~ col
leagues in Congress, I am misintorn-
ed, or to adopt the apt language Of
the Dubuque Times, "somebody has
been most beautifully sold"
And now, let me say . final word
on this subject. to the people of Iowa
who may read tins letter. l have
never asked, expected or desired sup
port for any official station, on ac-
count of religious considerations. 1
have never, at any time, adopted
means, either direct or indirect, to
secure church influences for such q
purpose. And although am frank
to confess that l esteem the right to
speak for Iowa ON the floor of the
American Senate at this period in the
worlds history, the greatest honor
with which citizen can be clothed,
yet, unless cheerfully conferred by 3
tree people, from = mature and delib-
crate conviction that, all things con-
sidered, it would be best for our State
and for our great Republic, I would
despise myself il l did not scorn the
distinction.
With great respect,
Your sincere TREND,
II