The Lincoln County herald., 1872-10-02
Religion aud Politics.

As there appears to be q desire in some
portious of Lincoln county TO introduce
q feeling Of opposition against certain
county candidates on account Of their
religious belief, the following CONVERSE
ton between reporter Of the N. Y.
Herald and Francis Herman, Democratic
candidate for Governor of New York.
may be of interest to our readers:
"You have doubtless, Mr.. Herman,
read in some Of the papers that your
religion will be q great drawback to you
in the coming canvass p
III have seen statements to that effect
10 papers with whose editors the desire
is beyond doubt father to the thought,
was the reply "but | assure you have
no apologies to make to anybody on the
score Of my religion. The fact of my
being a Catholic, in my opinion, has
very little to do with the questions which
are to be dealt with during the present
canvass. Before | allowed my name to
be used 10 any way as candidate, this
uatter of my religion was thoroughly
considered, and do not think that the
opinion of some Of the very best men in
the TIVE parties, that q mans religion
ought not to weigh against him in 20
litical contest, is wrong one. The fact
is, sir, the American people have good
common sense, and they can not be in
duced to array themselves for or against
any particular candidate solely on account
Of his religion. Every effort to do 80 is
contrary to the spirit Of our constitution
aud can never result in any good and
those who strive to make q mans creed
one Of the political issues Of a campaign
do their own side serious injury. Eve
rybody in this country is free to wor,hip
God after whatever fashion he pleases
vr his conscience dictates, and because
one man believes in the teachings Of a
certain religion, no matter what it may
be, | do not think that ought to be a
reason why politically he should be
bounded by those who do not agree with
him in his religious belief, nor do think
it justifes him in opposing his political
opponents on the score Of their religion
| would regret exceedingly to see reig-
ous questions dragged into u political
contest, for they would only give rise to
feelings aud passions which would be
dangerous to our politics in the long
run. But as | said before, l have no
apologies myself to make to anybody
because I am a Catholic. have always
, 10 the past tried to do my duty as a citi
zen and a Christian, aud | have never
allowed my religious convictions to in
terfere with my political duties-that is
| have never made politics and religion
dependent one upon the other; for Il
y mans religious belief is one thing, his
! political belief quite ano,her thing. and
, see no reason why the one should be
/ in anywisc connected with the other. II
simply because am u Catholic | should
d be willing to do anything inconsisten,
e with my duty to the whole state as chie
\ magistrate, or drag in my religion Il
e influence me in auy matter Of state,
G would deserve to be utterly defeated
e And yet, MIR. Herman" asked tn,
If Herald representative, "do you not think
q there are many who will vote agaius
Q you for no other reason than because
IS you are a Catholic ?"
n 81 have no doubt, my dear sir. tina
q there are those who will be carried away
: by the senseless talk tnat certain parti
d sans are making about my religion; bu
', as have already said, the American
! people have q good deal Of common
| sense. and 10 this state, as in every othe
' state 10 tho Union, l know that the grea
D. majority of the voting population is no
t. so narrow minded US to allow question
D of mans religion to enter into peliti
0 cal contest as a dead set against hi
'g election. Indeed, from what know Q
n. the temper Of my fellow citizens Of al
as classes and Of all crseds, l do not hssi
ID tate to say that there are many, yer
,e many. who will support me simply be
* cause there are those foolish enough
ut make war upon me because am a Cath
olic They understand full we'll thai
would, indeed, DO bad precedent, ths
of making a mans religious tenets til
test of his fitness for public Office fal
Of sure that the great majority Of the pei
he pie care very little about q candidate
~ religious opinions so loug as he is W
It right and honest, and is ever ready to d
III his whole duty faithfully to the peopl
Of regardless of caste, cliques, factions {
ru cresds. In the past, as far as | ha,
10 bsen personally concerned, | have new,
allowed myself to be swayed for a sing
moment for or against any person rur
ID, n,ng for Office on account Of his religio
", The good common sense Of the people
nd against any such narrowmindsdness
be that of making mans religious creed
qualification or disqualification for p
o litical Office, and it is we'll that it shou
no be So"
es
ng A little three year old boy, in attemE