The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-03-09
Chr1 1stianity and the Constitution.
From Harper's Weekly.

Sdne distinguished gentleman has
latelI remarked that the Christiani-
zatiti of the country is the sole hope
of i'll political salvation-a PROPOSE
ionkHhich few would care to dispute
if THY might interpret as they wished.
Butt when it was added that this
Chrb illumination is to be effected by a
formal recognition of the Divine Au-
tholN of the universe in an amend
meri to the Constitution, the remark
becd ines unpleasantly foolish. The
Chrl lstianity OF the nation can neither
be n };Oved nor affected by any allu-
sior1 to religious beliefs in the funda-
melf fsal law. And for the very obvious
reasb bn that the men who framed the
Cor3 or3titution--although many of them
gooh men, and all of them, as living
in 1hat is called a Christian land,
Cmk kstian men--yery carefully resolved
thai ip making a bond of political
unil IN they would avoid all the mis-
chii IS which have sprung from state
recAgnitions of religion. But not
content negatively to omit all refer
encY to the subject in the instrument
Itself, the people adopted as the very
firs1 amendment to it the declaration
tha Congress shall make no law
res)tecting an establishment of relig-
ion or prohibiting the free exercise
thefaof."
1slis jealous prohibition of an es-
tab} }shment is the assertion of relig-
ioug liberty. And that is one of the
chi II glories of our Constitution. 1t
und erstands its sphere and its purpose
SO 4ren that it shows no favor to the
aplf roach of the most plausible peril.
BuN are we not Christian people
it ii asked; and shall we be ashamed
to wn it !? This is, however, con-
fusa aon of ideas. As citizens, we are
notH Christians nor pagans we are
me3ely Americans. The American
cit Ken who is not Christian is no
les a citizen than his neighbor who is;
and his neighbors, if they would
guA Ard equal liberty, will not attempt
to lace in a political instrument any
rel yious expression. 1t seems very
ha' / for many good people to under
sta I'D the significance of religious lib
ert5. They say that it must not mean
licfnse. But they do not tell us who
is |, discriminate between liberty and
licl lnse. The essence of religious
lib Arty is that the state, as such, will
ha e no other concern with religion
| tht Ia to protect every man in cherish
ind that which he prefers, so long as
heAloes not interfere with the equal
ridit of his neighbors to do the same.
This practical religious freedom is
thu religious characteristic of this
odntry. Pagan, jew, Buddhist, Nor
mIl, Mohammedan, and Christian OF
evHry sect, from the Roman to the
CaHnpbellite, may worship according
to his own. choice. The state is abso-
lufely impartial. Indeed, the varie-
tisk of sectarian Christian faiths are
coAceded not to be proper subjects OF
crt ticism. And it is only when some
CHI, I,rch or some Clergyman, as such,
in Ierferes in politics that they become
jugtly amenable to public comment
arfl censure. All sectarian legislation
-fhe giving of money collected from
al the people to the maintenance o1
areT sectarian establishment, whether
III Her the name of school or whatever
iier name may be given to it's,
therefore, one of the most fatal errors
pdssible. The apparent good to be
accomplished in certain instances is
mtre than balanced by the general
mischief sure to result upon the whole
| i've observe that the engineers OF
TIL project to introduce a religious
AMENDMENT into the Constitution
ltde unauthorized use of the names
Oh certain distinguished gentlemen,
slJch as Governor Washburn of Mas
s,1shusetts, and Governor Jewell, OF
CHnnecticut. Will the committee
who used these names without author
it'll inform the public which of the
her names they were authorized tc
aasociate with their movement This
ul lie of noted names without authority
III a kind of frogery. 1t is imposing
uh bon the public under false pretenses
all those who are anxious to make
tile Constitution q religious instru
nlsnt might properly observe the rules
cA morality in their attempt.