New-York tribune., 1872-09-14
THE CHRISTIAN SPIRIT OF LIBERALISM.
MAHAN OF OHIO DISCUSSES THE
PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST FROM CHRISTIAN
AND MORAL POINT OF VIEW,
III TRLEGRAPn DO nm TRIBUNEI


IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNR
CHICAGO, Sept. 13.-Ex-Presdent Mahan OF
Obern College has addressed a letter on the pending
campaign and its aspects to the editor Of The Adoa
and other religious papers, which they refuse to pubish
The main portion Of it is given hcrcwith
TO he Editor Of The 4draae6 and otter conductors Of
the religious press.
BRETHREN: To yourselves and many Of your readers
II may seem strange that myself and 80 many others
who helped to originate drst the Abolition, then the
Liberty afterward the Soil, and finally the RepuO-
can party, have left the party last named and joined
the coalition which Mr. Greeley is the visible repre-
sentative Were 1t compatible with the princi-
ples on which your press is conducted to insert
nominally political articles, I should not resort
10 the secular press TO express 10 the
public our reasons for the course which
we have adopted nor do now intend to refer but to
s reasons involve the essential principles OF NOR
atv and religion The ground which assume is this
That the spirit principles, and ayowed policy of the
Grant Republican party tend TO these conclusive re-
sults-to subveTt the morality of the natoni 10 I'M
cbristanze the Church Of Christi to sectonaze perma-
peny this nation ito generate undying and reent-
less war Of races and to savageize the spirit oi the
divided sections and races toward each other
We have then arrived at most eventful period In the
history OF our national existence. All wise national
measures we AFFIRM will and must take from TINS unity
OF conviction sentiment and purpose; all wise egsla
ton viii have its fixed aim the development OF TINS
conviction, sentiment, anu purpose lnlO tlo
higher sentiment Of universal goodwill and national
brotherhood If this end shall be accomplished, we
small never again be divided people. IT, on the
other hand at this good hour, old hatred,
prejudice, and sectional division generated by the
strife Of blood and fifty years conflict OF hostile
thought, shall be once more revived and mtenshed,
when can we nationally hope to become united peopef
Tho marty whose spirit and policy tend to induce this
higher unity of hearts hands is most manfesty the
marty OF the day and the hour The party on the other
hand whose spirit Of policy tends 70 prevent the con-
summation Of this higher unity and TO induce IN It's place
the opposite spirit and sentiment, stands revealed as
not only the party the dead past and not OF the living
present but as in deadly antagOnism TO the most vital
Interests OF the nation.
MORAL AND CHRISTIAN REASONS FOR SUPPORTING Mr.
GREELEY.
NV object Is to present this subject from the moral and
Christian point of view
The day and the hour have when the church and
the nation are 70 become godke savage in spirit and
action Because the party of the people is moving on
the line Of policy really godlike aud Christian 30
with this party; Mr. Greeley as candidate iOf
the Presidency represents this policy 20 for him. on
the other hand there nothing really aud TRULY god
like or moral or Christian in the policy OF the Grant
penrblicon partv The people Of the subject
eo States / repeat before us unitedly
loyal and submissive TO the national authorities, and
uutedy acanescent in all the issues settled by the war
and which formerly divided US, and with the hand on
us over the bloody chasm "We protest against grasp
ing the hand extended 10 us IS the
of rulers leaders and rank and file OF TINS party
What is the tendency OF such spirit ana policy N0tn-
ing else reply but to unchrlstalnze the enuteh anu
the nation. have ever, for example, hghy
esteemed the candidate for the VIce-Fresidehey
on the Grant Republican ticket. l have read Win n
Dortrnent In Washington; but when read In MS elec
soneerng speeches references not TO the demands oI
fe present state OF united sentiment CONVICTIONS ana
in regard TO all issues settled by the war ana
10 the policy OF amnesty peace goodwin ana raerRlv
demanded by this national unity OF sentiment but 10
Iemembrances OF fathers ana prothefs ana sons
slaughtered the bloody heds OF the soutn 1 h1oeE &
sony1le and Libby PrisOns-remembrances Whlch tend
but 70 revive perpetuate all the bltter ana vehg
fu sentiments generated while the war r WSon
All appeals all attempts TO revive the spIlt on nat
and revenge for remembered wrongs d anu az aSe
by the war tend but to unehrsanize youfss W m
A. and TO denoralze and heathenze the heart Of the
nation" II tie spirit Of this Graut Republican policy
shall pa sary ana S tSs milk o human ndnes
remain among Such are the considerations
which have induced 10 a change Of determination as
20 indyiduals between those representing distinct
snd Opposite pocies between Mr.. Greeley as repre-,
oo and Cen Grant az representing the spirit
OF vengeful "Reminiscences, OLD nosule though ana sec
tioDa division, and Of the war oi races Ia tne nauonS
IMMORAL INFLUENCE OF THE GRANT PARTY.
Permit me now to call special attention to the moral
and religious bearings Of another aspect OF tne Grant
Republican policy in conducting this political campaign
We are all aware OF the fact that whenever funda
mentally false moral principle is introduced into any one
sphere of thought and action, the political for example
ana receives IChKstan and public sanction tneFe the
result Ia q displacement OF morality itsen rum
Christian and public regard In the hgnt oi
this seeydent principle et 9s s6%s io ao and 80
years ago Mr. Greeley sand some hard thlngs oi t,
Denocrsnc Sa h a WSg and Republican parties
true and demanded by the circumstances .nsn eAeJ
these came utteTaDces to-day unanimously M
A haviu0 heSn af la