The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-05
From IIarrcr's Weekly.


some distinguished gentleman has lately
remarked that the Christianzation of the
country is the sole hope of its political saliva
tion--a proposition which few would care to
dispute if they might interpret it as they
wished. But when it was added that this
thri>tianiZation is to be effected by formal
recognition Of the Divine Author OF the uni
verse in All amendment to the Constitution,
The remark becomes unpleasantly foolish.
The Christianity of the nation can neither be
Tovcd nor affected hy any alluSion to rci-
.ious beliefs in the fundamental law. And
that for the very obvious reason that the
men who framed the onstitutiOn--althcugh
l.any of them good men, and all OF them, rs
living in what is called a Christian land,
Christian men--vcry carefully resolved that
in making bond Of political union they
would avoid all the mischiefs which have
.pguu- from State recognitions of religion.
bUt not content negatively to omit all refer
c'.c.. 20 the subject in the instrument itself,
TIE people adopted rs the very first amend
mcu, to it the declaration that Congress
>i"al make no law respecting an establish
m~ll Of religion, or prohibiting the free eX-
'.j!>c thereof
ihi, Jealous prohibition of an establish
uelt is the assertion of religious liberty, and
"~, i, one Of the chief glQricS OF our Con-
>i,..ton. 1t understands its sphere and its
lrHp II 80 well that il shows no favor to
'Ar approach Of the most plausible peril. But
II" We not i Christian people: 1t is asked
and shah we be ashamed to own it? This
=. however, confusion Of ideas. AS citi-
"en>, we are not Christians nor pagans; we
are merely Americans. The American citi-
/'n VINO is not q Christian Is no less citizen
Than his ncighbor who is; and his neigh
1of,, II they would guard equal liberty, will
not attempt to place in political instrument
any religious expression.
II Nrcln> very hard for many good people
10 understand the significance of religious
,ihcTy. They say that it must not mean
'9nSe. But they do not tell us @ho is to
GHcrl!ninate between liberty and license.
!hc essence of religious liberty is that the
STATE, as sucn, will have no other concern
With religion than to protect every man in
Crri,hing that which hc prefers, SO lonssas
Il" does not interfere with the equal rights of
Ii, Mcighbors TO do the same.
This practical religious freedom is the reli-
ITS characteristic Of this country! Pagan,
%r", Buddhist, Mormon, Mohammedan, and
: tristan Of every sect, from the Roman to
u" Campbellite, may worship according to
..' OWN choice. The State is absolutely i'm
orial. Indeed, the varieties Of sectarian
hris'ian faiths IRE conceded not to be proper
faDI"c's Of criticism. And it is only when
one Church or some clergyman, as such, in
'firrcs in politics that they become justly
Iliicnab!c to public comment and censlire.
All Sectarian legislation--the giving of money
elected from all the people to the mainte-
nance ofany sectarian establishment, whether
''ider the name Of school or whatever other
laihe may be given to it's therefore one of
If most fatal errors possible. The apparent
s''d 10 be accomplished in certain instances
: more than balanced by the general mischief
s4se to result upon the whole.