Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-01-04
Although the Constitution docs no,

o ~ 40 S"o sCtSS'"u VI JUS country.
TO those who wish to ascertain how
Tar the National Government recognizes
the Christian religion, refer them to
the decision Of the Supreme Court Of
the United States in the celebrated
Girard will case. On the 18th Of
October, ITS, Congress passed the fol-
lowing resolutions:
WHEREAS, true religion aud good morals arc
the only solid foundations Of public liberty,
and happiness,
R.*o|r.1. That it be and it is hereby earn-
estly recommended to tho several States to
take the NEST efectuai measures for the en-
enlargement thereof.
In the celebrated ordinance of 1887,
which gave us Of tho North. West our
glorious domain. we find the following ::
ART. III. Religion. morality, and knowl-
edge being necessary t" good gov ernment and
tho happiness Of mankind, schools and the
means Of education shall forever be ensour-
aged.
Then, SO far as religion, morality,
and knowledge" arc necessary to goal
government" so far should they be tol-
Grated, Notwithstanding any "rights Of
conscience" to the contrary, for the
welfare Of the State is the supreme end,
so far as civil government is concerned.
The State needs religion, not religion
the State. Our whole government is
permcated with this idea.
The governments Of the Old World
have fallen into gross error. by pro-
ceedi"g on the hypothesis that the
Church needs the State. That there
arc limits to tue rights Of conscience is
;ndisputable. The rights Of con.
science" are no more than our absolute
rights, which are the powers Of acting
as one thinks fit without any restraint
or control, unless by the law Of nature.
But when man enters society he gives
up part Of his absolute rights for the
advantages derived from the laws
established by custom. The Roman
Catholic is welcome to citizenship with
all others, in this country. But thei,
conscience arrays itself against the pub
lie schools, and if the whole was tolt
against the freedom of the press, o.
speech and every genius Of our govern
ment. We acknowledge their sincerity
We wish them to enjoy the largest lib
erty. But when they array themselve
against tho institutions Of this country
and assail the safety Of the State, OF
the plea Of rights Of conscience" tn
State is not bound to respect their con
sciences. The Atheist is deprived o
the right TO testify in court Of justice
the Jew must suffer loss by the stop
page Of his traffic on Sunday; til
Quaker is excluded from the honors o
judgeship; the heather can come t
onr country and exercise all the rights
compatible with our institutions, bu
the Hindoc cannot practice his religion
custom Of burning the bodies of friend
or himself, though justly entitled to
due regard Of the "rishts of con
science" Under this noisy plea, 70
the rights of conscience, polygamy,
relic Of barb, rism, has been fostcred i
our country, which makes great prefer
sions to emily htening the masses.
Our country is on probation. "
} are making bold and hazardous e,
pertinent in charging our domai,
, aud clothing with suffrage every igno
ant foreigner that comes to our land
The security Of our political institution
lies in our system Of public instruction
But the heart, the noblest part of ma,
must be educated rs we'll Us the min,
Church aud State must not be blendc,
neither must the State and religion
divorced. A Goddess government ca,
not exist. France banished religio
, from the State, and, when the raj,
e and storms came, her foundations W.
t found to be composed Of sand, and sh
: was swept away by tue food Of ungo'
G illness and sin.
z In view Of the fact that "rcligio
morality, and knowledge are niece
h sary to good government" we mu
y adopt wise system of education, ~
= tenn that shall constantly lift up Il
e thousands daily coming to our shor
to intelligence, virtue, and picty. n
9 religious views should not prevent
0 nor the honest convictions Of tho Rom;
= Catholic re:ard it. For any religio
j. rite which interferes with the gener
b veal, no plea Of conscience should lea'
! the weight Of a feather against the d
o mands Of the law.
g LAFAYETTE FRENCH.
AUSTIN, Jan FL, 1872.