National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-06-19
CHURCH EXEMPTION.

We yesterday gave space TO q lengthy COM
munication In reply TO our remarks In Tues
days Issue on the subject Of cXempting
church property from taxation. In the out
set let us remark that our correspondent ap-
pears to agree with us In regard to the injus-
ticc involved In special assessments, which
throw the entire burden for improvements In
front Of q church ediace, or other church
property. on the few people who chance to
own property on the same square; at least,
he suggests that II this taxation bears moro
heavily upon some than upon Others" as II
notoriously docs, II should be generally dis
tributed, and not confined to those who live
on tho same square where shurch ie
located"
That clergyman connected with church
which, throughout the greater part OF Christ
Cndom, has for many centuries enjoyed the
support Of the State, not In pecunlary mat
tiers alone, but even went to the extent Of
enforcing the acceptance Of Its doctrines,
should incline towards system which re-
tains some remnant Of State patronage, as
against one which leaves tho church entirely
TO Its own resources, Is Of course natural
enough; and therefore we could not have ex-
pccted our correspondent to agree with US
In the opinion that tho exemption OF church
property from taxation Is false In principle.
Nevertheless his able and Ingenious argument
leaves Us As firmly convinced Of the correct
ness Of our views a. we were when we nrst
penued thenE and VIC know many members Of
Protestant denominations whose acceptance
Of the great American doctrine Of the complete
separation Of Church and State Is so absolute
that they would rejoice In tho sense Of
perfect independence which would accom-
pauy the payment of their taxes. They
would prefer not even TO receive protection
either from national, State, or municipal
governments, without contributing thelr due
proportion 70 the maintenance OF police,
courts Of Justice, and other instrumentalitlos
for guarding the rights and liberties Of the
citizen. Indeed, this very subject has been
considerably discussed by the Baplsts, and
for aught We know by some other dcnomina-
tiOns, purely on the ground Of principle, and
at time when there was not the slightest
outside pressure against the exemption Of
Church property. Warned by the red his
tory Of religious persecution pcrpetrated
through the arm Of the State, they have hesi-
tated to accept from tho civil power any
ha lt.hs "a
- ~ Nv ,"sa",s'is t.. ,,,,,a''. -
p,. 49, o',.,''a,,ni ~, n,I,,, -
80, ~ ~ -. ,na -, =, 'a,'sa .,ror,,
snno,n,ns,ion .nd ho nssd ,os ,h. annrossIo1
1e.s,',,,..".s,o,,| =, ,..aaL,ar 80 ~, To-, 4,
'nIrh, spmo,,no hs,Dcn that tho enemIe, NJ
aI, sa,,0ta. ,,.Iain,, H. ,,nnor h.nd .nd ...
a,'.,on'"S ~ 900 ,ha s,s,n ir,srfcro in rsI,.
- -. sro,,Ia ,'.o ,ho oI.T, no,,o,
o. ,,o aIr.n,o,rsn, 81 ,hsIr own nscu,,s,
-
Th., ,h, o,,,,,,,o, of ch,rcb pro,cr,v
49,, ,avaTo, 4. apntrar, 10 ,ho sn,.I, ., ,h,.
%a'.,,,,,,,Ion .n.n,s 10 80 ,ar1 L. tn
a., a,',a,Sr,.n, 40 ,hs, In.,rn9.n, nrovid..
,,S, ,SenI.ass ~ ~ ~, - ra iaS, r.,no,,,nr
.,.ISI'smont ~ r.,,o.,on usnd hv sns'cstsr'
I,1h,nan, =, ro,I,,,nn" sss rrdouh,sdIv mean,
s ,n..s " 'Se0a -, ~, 49, . -
~ ,hs rno,ho, oo,,n,rv a,Sinst, ,hs In,I,.,,or q,
80 nrao,,no T., IL -, ,hn .mnnS'
80, ,,,s',Io, -, s.-tr,ad ,o -,
mS % In FnvIanS the .,c.,.S,Ish,d cbrrcS"
moan, The CHURCH snnpor,.d NV tayos TcaIlod
,,,na. ! ,hs col,cc,Iop oI Witch wa sntorcod
Nv ~, s,s,s M ~ SSSt,nrn,sh.d from tho A.
n,mIU,tIonS tha, wcrc obIgrd IN rsIv unor
voluntary CONTRIBUTIONS.
Wc showed In our former articl. that tb,
,,.mntIor oI churches from taxatIon newt.
abIy Involved the payment Of taxes on theI,
account by citizens, who might DO member,