The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-12-12
Communications
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.

THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
-, Mr.: EDIToR-I feel that expose myself to
er when place my thoughts before Tour read
ers but cannot resist the impulse that urges
stitutiOn.
In the first place, I find fault with the short
esS OF tline between its proposal to our con-
eioeration ana our action upon il. In matter
OF such vital importance TO the well being of
our our, ,cotnmonweaith, innger space of time for
study, rejection and discussion should have
been given. 1t is no easy matter TO effect n
change in the Constitution. 1t is no trifiing
tnlng TO have 10 put up, for a greater or less
time, with the Consequences of an injudicions
because htiSty, decision in regard to IL. The
men whose work it is are, no doubt great men,
bug their very greatness does not secure them
Ifoin error. They need not have feared free
f discussion II their work was what il ought to
nave been they should, as true patriots have
cesired 10 have its dement's fairly exposed. so
rs to prevent great evils to their State, if that
constitution is faulty. 1t is only now that
many OF our people, whose education, business
aud engagements co not enable them to be
gin 10 see their way through the articles com
prising the document The changes were so
wilder, and based upon reasons often not clear
10 common readers. Now in condition of
affairs like this, hmplest time for discussion
should have been given, so that an intelligent
vote might be cast. As il is, too many will vote
offer remedy for much of the corruption that
now threatens our national prosperity, without
may only expose themselves TO a greater.
In The next place, decidedly object to Sec
ton 4, Article II know that many of the
bowling deryishes of the land have been din
ming into our ears, time out of mind, that this
is a gospel land, etc: But every thoughtful
person viii see on reflection that this section
leaves an opening for the insertion of the en-
tcring wedge of religious disabilities. How
many intelligent men or our land, Christian
men they call themselves. do not believe in a
future state of suffering? They believe and
openly teach that there is no a fter life of pun
ishment, that with death ceases all suffering
even for the wicked, who are kindly allowed 10
sleep forever in blissful Inconsistencies /
1
for such men an oath IS shorn of its dreadest
mercy Of any legislative or judicial tribunal
because they do not believe as we dol? This
Constitution requires belief in God, a belief
in q future life OF rewards and punishments.
Another amendment may go a step further
and require belief in the divine origin Of
Christianity, in the divinity of Christ. and so
on. object earnestly aud empha tcaly to this
section, and do so for the sake of consiste ncy
with our natiOnal antipathy to intruding rcli-
gious elements into our political system; tho
FcrSonaliy believe all that the section pre-
Whilst in the Preamble real pious and eodly
ettusiOn, and in Section !, Article l. a short sym-
bOl of belief, are taught that the commonwealth
Is rel&losIS nelined, ArLcie Ill. Sections Il, IS
and - set forth that no institution however chari-
table Its object, however pressing its needs and
tensIVe lis range OF Denehcence, shall be aided by
State appropriations If religion has anything 10 do
with it. The State must have entire contIz5L over
an institution before help can be extended to it..
There may be hundreds Of orphans whose parents
had aided to swell the taxes, but whose faith made
them choose the asylumns wherein their religious
training would be best secured. No help for them
unless they enter within the portals of an insttu-
tiOn like the one in Philadel lphia and sell their
birth-rght for mess of pottage. The State ought
not to teach any rclgiOn-it cannot consistently do
sO-and when Uhite-cravated gentlemen chap
lains of the States institutions il is clearly against
the spirit of our republic They have no business
there. They are GenOminatiOnal teachers and as
such their presence is offensive to our republican
instincts. All religions none should be our cry.
Let each share. PRO rata, in the State apprOpria-
ton, or lei all stand equally ignored outside OF the
Assembly halls-ignored i'll every way cha plain
providers and ms controllers of the institutions
themselves. Had one of the sections read, NO
minister of any denomination shall be chaplain or
Instructor in any State or county insti tution the
matter would have at least the Recommendation OF
fairness.
Lastly. brand us unnecessary, uncalled for and
unjust the stamp Of approval get by this COnsttu-
tton the Public School system. 1t is a CRYING
of taxpayers Of the State. Either the system re-
commended itself to the good sense of our people,
then it needed no such endorsement or it is in a
state of trial. and then its approval was unnecessa-
ry and uncaled for: Il is defective system. and
ii unjust to approve it. To wed the acceptance
of such infamous system to the sadly needed
form of crying abuses was to make mOckery OF
misery and to trade with sense of Justice
and our patriotism. Every day only adds to the
number of intelligent opponents 10 the system
which has on trial. proved itself not merely uu-
equal to the task imposed it, bU, in reality the
lrutful-most fruitful-source of the very evils lis
patrons pretended il would molly. 1t is Un-
just system for it robs me- under the Hgis OF law.
TO educate my ncighbOr's children and to support
what l believe. before God. to be immoral and
sOul-destrOying institution. II is goddess and
therefore immoral system. if 1t be it is pretend
ed II Is attempt at imposing rel igious system
on us, il it be not goddess ana pagan. ID. i. II.