The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-20
TRE WASHINGTON LIGHT INFANTRY
AND RELIGIOUS TOLERATION.
To TIE EDITORS OF THE NEWS.


have read with great Interest the various
notices which have recently appeared touch
ing the proposed celebration by this dlstln-
guished corps of the most sacred day 10 the
historic calendar of Amerlca-the birthday OF
Washington.
be Indifferent to the well-earued reputation OF
the Washington Light Infantry. My earliest
recollectlons as q boy are MINGLED with the
splendid drill and martial bearing of this
company under the lead OF that beloved and
honored citizen, Captain William D. Porter.
we'll remember many Of those model parades
when this crack corps would Invariably carry
off the palm for discipline as well as numbers.
/ remember the noble tribute TO the memory
OF Colonel William Washington erected at
Magnolia by their loving hands. l have
vivid recollection of the march to the famous
field of Cowpens, and the ceremonies which
accompanied the erection Of the monument to
the gallant men who there won eternal honor.
I have seen that monument In its ruin, and
have lamented the vandalism which has dared
upon the Eutaw Flag without emotion.
know, too, that the Washington Light In-
fantry were no "carpet knights" That as
famous as they were In peace for the externals
of military lite. when the shrlIl clarion OF war
startled the land from mountain to seaboard
they were among the first, II not the very
irst, 10 t-nder 10 The State On organized com-
pany. That company soon became battalion,
and has left It's record on many boOd.staln-
ed deld. I would not pluck one leaf FROM
their laurel wreath of victory, mingled as 1t s
with the sad emblems Of sorrow for departed
heroes The Washington Light Infantry de-
serve well OF their State, and well has that
State honored and cherished them.
But there is q dark Side TO this pleasing
tn mr.
escuLcheOn.
Among the "grave and reverend seniors"
who recently met together 10 adopt the cnaste
and eloquent appeal presented by Colonel
Andrews, In his most happy manner, one
form Is necesaary-an old man, respected by
all who knew him for his answering integ-
rity and polished manners, q native oil Chafles-
bers now living OF the Washington Light In
rantry. Why Is he not there! Because the
fell spirit of religious bigotry entered into the
otherwise uuexcept'onaole corps, and polls.
oniug the pure waters of freedom, have lett
behind the bitterness of persecution. With
all their patriotism they could exclude from
their ranks gentleman of unblemlshed char
acter aud the equal of any man In the COM
pany, who offered his right arm In his conn.,
try's defence-because he was an Israelile.
rhls. too, on the eve of battle, when the air
was filled with the alarums OF gathering hosts,
aud IL was thought that the fray would COM
mence at moments warning. Alas lot tne
weakness of human nature, and the withsr-
Ing effect Of bigotry Is this the company
which Ia held to the public admiration as The
model OF democracy Is this the corps which,
1t Is claimed, understand and practice the
great Republican principles Of equality and
fraternity? "Shame, where is thy blush y
ANY man of good character may Join this
model corps, unless he be OF the same religion
as was Jesus OF Nazareth.
II matters not what mans religions con-
vicllons may be. He may be au infdeI for all
they know or cdre-he may be detSt. nay,
he NAV DENY the existence OF Cod
vet 80 long as he is not one OF that race
CHOSEN by God himself to be His peculiar
people"-so long as he does not practice the
duties of religion which has furnished laws
and morals TO civilized mankind, he can
freely enter The charmed portals OF the con-
servalors of democratic equality.
1t is with feeling akin 10 shame that
publish these facts. It is humlllaLing to us as
G CIrolinians and as residents Of free country;
It Is disgracelul to the civilization aud en-
liuhtenment of the age; 1t is 10 direct Viola
tlon of tue teachings OF Christianity itself,
that such q record of Iued@Val darkness
should exist In our midst. Contrast this con-
duct with the recent action OF The young
Mems Christian Association" OF Washington,
IL. u, WHO, upOu Ill6 ldiiutc VI 1uCl oPPoins1u
orator, called upon highly respected JeUtsh
Citizen of that place to deliver the annual ora
lion, LOOK at the English Governmentsend-
Ing to Genoa its highest lawyer-a Jelo Ito
advise its highest Judge on questions OF inter-
national law.
Look at our government sending to Rou.
mania as its accredited agenta JeU as o stand
ing protest against religious persecution. See,
too. the noble charities of Touro, the JeU.
Look at the Christian churches built on their
estates by the Jetoish liberallty of Rothschild
and Goldschmid.
The very walls of italian and Spanish big.
otry have fallen down at The trumpet sound oil
religious liberty, ard 10 the cold capital OIL
Russia the Jewish synagogue rises In peace
and love beside the temple OF the Greek
Church.
when the Washington Light Infantry as
semble to do honor 10 the name of Washing
ton let them cleanse Themselves OF this fou
blor. The worshipper at the shrine OF 1srae
was required 10 be clean in body that he Nigh
become pure in sonl. Before the inherltors o
WashlngIon's name are ready to offer to hlt
memory the tribute OF their love and venera
tlon let them ponder well upon their past Ca
reer, and ask themselves whether bigotry anc
religious Intolerance are tit emblems to be
laid upon the tomb OF George Washington.
A JEW.
oY,D couTu ATLANTIC RETGHRORS