The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-03-26


A recent dispatch gives an account Of a
most horrible outrage by mob at Alhua-
luco, State Of Jalisco, Mexico. A minister,
by the narae Of John Stevens, was muT-
dered, having his head mashed TO q jelly,
simply because he was Protestant. The
immediate cause OF the murder was an in
hammatOry speech made by priest in
uhieh he denounced all Protestants. and de-
clared that they ought TO be externinated.
The mob being infamed with rage carried
ont the wishes of the priest, and murdered
AIr. Stevens with the cry Of '.Long live
the priests.' y He was an American, sent out
by the Boston Board Of Foreign Missions.
Thus has been added another name to the
long, long list of martyrs. On this holy
day, with the Bible in our hands and the
church bells ringing for worship, 1t sounds
strangely that any one protesting the re-
ligion of the meek and lowly Nazarene
could SO far forget his sublime teachings as
to take the life Of fellow creature simply
because, according to his convictions of
duty, he worshipped his God after the be-
lief Of different sect.
The Savior taught his disciples topray for
their enemies, to bless those who should
persecute and despitefully use them. But
here We have an account of murder perpe-
trated upon an unOffending mortal, because
he believed in acts Of devotion addressed
directly to his God without the aid of
priest. In this age of religious federation,
when bigotry and superstition are being
buried beneath the waters Of forgetfulness; !;
when light, liberty and brotherly love are
invoked to unite us in the sweetest ties of
communion when the prosecutions and
murders which few centuries ago black
ened the Gair page Of history are contem-
plated with horror; when the world is sup
posed to be moving forward in the grand
march Of human progress, suddenly the same
spirit of the lower depths rises up and de-
mands that a fellow-man be sacrificed upon
the altar of intolerance. How thankful
should the members of each denomination
feel to-day as they enter into the house of
worship, and without fear approach the
Triune God according to the dictates Of
consciencel 80
Religious liberty is the chief corner stone
of civil liberty. They are twin sisters.
Destroy the one and the other dies. The
whole civilized world now acknowledge the
fact. In several countries where church
and State have for so long period been
united, the shackles of intolerance have been
burst asunder, and the citizen and stranger
are told to worship the Great God as they
DESIRE No wheels, no racks, no inquisition
await them. The truth, at last, has made
the world free. Even in imperial Rome,
where for centuries, but one denomination
was tolerated, perfect religious freedom is
accorded to all; and the Catholic and the
Protestant may be seen going to worship,
the one to the, cathedral the other to the
church. Where intolerance prevails there
is no progress. The arts and sciences Ian
guish; commerce droops; trade has but lit
tie animation; energy is wanting; invention
and discoveries are unknown; and church
and State consume the earnings of the
people. 49,.
Then away with intolerance. Let US ever
be free. Excelsior should be the motto of
all. Higher in thought; higher in feelings
higher in action; upward and onward in
the journey of life; and after death sancti-
fed with the angels of heaven.