New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-17
A Reli9iOus War.

There seems to b. strong determination
on the part OF soma parties in this count try
to precipitate a conflict between the
Catholics and ProtestAnts. The agitation
in England and Germany is contagious,
and ultra Prosestants and Catholics are
vieibly affected by it. Dismarck's policy
and G!adstOue's attack fad numerous sym
pathizers, while the admirers of Newman
and Manning are more determined than
ever. The venerable Orestes Brownson
has emerged from his retreat to defend the
papal DEGREES aud condemns secular inter
ference with the sovereignty OF God and
his earthly viceregent: and noted carica-
turist 'ekes ous his scant supply OF topics
for a journal that must be neutral in
everything that people care for by savage
cartoons at he expense of the Catholics.
The recent NOV. ment to place the Catholic
schools OF this city on al equality with the
public schools as regards the school fund.
with the defeat of the supply bill in the
Legislature because it did not contain an
appropriation of $4,000 for rebuilding a
Catholic protect0ry, brings the question to
a distinct issue here; while il Ohio an
effort to provide the penal institutions
with Catholic chaplains exc;tes the oppos-
ition and prejudices Of a powerful Protes-
tant party
This agitation is entirely useless and is to
be deeply deprecated. America is happily
cuJ1IclT OulHlOc Iuo u6LO VI European &C.
clesiastical politics. The Church and State
have there been 80 intimately associated for
centuries that the conflict prec:pitated by
modern civilization is inevitable and must
be met. In this country there il no ground
for political antagOnism, as the govern.
ment is neither Protestant nor Catholic, but
purely secular. 1t compliments religion By
letting it alone, leaving it to its own laws
and life and under tho care of its natural
uuurHiaDs and od Avn o.,ft no
cheering signs OF the time is the fact that
every year hastens disesta blishment in Eng
land, which, influenced by our example, is
rapidly Fastening to adopt our policy. Sec
tartan pr+ jndices are prOverblally bitter,
and the antipathies of religion are az in
hamInable as it's atiuities are powerful. and
whoever appeals to the former and exas
perates the latter in order to create strife lie
an enemy to both his country aud his race.
The school question is difficult one in
some respects. IL requires delicate and
generous and consideraFe handling. But it
presents no difficulties that sagacious aud
tolerant craftsmanship can not overcome to
the satisfaction of all reasonable persons.
And it would seem that the religious over
sight OF criminals. is not matter worth
quarreling about, and one that can easily
be Obyiated on the American principle
of wise secularisn. There would seem
to be no more reason why the State
should support chaplain for the thieves
and pickpockets in the penitentiary
than for those outside OF it--nor half SO
much; and if each sect is free to seek and
save the latter,'it can be safely left free to
provide for the religious wants of the for
lner. At any rate, it is not an issue worth
turning the community upside down to
settle one way or the other, and the anger
aroused in the discussion will more than
overbalance all the good a score of chap
lains will do the convicts. The interests of
religion require peace. The more this agi-
tatiOn proceeds thefplainer it becomes that.
demagOgues have more to do in inciting it
than divines or Veterinarians. and they will
find to their sorrow that they have dug the
grave of their political fortunes by their
miachievous polioy.-Ner York Graphic.