The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1875-12-23
Bisl,Op Haven aud Gen. Grant.

To Tho Editor Of the N. q. Democrat:
In commenting upon the action oi
Bishop Haven in nominating the august
President. Mr.. Grant. for mother
chance at the Government treasury,
among other things, the Chicago Times
says:
II Is not necessary to multiply in
stances In every department Of govern
mental service, when the chief aud con
trolling qualification has been, that the
applicant has been Methodist, and
his claims have been urged by the Me-
this influence been that attendance upon
the Methodist cathedral has been ~ pre-
liminary to favor at our republican
court. For six years, we have had prilc-
ticnIIy Il union OF Methodisin and the
state, ~ union vastly more odiouS and
Objectionable than the state religion Of
England, for the latter Is subject to rule
and law, which the whole people may
make and modify. More danger to the
welfare OF the country Is to be appre.
hendcd to-day from the persistence In
tween the Methodists and u political
party than IL generally feared-rn nlli-
ance corrupting both church and party,
and rendering Methodist bishops and
preachers political agents, drawing
their pay partly from the church and
partly from politics the politicians and
their friends supporting the winter cam
laign OF the church, and the church
giving vigor and power to the political
campaign Of the fall.
The Times has not commenced u mo-
mcnt too soon to show the people Of the
Northwest the kind of an enemy they
will be called upon to combat IN the up
preaching contest between Mr.. Grant
on ono hand and honest government
on the other.
In the West and North, even whore
the creeds are very nearly balanced,
the entertainments Of the Mcthodists
have been much noticed and severely
criticised, but here In the South It has
been the experience TINT there Is no
power SO dangerous to home govern
mcnt as the same political and religious
body known us the Methodist Episco-
pal Church North.
In no part Of our affairs has it, In
fluence been used to such I'm extent AZ
In the management Of our public
schools, which Mr.. M. T.. y. =. Grant
80 much desires TO protect from secta-
rian control.
While owning the colored vote OF the
State, this organization has prostituted
its high functions to SO manipulate the
public school system that the whole
thing Is absolutely under their control
It Is bclicved.that sevcn-cighths Of the
teachers or the State either belong to
the church or to It's congregation, and
IRE expected to contribute to It's support.
These teachers use their endcavors to
bring their pupils into the church and
Sabbath schools In various ways, and
instances are numerous where the
standing OF the child in department
md class ranks high or low, according
TO his or her attendance upon church.
Once In the company Of these reverend
politicians, IL is not very hard task to
impress upon the infant mind the beau
lies OF u protective tariff, and OF the
government policy Of the champion
smoker Of Long Branch.
No one will so further to support pub
ic education than the writer, but no
mo can sit quietly by and sec this great
Of liberty drift quietly into
he hands Of religious body who will
,nly use IL for their own vile ends, and |
I Is this kind OF manipulation which Is
'apidly bringing ono OF the most prom
sing oifsprings Of civilization into un-
deserved contempt. ToPsY.