Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1875-09-22

TAXING CHURCH PROPERTY.
The letter from the Roman Catholic
Bishop o: Newark to the priests in his
diocese, recommending them to lin
s:ruct their people to vote against a
clause in the New Jersey constitutional
amendments which would subject Church
property to taxation. has had . result
directly opposed 10 the Bishops wishes;
for it seems to have aroused a storm of
Indignation among the Protestants, who,
in almost every locality SO far heard
from. have cast heavy majorities for this
and most Of the other amendments.
Bishop Corrigan is evidently not q
politician. II he had been he might
have carried his point by the help of
ProtestaEss. Il is fact that. while the
Constitutional Commission was in ses-
sion, and when it was considering this
article Of the amendments, several
Methodist preachers meetings in differ
ent parts of New Jersey uttered public
protests against the taxation of Church
property, and there was good deal Of
Protestant opposition to this clause. 1t
is IS we'll not to forget this now. The
Rogran Catholic Bishop Numbered in
the manner OF his interference for
Americans do not like te see the clergy
of any denomination "inst-ucting" their
people how to vote.
We are glad the amendment has been
carried, fcr it is right that all property
should bear its share of taxation, and
there is no more reason for eIempting a
church or eleemosynary building than a
club house or theatre. OF course We
mean no disrespect to religion in this
comparison; but churches are the prop
erty of private corporations, and are the
legitimate subjects Of taxation. What
it is useful to remember jus. now is, that
the Reman Catholic clergy have not
have, in New Jersey, opposed the taxa
ton Of Church property. There are
hundreds of churches, the property Of
Protestants. all oss- the State, whose
members will groan when they find
themselves taxed, and many Of whom,
il it had not been for this sudden alarm
at Bishop Corrigan's letter, would have
gone quietly and voted against this
amendment. As j. is. they have voted
for it, and put into the constitution an
excellent provision.-N. I. Herald.
The foregoing toxches upon a subject
Of the very first importance as things 60.
Tho breeze which blows from the most
threatening quarter Of the political hori-
ION, the quarter where lower the dark
clouds Of religious controversy, born Of
the intrigues of Rome, warn the people
Of the United States that they must pre-
pare themselves, il they would prevail
against those intrieaes and preserve in
tact their civil and religious liberties
and save from disaster and final demoli-
ton the public school system of the
they mus. free their political
institutions from all eotangling religious
alliances, and shape their course SO as
to steer clear of al 1ecognition by the
State, of any and all churches, whatso-
ever. The people Of Now Jersey are
right. No State. whose institutions are
based upon inviolakle principles Of
eqaity and exact justice, has any right |
to exempt from the operations of its
system Of taxation any property held
subject to its laws. Moreover, this ex-
Of the property of religious So
cieties is not only an exhibition of weak |
ness. but it il done in contravention of
hat underlying principle Of our institu-
lions which explicitly withholds the rec
ignition By the State Of any kind or
torm of religious worship. We must be
consistent in order to be strong. We
out of a weak and mistaken
sense of comfy, afford to treat with e1-
ceptional favor the institutions set up
and maintained in the name of religion.
Politics-the business of the State
should be kept as clear of all religious
or favorings as any other well
secular business must be to
be successful. The non-taxation of
churches is the entering wedge to fur
her, more unjust and more harmful
[avoritism toward religious orders, and
should be abandoned. on high principle.
THEODORE WINTERS may well be re-
,arded as the most successful breeder Of
ace horses on this coast. Our readers
will recollect his successes Of last Spring