Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-01
from the Boston Journal.

The "color line has been vigorously
denounced by democratic politicians; is
the sectarian line any bettere If it is in
expedient and pernicious fol any race to
mass itself with one political party, is it
any less SO for particular religious de-
nomination to go to the polls in body
and trade its support for legislative bene-
fits rendered and to be rendered by GER
tain party The former evil, if it be one,
is temporary, growing out of an exigency
never to be repeated, and sure to be fritz
tered away by all the ordinary influences
of American political life (; but the latter
is founded on permanent religious beliefs
and convictions, the strongest which the
mind can entertain. and this sort of coali-
ton becomes in its nature that union OF
church and State which was especially
guarded against by the founders OF our
institutions. And yet it is in this direc-
ton that the Catholics and democratic
leaders of Ohio are at this moment tend
ing. A measure was brought before the
democratic Legislature of that State last
winter which was openly demanded as the
condition of the Catholic support of the
democracy. The leading organ Of tine
denomination did not hesitate to say while
the measure was pending, THAT 1000
Catholics in the State, and II 900 Catholics
in The city of Cincinnati, exercising their
rights Of suffrage, have a very strong
claim upon political party. which it will
no, be safe for political leaders as aspir-
ants 10 political office to ignore or despise."
The menace proved effectual, and the bill
was passed. And now we have in the
same organ the following announcement:
"The unbroken, solid vote of the Catholic citi-
zens Of the State will be given to the democracy
at the fall election"
We need not say how utterly contradic.
tory all this is to the Just principles of the
American Government. 1t implies polili-
cal action not according to the judgment
OF individuals, but according to the dictate
of an ecclesiastical authority over subjects
outside of its domain. The trades unions
do badly enough when they undertake to
control the labor of their membership
pose they should also assume to order them
to attend or to stay away from certain
churches? 1t is fair to presume that the
Catholic citizens of Ohio are divided, like
others, upon the financial question. but
now they are all obliged to 60 for initiation
just because the clergy have been gratified
by some Democratic action in the past !
Can it be possible that intelligent Ameri-
can citizens will allow their political du-
ties to be made mockery of in this wayp
1t may answer for the present campaign,
but we cannot believe that this per-
version of good sense, and even
of clerical wisdom. will be extend
ed much longer Ii will, surely, arouse a
feeling which cannot be tritled with, and
which none ought to understand and re-
spect more than the Catholic clergy in the
United States. Those who have effected
the present coalition in Ohio will see that
they have made mistake, though, per-
haps, not till it is too late to avoid some
of its disastrous results. One effect at
least will be to give the people a new
idea OF the thorough unscrupulousness Of
the Democratic party under its present
management.