The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-12-18
M|h< Gettl Mhi9
ELKTON, DECEMBER IS, 1875.
RELIGION IN POLITICS.

RELIGION IN POLITICS.
The recent message of President Grant
has, to some extent, erystallized and given
definite shape to the religious issues which,
of late, have been attracting, moro or less,
the attention of the country, and the e1-
tended notice which they have thus received
at tho hands of the highest official of the
nation must make them the subjects of
further attention. If the President be not
intriguing for third term, and did not
embody these questions in his message for
the purpose of drawing to himself the sup
port of those whose support he, otherwise,
would not obtain, his declarations and warn
ings in this regard are worthy of serious
and deliberate thought. They are not to
be lightly brushed aside, or considered in
trifing manner. They are questions which,
if actively and urgently impelled, must pre-
sent themselves to every man for his deci-
sion, and if elevated to the dignity of ma
tional issues must array one portion of our
people against the other in implacable an
tagonism. If there are any grounds for the
fears which have recently been very gener-
ally expressed-and we think there are more
than the light-talking gentlemen would have
us believe-the time for reflection and pre-
paration is nou If this country is to be
made the field of religious warfare and
our institutions the subjects of religious
encroachments, if denominationalism is to
essay the control of secular matters or to
give shape to our governmental policy, we
say let US have the truth at once. 1t will
not do to joke about the Pope's toe, and
the security which the extension of liberal
principles is supposed to ensure WILL in
such emergencies, be found to be but fam
ced. If the Roman Catholic Church does,
in reality, entertain the design with which
it has been charged, we want straight
forward avowal on the part of its authori-
ties. fair, open struggle for an honest
opinion or intention is not to be denied,
much less denounced. This is a land where
freedom of thought, and speech, and &C
ton give color to our national character,
and if any man can establish the truth and
justice of his cause, let that cause prevail.
But it must be established, if at all, openly
and above board, and after a full, fair and
thorough discussion.
The Protestant people of this land gener-
ously accord to every other class of believ-
ers the same privileges which they them
selves enjoy. They ask no favors other
than those which are granted to all. But
they intend that those privileges and favors
shall not be abridged or lessened by the
sinister or secret movements of the Roman
Church or of any other church.
We must ever deplore the introduction
of such questions into political discussions,
but if the fight is forced upon us it will be
found that there are blows to give as we'll
as to receive. We believe in the absolute
and continued separation Of Church from
State, and we know that republican govern
ment must end when the attempt to COM
pei the people to receive their religious faiths
from the hands of dominating hierarchy is
successful. If the contest comes we shall
be found upon the side that recommends
ItSCI " cFVII udus we
shall contend that the political arena is, in
no sense, the sphere of religion, that the
two "are, and of right, ought to be free
and independent Of each other. More
of sectarian appropriations, shall uphold,
as we'll as we may be able, that glorious
system of public schools upon which, as
much as upon any thing else, rests the great
ness and the prosperity of our common
country, aud shall labor for the prevalence
of those principles of liberation which have
placed this country in the van of civiliza-
tion and enabled US to behold the dawn of
the centennial year of free government.
Romanism has ever been known as the
claimant of temporal power, and of the right
to shape, to some extent, secular legisla-
ton, and the recent declarations of many
of the Catholic clergy strongly indicate
that it has not abandoned its claims Its
pronounced and inveterate opposition to
the system of public schools as at present
constituted, its persistent demands for the
expulsion of the Bible from those schools,
and its urgent opportunities for class legis-
lation would seem to render necessary the
passage of an act whereby the agitating
questions may be finally and forever dis
posed of. In this view, if in no other, the
Constitutional Amendment as proposed by
James G. Blaine is worthy of hearty sup
port, and should receive the cheerful con-
currence of all persons who desire the elm
ination from our politics of questions that
promise to be highly perplexing and that
are full of danger to our position as
an enlightened and progressive nation.
That proposed amendment, if condensed
and freed from verbiage, would be we'll
enough expressed by the words" univer-
sal education without sectarianism.' Ger
tainly, no valid objection can be urged
against it from any source entitled to attsn-
ton. at establishes guarantees which can
do no harm if not needed, and if needed,
cannot be too soon provided"
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