, 1875-03-20
RELIGIOUS POLITICS.

An Item OF fhllauc!pA1a he"a seeHH I"
show that tho managers OF tho party which |
waut God recognized in the Constitution are |
working indirectly, rs we'll ns directly, to |
compass thpir aims. CAn it DO that Judge |
LupLow, Of tho Philadelphia Quarter Sos
sious, WHO is ONO Of tho political Christians,
Inns begun cr,,Bade which has for its end
the religious renovation Of tho u.asscs2 II
would seem go, II VIC are to judge by bis re-
f,sal to naturalizc JuLIus NE1AEp. The
hitter presented himself before LupLow, and
u,ai1o proof that l,e lad resided in the United
States five years, and in Pennsylvania one
year, and applied for his naturalization pa
pers. The Judge indorsed upon the peti-
ton: "nefused on account Of being in in~
idel." !" The qualifications for naturalization are
residence for five years In the country ind
one year in tho State, md behavior "as
man OF good mornl character, attached to
the principles Of the Constitution Of tho
United states, and well disposed to the good
order md happiness Of tho Same" during
such residence. "Gool moral character"
| docs not necessarily imply religious belief.
| Congress has no power to prescribe any
| religious tests for citizenship or for anything
elss. "tIhe whole power over the snbjcct
| Of religiou," says 6TonEY, !" ia left exclusively
| to tho 6tata Governments, and tbs
Catholic md tho Protestant tho Calv'niat aud
tl,o Ar,niniau, tho Jow and tile Iutidel, may
sit down at the common table Of tho
national councils without any inquiaition
into their faith or mode OF worship" His
Honor, Judge LunLow, Inns kindly supple
mented the labors Of Congress by laying down
now regulate for naturalization. II he
could have received the application Of Jons
STUART Mill, ho would probably have 70.
turned 1t with the Endorsement, Refused on
account of being Oh inAdcl." Hill ruling Is
like TINT OF an English Magistrate,
which, nlado few weeks ago, las already
boen robukod by pross, pooplo, bar, and
bonch. Under the. common law, an atAels
caunot serve ns witness. Mill refers, In I
: foot-noto to lis "Lberty," to the rejection o.
!. tho noted London journalist, G. ]. 1ioLYoAKE
under this rule. An agitation largely due Il
DzApLArou's efforts hos aimee secured th'
passago OF statute allowing atheists to testify
Nevertheless the police-h Magistrate aforesait
: | refused to admit All atheiet to the witness
stand because, M ho sold, a "higher author
ity than tue law " forbado It. This Is arpar
emily Judge LuD1ow's position. He admins
!, tors law mud something moro. When th
- statute and tho misty something morn cor
!, dict, the former must yield Tho Constitutio
;. forbida religious test, but Judge LupLo'
!" imposes ono He acts as II tho religion
= amendment Ind already been adopted, and q
IL signing a czeed waa now tho requisite d
= American citizenship.
). The refusal to naturalize ju11ua NtEtAN
l. was not only ba<l law, but worse policy. Sue
~ displays Of intolerance al~sys increase bot
II religious and irrellgioua bigotry. Judge Luz
i. Low has probably harmed the cause hs wiahs
n to sid.
10 This In not the only recent judicial d
u clxiou which mixes up religion and politi
"a to their mutual disadvantage. 4 New io'
IL Judge haa declined torecaiye evidence offert
ID by an intidel. It is said nsat pAaTos al
/. others will endeayor 10 have thI4 ruling r
Of ye1aea by tho supreme Court, and, falling
III that, will SAX the Legislature 10 pasa Ia
90 which Will proven, ~t&t the Pail afa9 ca
. "a lille IloRisA,"- Ats Ascaps at Qua ~