The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-11
eRANr,s rnIRD-TERM RID.
Religious strife IA a rolltica, Lever.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 1O.-Among the pub
lie men and shrewd politicians OF both sides in
this city, there is hardly any difference OF oplu-
ion that tho message is simply bid Tor the third
term. with the best opportunity to have
seuced all doubt on this subject, the President
not only fails TO utter word In any way to ex-
clude himself from being again a candidate, but
he departs from all the usages Of propnety to
Inject eectarian issue into the Presidential
canvass, with the transparent object OF making
himself tue leader OF a new Anti-Catholic cru
SADIE.
There are significant facts TO Justify tho belief
that this scheme concerted with a class OF
political preachers IN the Methodist Church,
some Of whom are holding oflce, and others have
long enjoyed patronage and privileges accorded
to no other sect. The extraordinary aud indie
cent declarations OF Bishop Gilbert Haven In
Boston last Monday before the Methodist Sun
day School Union and a body Of Methodist
preachers, together with the proceedings OF that
meeting, mark a bold departure from religious
observances aud present partisan spectacle
which cannot be too severely condemned.
Grants organ at the capital published side by
side with the message a sermon from ]. T.. New
man, who recently returned with his family from
atvo years trip around the world at tho public
expense, and was restored to the Metropolitan
Church. which Grant attends when he IL In NJ
condition and has nothing better to do. That
sermon has all the earmarks OF the message,
and betrays common origin which even the
casual observer cannot fail to detect. Newman
preached Grant on Sunday and Haven the third
term on Monday, with a full knowledge Of tho
message In advance.
Fortunately for the peace OF the country.
Grant and bis political parsons have ovenshot
the mark In their zeal to outbid Blaine aud his
managers, who have been seeking to lead In this
game.
Wherever political object is sought to be
aocomp lished which violates the principles upon
which free government rests or offends the sane
titled traditions II Is proposed to tinker with
the Constitution. Hence Grant aud Blaine and
their followers want an amendment which an II
take away from the States and the nunicipali-
ties the privilege which they have always en-
Joyed Of regulating their own AFFAIR.", and espe-
clally the common schools, which have attained
such vast DEVELOPMENT under this system.
Tney know perfectly welt that the State Con
situations expressly FORBID any sectariau distri-
butiun VI the school funds, and that outside OF
few fanatical fools no such proposition has
been made. They know also that the very frat
amendment to the Constitution II the United
States declares congress shall make no law
respecting establishment Of religion. or pro-
hibtlng the FREQ exercise thereof" aud yet the
Pre- .ident recommends. as II ignorant Of this
elementary principle, that there shalt be an
other amendment to " declare Church and STATE
forever separate" just as IL they had ever been
Joined together or could possibly be united in
this Republlcl
This proposition and the other. to take educa-
ton out Of the hands of the States. whore It
alone belongs. aud transfer 1t to the general
n "a
that Of Prussia, IL only another step toward the
ceutrszing purpose OF CIR mt and his party.
Their aim is to destroy the autonomy Of the
States, and build up on their ruins a controlling
central power winch shall absorb all the func-
tons OF the local Govornmente. and become, In
fact, despotism under the disguise OF Repub-
lie
The scheme TO tax church property must
open the eyes OF every religious denomination,
and bring down on Grants head "a storm of re-
sentiment that Will be apt to Interfere with his
third term hopes. lie wildly estimates that
property at SlOOO,OOOCiO. when the best statis-
tics show that IL does not exceed, II II reaches,
ono third OF that imposing aggregate. Even n
II was not exaggerated, what has the general
Government to do with property in the States
never before considered a subject OF national
revenue or property within the puryiew Of
Congress even during time Of war;
These propositions to strike out wildly, 70
ignore all precedent, to amend the Constitution,
and to destroy the old settled landmarks will
make men pause. For besides the audaoious
soln-hness Of the project to innane sectarlan
strife, tuere Is below the surface a design To
cover up the frauds and corruptipns Of the Ad-
ministrauOn by diyerting the public mind IN
another direction. This trick Will not succeed.
Grant has put his party IN preiicament from
.fsI,a n. ffs.r. ~