Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-10-30
RELIGION AND POLITICS.

belongs exclusively to the religious
press but when topics of purely
theological character are dragged into
the political arena, such topics como
within the legitimate sphere OF the
secular press. The recent oufburst of
religious bigotry in the Ohio election,
followed by a similar exhibition IN /
New Jersey aud then 10 the city OF
New York, clearly indicate purpose |
on the part of Puritan Radicalism to |
array American Professionalism against |
American Catholicism. Were this
move made in the interest of purer
type of Christianity, its bigotry might
be forgiven in consideration of its mo-
tive; but knowing it to be vile effort
of base men to strengthen corrupt
party by enlistiag in its favor the mis-
guided passions and prejudices of Sec
tarianism, we protest against it. And
to make these agencies effective, the
impression is to be made upon the
protestant mind that, though the Pope
is struggling to maintain his ascend
ancy at home, he is becoming almost
omnipotent in this country.
If there really be danger that the
Church of Rome may plant its stand
ard in triumph over professionalism In
America, thereare more efficient means
for preventing the dreaded catastrophe
than Grants predicted religious war.
The Catholic Church owes its strength
to its unity and its discipline, backed
by system of propagandism long and
thoroughly tested and rigidly ad-
hered to. Its prestige and appliances
the growth of centuries-make it
formidable rival of professionalism,
which seems to rest upon the. truth of
its doctrines as an ample defense
against the inroads of powerful foe.
These inroads, instead Of being met by
corresponding unity, zeal, energy and
discipline, encounter, all along the line
of defence, little else than schims, lack
of discipline and vigilance-farther
weakened by wide spread non-ob-
servance of those teachings Of Christ,
which formed the basis of the Refor-
nation and can alone perpetuate the
blessings of that great Interpretation
of the will and laws Of God. Radical
ism has sustained itself as unit
against an opposition divided and sub
divided into innumerable factions, and
so weakened by such divisions that in
spite of the wiser and safer doctrines
upon which that opposition relies, po-
.litical misrule and loathsome corrup-
ton still curse the prosperity and hon
or Of government and people.
II it be not profane to liken secular
TO theological things, we would ask
whether in the struggle between pro-
testantism and the Roman Church, the
former does not labor under the same
disadvantages that are indicated by the
foregoing political illustration? If so,
the deduction is logical that Catholic
ism is spreading, not so much through
the force of It's own intrinsic truth, as
through the listless apathy and lack of
true aad jealous piety among the men,
bership of protestant churches. To
prevent the spread of the doctrines of
papacy, these churches must not leave
the battle to be fought on the field of
politics by corrupt and ambitious DEM
agogues, nor yet by soldiers on the
bloody fields of war-they must grid
on their armor of peace and Christian
piety and proclaim those holy doctrines
which they are commanded to illus
trate in their daily walk through life.
Teach the truth and act the truth, is
the only way to win a victory upor
which Heaven will smile its approval
Were we disposed to enter into
controversy to which we are not called
and for which we have no fitness, it
would be easy, by reference to the par
tizan political preachers of the North,
their latitudinarian departures from
the teachings of Christ, the clerical
scandals and the demoraliziug isms
openly proclaimed in that land of pie
ty, to show how Protestant Christiani-
ty is debased by Its recognized profess
sors and defenders. From this point
it would be an easy task to show how
readily, through the openings thus
made in the ranks of professionalism,
the enemy can reach its very citadel
and there plant his flag. The uncOn-
verted multitude, be it remembered,
are influenced less by precept than ex-
ample; it is not strange, therefore, that
when they look upon the daily deport-
ment of so many professed protestant
Christians and make note of secta-
rian jealousy and bitterness, they SO
often become infidels or seek refuge in
church where all is apparent har-
mony In the religious war which
Radicalism is striving to precipitate,
protestants should fight error with
truth, superstitions with enlightened
Diety, and dangerous precept with purer
example. And to derive the full ad-
vantage from this line of policy, its
congregations must be purified by
washing the black sheep white or ex-
polling them from the fold, and the
shepherds must tread the straight
path, running after no false doctrines
and exposing no openings in their ar
NOR through which the enemy can
deal deadly blow. Make protestant
ism the outer and inner embodiment
of truth and Christian piety, and it
may safely defy the assaults of papacy,
without invoking the aid Of carnal
weapons.
THE Cincinnati Gazette is the first
Radical organ to confess that resump-
ton is ruinous policy-ruinous alike
to its party and the country. The
Ohio election was NOT decided on the