The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-11

urgent and manifest necessity. But what
is the urgency for such amendments as
President Grant presses with all the fer
vency Of bigoted zeal in this message?
There is none whatever, It is bold and
bald attempt to influence religious ami
mosities for party purposes, than which
nothing could be more inexcusably mis-
chievous, if the president thinks that con-
Slender as President Grants title may
be to rank as a statesman. we must give
him credit for common sense, and if he
has common sense he must know perfectly
well that such amendments to the con-
stitution as he proposes will not be
adopted by this congress. Such amend
ments could be adopted only as a party
measure, and nobody knows better than
he that such a measure could not be car
ried through either house. 1t requires
two thirds majority of both houses to sub
NIT a constitutional amendment to the
states for their ratification. and the Re-
publican party has not two-thirds major
ity in either branch Of congress. Presi-
dent Grant must know perfectly well that
the Democrats of the house will alike
make strenuous and successful opposi-
ton to such amendments to the constitu-
ton as he recommends. Even if they
could be carried through. congress, which
is quite impossible, they would be defeated
in the states, since it requires three
fourths of the states to ratify constitu
tiOnal amendment. and a majority of the
state legislatures are at present controlled
by the Democratic party. President
Grant is proposing, and he must know that
he is proposing, an utterly imp-actl-
cable measure. 1t is clear that ne
does not expect the success of his recomen-
dations, and that he is only aiming to stir up
religious strife for mere party effect, He
hopes to array the Protestant prejudice and
Protestant bigtory in a political crusade
against the Catholic church, and thereby
carry the presidential election. This unex-
ampled attempt to enlist religious rancor on
the Republican side as u makeweight in
the presidential election is an act Of political
desperation which public opinion will
condemn.
The taxing of church property is a sub
ject which may be safely left to the state
governments, which have exclusive jurisdic
ton over it as the federal constitution
stands at present. Ii, in any state, the ex-
emption Of such property is oppressive, the
people have a remedy in their state legis-
latures. 1t is question which has no re
lation to taxation for federal purposes
/ When church property is taxed the pro-
ceeds go into the state treasury; if it is
exempted nobody suffers but the taxpayers
of the state in which the property is
situated. There is no state in the Union
in which the Protestant population is not
in a maOjCrity Of six or seven to one, or
| in which they cannot, through their local
legislatures. easily redress any injustice
which taxpayers may suffer by an eX
emption Of church property. With SO
complete remedy in the hands of the
citizens Of every state, it would be
Il piece of intermedding folly for the
federal government to interfere to
protect them against an evil which is per
fectly within their own control. At the
end Of the message President Grant, with
an affectation Of renouncing his third tern
aspirations, but in language which does
not bind him. says:-''As this will be the
last annual Message which | shall have
the honor of transmitting to congress be-
fore my successor is chosen, | will recapit
ulate the questions which | deem of vita
importance which may be legislate1 upoI
and settled at this session" He makes his
recapitulation under five heads, three @
the five relating to the school aud churcl
questions. The president cannot be 81
lacking in political intelligence as to believ,
that the religious issue he raises may b.
legislated upon and settled at this session.
He must know that there is not the re
; hottest possibility that his proposed
! amendments to the constitution can b
passed through congress at this session
aud he is triAing with congress and til
country when he puts forth such an idea
lie has preached this exciting question no
with any expectation that congress vii
E take effectual action on it, but solely as
l means of dragging religious animosities int
the presidential canvass, 1t is the mos
o discredtabe appeal ever made by til
$ chief magistrate OF the country, or by an
:, patty chief in the history of our politics
/ We are sincerely sorry that Preslden
/ Grant has made so strenuous an effort t
u drag religious questions into politics. 1t
i an unworthy electionGering device, whic
Il vii! not bear discussion, and which is pre-
II ty certain to react against his own part
. -
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