Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-07-08
REPUBLICAN NOMINATION.
FOR GOVERNOR.
SELDEN CONNoR
OF AUGUSTA.
WORTH or REPCRLICAN LNSTIzT-
TONS.


The Grafton Of james Freeman Clarke
on the 5th inst. before the city govern
ment and citizens of Boston. was devoted
to illustrating the worth ofrepubllcan in
situations. Putting aside the spread eagle
style of oratory generally adopted oy our
Fourth-of.July speakers, Mr.. Clarke
crowded his Grafton with facts and con-
fined 1t to practical and sensible ground.
Four facts he claimed had been demon
strated by our hundred years experience
ofrepublican Institutions, viz: That there
can be universal religion without an es-
tablished church. That there can be uni
versal education without sectarian schools.
That there can be universal order without
o standing army That freedom and equal
rights make the most stable government.
In regard to the first of these facts the
orator claimed that the result had been
that religious institutions are more wide
", literally and universally supported in
the United States than in any part OF the
world. There are in this country, by the
census of 1870, $4,000 religious societies,
$4,000 church edifces, and church proper
ty to the value of $4,000, 900
with sitting accommodation for more
than twenty one millions OF persons.
There are $4,000 clergymen in the
United States, and the amount annual
ly raised for the support of religious
worship must be from twenty to thirty
millions of dollars, beside the large sums
given for missions and other religious
purposes. This is probably greater
amount in proportion to population than
that paid for the support of any church in
the world, except the Church of England,
whose income, drawn from population
of twenty-five millions, is supposed to be
about $40, OOO,O 900 year.
We have proved, therefore. by our ex-
pertinent of hundred years, that men
feel the need of religious instruction and
religious instruction and religious wor-
ship-and that they gladly give their
money for this object without any compul-
sion. And the census also shows that
during the two decades, extending from
1850 to 1860 and from 1860 to 1870, the
proportional amounts contributed to these
objects have not diminished, but on the
contrary steadily increased. The church
property in 1850 amounted to 50 70 for
every inhabitant; in 1860, it was 1851;
and in 1870, it was 1896. Judging by
this test alone, we see no reason for doubt
ing that freedom does more for the sup
port of religion than is ever done by law.
In relation to schools the exhibit is still
more satisfactory. In the whole United
States there are one hundred and forty-one
thousand schools. and there are more than
seven millions of pupils in attendance.
The money expended in the whole United
States for schools in the year 1870 was
was ninety-fve millions of dollars, or
about $3.50 for every man, woman and
child in the Union Sixty-four millions of
this was raised by taxation for the public
schools The amount levied 10y taxation
in England, in 1867, amounted to less than
two million dollars, all the rest of the ed
ucation of the people Of England being
left to local endowments and private
charities. In all other countries education
was chiefly under the control of religious
sects and only attainabIe by part of the
people. The United States led off in the
establishment of schools for all, without
sectarianism, and the result is better
diffusion of knowledge than in any other
nation on the globe, giving us more intel
ligent and consequently better labor, also
causing diminution of crime, as Stats
tics show.
These two main facts speak volumes in
favor of republican institutions. That we
can maintain order without a standing
army also is in favor of our form of gov
eminent. Europe takes from productive
labor in time of peace 2,7O0. 900 men for
her armies. Their number is increased
when on war footing to 6 100000. The
expense of maintaining such armies in
time of peace is $6o0,oOO,OOO annually,
and the time taken each year from the pro-
ductive interest amounts to eight hundred
millions of days. In the United States
our army at present is only 100000 This
is sufficient for defence and the preserva-
ton of order, and is no menace to the
liberty of the people. as are the standing
armies of Europe.
In the maintenance of our freedom and
the equal rights of ALL it is necessary that
education shall be given to the masses
literally, that religion shall be maintained
through the churches while keeping the
schools free from sectaranism, and that
corrupt influences in politics shall be kept
down or rooted out by vigilant attention
to public duties and the intelligent use of
the right OF suffrage, which ought to be
extended TO females. Upon this point Mr..
Clarke says: "For perfect civilization
men and women must be companions in
everything, in work and play, in study, in
all occupations, in art and literature. in |