Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-12-09
IEMPEIS APPEAL
THURSDAY. DECEMBER ., 1875.
on,Nrs nELIGIoUs wAR.


President Grant never reads, but he
hiss heard IL said that great men make
great occasions, and having fiattered
himself into the belief that he possesses
greatness, he seeks to make great oc-
cssiou and TO elect himself for q third
term by ppealing to the religious pre-
tu ices Of the country. The patriot, the
philanthropist, the christian, shudder
Al such a contest. In View Of the Presi-
dents nefarious purpose, We would call
attention to section three of the sixth
article OF the Federal constitution, which
says: "But no religious test shall ever
be REQUIRED as a qualification to any
Office Of public trust under the United
States" The first amendment to that
constitution, in article one, ssys: Con
gress shall make no law respecting the
establishment Of religion, or pEo-
hihiting the free exercise thereof"
This is all the legislation the coun-
try needs upon the subject Of re
ligion. We have prOspered under the re-
Iigious freedom which MISREPRESENTATION
al provisions secure TO every citizen and
every religious denomination. But
Grant, in his unworthy ambition for
hobby, seeks to create a rising and surg
ing tide on the subject Of religion which
will deposit him the White House for q
bird term. He evidently believes that
an appeal to sectsrian religious preju-
dices will secure mis- election, and in his
message, published in the APPEAL yes
terday, be proposes. Legislation or amend
ment to the constitution, which con-
gress will disregard. 1t is one Of the
traditions OF the Democratic party TO
give the widest freedom to religious lib
erty, and the Democratic majority will
not vote to submit Grants proposition
TO the States for ratification. Then the
Radicals will 60 before the country on
religious issue, and we will have the old
accommodating twsddle about the Pope
of Rome aud that historic big toe which
50 alarmed demsgogues few years ago.
The dangers threatened by such con-
troversy are imminent. Religious strife
introduced into politics is an element
which imperils popular form OF gov
ernment-and it is the duty of every
patriot and statesman to prevent a
movement which viii produce such a
fearful conflict. Is it not q pitiable
spectacle to see the President of the
United States resorting to the arts OF the
demagogue to create an issue for 1876?
Is not such conduct a mockery OF re-
Iigion? Grant cannot hide the corrup-
lions Of his administration by such
psltry subterfuge. Like the cuttle-fish,
he may seek to escape in the muddy
waters of religious hate aud sectarian
preJudices, but he will fiud that the
people will force him to face living
issues. In all the States OF this broad
Union, the free schools are absolutely
safe from sectarians control. They are
as much part our free governm ent as
liberty itself; no party, no combina-
ton Of political or religious elements
can endsnger them. Any effort, civil or
ecclesiastical, that should attempt to
psralyze our common school system
would provoke a universal indignation
in every State in the Union. Free in
stitutions aud uni versal education are
tWin.bor fruits Of the patriotic efforts
to solve the problem of self-government,
and no citizen, Of whatever faith,
can esssil one without asssiling the
other, aud it would be wrong in pur-
pose, for it would be but to invite over
whelming disaster; disaster that would
not end with merely repelling the as
ssult, but that could not fail to surge be-
yond the bounds Of charity or generous
Justice between man and man, in deal
ing with what should be solely matter
Of conscience at each freely chosen
altar. Politicians may gable, bigots
may rant, and the timid may
tremble, but free schools and
free government will advance hand-in-
hand in our boosted republic, and be
equally rich in the gsrlands they shall
gather from our progressive christian
civilization. We admit that there are
Protestsnts and that there are Catholics
opposed to our free-school system, but
thank God, our system Of education is
beyond the reach OF either, and the leg
islation proposed by Grant, for party
purposes, will provoketh the scOrn and con-
tempt ofthe Democratic party.