The New York herald., 1875-12-10
Church ana state.

| property by drawing picture, IN coloIS ~
warm as his prosaic mind could furnish, Of
the gigantic march of the nation during the
rst hundred years Of its existence. The
subject is great enough to kindle the imag-
ination, even when presented in the cold
and business like style Of formal public
document and the Presidents enumeration
of the points Of progress would have been
| quite comprehensive if he had not over
looked one Of the most appropriate topics
of congratulation. 1t is, indeed, q proud
and striking contrast which he presents,
Notwithstanding his important omis-
sion. In territory, in population, In
wealth, in the progress of universal
freedom by the emancipation and polltl-
cal enfranchisement of the blacks, In the
application of science to the arts, IN the
| growth Of manufactures, in facilities OF COM
munication by means of railroads and tele-
graphic lines. in the development OF the
mining wealth Of the country, IN the progress
of intelligence. refinement and civilization,
the President has just appreciation OF what
the nation has done in the century which
has elapsed since its birth 1t is noble
picture even when sketched in rough out
line without any glow of eloquence or colors
borrowed from the magic of poetry Even
in the dry form of statement suitable for a
! State paper it is fitted to bindle pride and
enliven patriotism.
But it is surprising that President Grant
could have left out of his magnificent cat
alogue of great achievements the one thing
which is more Characteristic of American
progress than any other; the one thing
which peculiarly differences our advance
in the grand march of humanity from
what has been done within this fruitful
century by other nations Other nations
have abolished slavery other nations have
applied steam and electricity to useful pur-
poses other nations have made territorial
acquisitions, have improved their manufac-
lures, extended their commerce, added to
their wealth and made marvellous advances
in science and civilization. But the one great
thing which We have done within the CEN
tury, and they have not done, is to effect
complete divorce between Church and
State, and demonstrate that religion does not
suffer by being left for its support to the vol
untary contributions of individuals. 1t is
astonishing that the President should have
omitted this bright and peculiar feature of
American progress in Message whose lead
ing recommendations relate to the very same
subject and attest his deep sense of its i'm
portance. Had he extended his historical
review to this interesting subject, he might
have discovered that there was no necessity
for his recommendations, and saved himself
from the absurdity of proposing, for the sec
ond century of our independence, work
which has been nobly accomplished in the
first, and of which the full praise belongs to
those who have gone before US
In 1776, the year when our nation had its
birth, there was a union of Church and State
in all the colonies. The Declaration OF In
dependence made no change in this respect,
nor did the adoption of the federal constitu-
ton 1t is true that, by an amendment in
grated on the constitution subsequent to its
adoption, it was declared that Congress
shall make no law respecting an establish
ment Of religion or prohibiting the free ex-
ercise thereof" but this restrained only
Congress, not the State governments, most
of which continued to tax people for the
support Of religion for q long period
after. There is even now nothing in
the federal constitution to prevent any
member Of the Union from establishing
a State religion. The divorce of government
from religion has been entirely accomplished
by State action. The work was begun in
Virginia it was finished in Massachusetts,,
which amended its constitution for that
purpose at so late date as 1888. Within
the first fitty-scven years after the Declara-
tion of Independence the alliance between
Church and State in this country, which was
then universal, was successfully dissolved
in every State in the Union, and there is no
more danger that any Of them will go back
to the old system than there is that an eagle
which has tried its pinions in the free air
will 90 back. into the broken shell from
which it was hatched.
If it be asked what shall prevent, since
the federal constitution does not prohibit it,
there are several answers any one OF which
is conclusive. One answer is, that the
public opinion Of this country has been for
the whole century steadily and triumphantly
advancing in the contrary direction. An
other answer is, that there is not State in
the Union where any religious denomir'
is not minority Of the people and with
such diversity Of sects as exists all
would combine against attempts to confer
special advantages upon one. Still another
answer lies in the fact that in all or most of
the State constitutions as they stand at
present favoritsm to any religious sect is
strictly forbidden. Our New York constitu-
ton affords . specimen in this language
''The free exercise and enjoyment of re-
ligious profession and worship, without dis
elimination or preference, shall forever be