The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-12-15
The Message.


sage of President Grant laid before them this
morning. It is statesman like document
not above the fair average in responsibility
that has marked other IN ssssges from the
same source. The president in his conclud-
ing remarks makes a summary OF recon-
mendations, common school education
provided by every state, no religious tenets
taught therein, the taxation of church
property, the suppression OF polygamy and
licensed prostitution, the contraction of the
currency and the repeal Of the legal-tender
clause of former financial measures. Other
topics are also discussed, such as the Cuban
question, Mexican claims, ocean telegraph,
fraudulent naturalization, the Improvement
of the navy, the Indian question, pensions
and the Centennial, and South Pacific mail.
The chief and striking features of the
message are, the. school aud religious
amendment, and the finance question, on
both of which subjects the president takes
an advanced position.
This policy of Mr.. Grant on the school
question was Swallowed forth in his Des
Moines speech two months ago, and now
that he has taken a position in advance of
his party also on the finance question, these
two positions may be considered as the
policy of Mr.. Grant In his aspirations for a
third term Ia the White House. 1t is need
less to say that the doctrine and policy of
Mr.. Grant on this ous-educstionsl
question is one calculated to produce in
finite mischief and Is so purely and clearly
q trick of the demsgogHe that 1t is doubtful
If he can secure the following of his party
on any such an issue as 10 sets forth.
Whenever a party in this country
has, upon any pretence, striven to
array ecclesiastical denominations against
by thei president will do, II has always met
in the end the condemnation OF the people,
whatever temporary triumphs may have been
gained. There is a distinct policy in the
constitution OF the United States already,
that has been well understood in this coun-
try and abroad, on the subject of the rels-
ton of the church to the state. For an
hundred years we have lived by it, and
prospered as far as that subject is concerned
While no one supposes 1t could be possible
that a state church could be legally provided
for in this country, yet there is such thing
possible, which would be worse,
as an infdel nation. Mr.. Grant
proposes that the United States shall en-
force all the states to provide for a strictly
secular education for all the people, and
that no tenet of religion whatever shall be
taught therein. Tnis is practically impossi-
BILE. Religious truth permestes our whole
literature, and there never was a system OF
text books In this country that expurgated
all religious sentiment from them, that
could obtain entrance into any respectable
school district in the land. The time has
not come in this country for religious cru
sade. At the present time, all den omina-
tons OF Christians ask only fair field for
themselves, without let or hindrance. This
the constitution already secures. Say what
we may, this country, this nation, Is q
Christian nation, as against Paganism, Ma
hommedanism and atheism and the presi-
dent recognizes this in advising legislation
agaist polygsmy aod legslizing prostitution.
The policy of the president to exclude all
religious instruction from the schools, is,
therefore, sbsolutely contradictory to other
parts OF his message. Neither the Protes-
tsnt nor the Catholic Church will ever con-
sent that the Bible and religious instruc.
tions shall be bsnished from the schools.
and the party that inscribes such tenets
upon its banner would be hopelessly de-
feated. Mr.. Grant has overreached himself,
and from this time forth 1t is not
likely that any bishop of the church will
deem him. with such a policy, necessary to
the safety of the nation. This question
will elicit discussion throughout the whole
coun try, and of which the Sentinel will
have more to say; also somewhat upon the
subject of taxation of church property,
which il q kindred subject in its connection.
The policy of Mr.. Grant on resumption
and finance Is extreme, and shadows forth
how completely he yields to the money