The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-01-27

Bib'e Christiansl We would thea
hear of none of those acrimonious con,
trOversies and ''debates," which almost
invariably do much more harm than
good, putting so-calied Christians by
each others ears; and causing sinners
to deride the church. Let us by all
means keep politics out of the churches.
If thore be one evil greater than an.
other that now threatens the cause OF
Professionalism, it Is the introduction Of
theological questions into the politics
OF the day. There must be a dreadful
scarcity Of political issues if the Ro,
manist and the Protestant must be
brought into the political arena to fur,
nish capital for campaign. We de.
plore this tendency Of the times and
yet we do not see how the evil is to be
averted. This is Protestant country,
and if the wire-workers who fashion
the political platforms, and nominate
the candidates for Office, compel us to
affirm this fact, we shall be compelled
to affirm it. The Roman Catholic
Church will be delighted at the pros,
pect Of little wholesome "persecu-
ton" and at the end of the canvass,
after We have declared chat bhis is un-
doubtedly a Protestant country, the
Roman Church viii find her prospects
improved one hundred per cent.
No intelligent man believes that
Romanism is growing in the United
States. There is an Increase of Cath
olics, an incredse of churches, priests,
and bishops; all that is true. But this
increase comes from the foreign emf
grafton to this country. 1t is suscep-
tible of proof that thousands of these
foreigners are gradually drifting away
from the church CT their fathers, and
if let alone, viii become Protestants;
and place their children under Protes-
tant influence. But the moment that
a political party is formed on the bes-
is Of antagonism TO Rome, every pref
udice of birth and education is aroused
and the Catholic Church removes her
wandering children. There is no
more effective Omission" enterprise for
Romanism than a political crusade
against any tenet OF the Roman Cath
Ole Church: The principles wrong,
and the influence 81 seCtarian politics
is pernicious in every possible view Of
the subject. A Christian minister is
entitled to his private opinion upon
any and every subject, but he has 10
right to bring into his pulpit any
questions relating to politics. We
mean by politics, partisan issues. on
on which parties divide, and decis-
ions are given by the elective fran
GhiSe.
The ministers of the Gospel III tie
Protestant Churches OF the United
States are competent to conduct ahy
controversy which the Roman Catho-
lie Church may propose. But the
political arena is no place for this con-
troversy. Freedom in the exercise Of
religious opinion belongs equally to
the Romanist and the Protestant.
When the Romanist seeks to under
mine our political institutions, the
Protestant sense Of this country viii
promptly and thoroughly deal with the
aggressor. But we protest against the
transfer Of purely theological discus
sions to political newspapers; and to
political partisans. The result is dam
age to the cause of God, and perma-
nent injury to Professionalism. He Is no
friend to Protestant ruth, who desires
TO make it the basis Of political party.
This is arell union of Church AMI
State, having all the evils of such an
alliance, and none of the benefits ac-
cruiug to the stronger party in an en-
d0wed establishment.