The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-01-12
CHURCH AND STATE.
The Democratic Party and the
Catholic Church. A

DEAR SIR There is no principl
more reprehensible in party politics
nor more subversive of republican
government, than that which appeals
to the religious prejudices Of th'
people, and defies constitutions
guarantees. This heresy is taugh
by the more ultra adherents of tht
| Republican party. Some minds
have the convenient faculty of be
lieving whatever is cut aad squared
or rounded, to fit the narrow diineh
sions Of their prejudices. and Of re
jecting all unpleasant truths and OBJ
jectionable conclusions, however
logical and incontrovertible. 1t il
disagreeable to disturb such com
placent delusions, and if it were
possible for each citizen to be con-
cerned only with his own individual.
ity, it would be unwise and without
motive to molest them. But human
society, especially in its larger de.
velopment, human government, de.
pends upon things Of broader and
more substantial base than the prin-
ciples of fanatics, or the prejudices
of the vicious or the ill-informed.
According to the organic law of the
land, our government is no more
Protestant than Catholic, and it is
so far a usurpation to claim that it is.
Even. and very wisely, the sacred
name of the Deity is pretermitted
from the constitution. and by that
just and liberal instrument, all men
are protected in their rights of con-
science Christianity itself, in any
dogmatic sense, is not part of the
common, or municipal law of the
land. And if citizens have any
rights underlying, or everything, the
fundamental law, still the claims of
non Catholics are not paramount.
By Catholic navigators was the con-
tinent first discovered; Catholic
missionaries first planted the ban
ner Of the cross in the wilderness,
and impaired to the primeval inlIabi-
tants true knowledge of God, and
eternity, and the immortality of the
soul. And at a later period in our
national history. Catholic blood was
shed, and Catholic treasure pledged,
as we'll as Protestant, in the sacred
cause Of civil and religious freedom.
The anti-Republican warfares, un-
der the guise of Republication,
against the Church, is unjust. un-
philosophical, and impolitic. It is
unjust, because there exists no oc-
casion for it; it is not philosophical,
because it is in conflict with the pro-
visions of the constitution and the
genius of free government; and it is
impolitic, because it establishes for
any church, sect, or party, who may
choose to use it, precedent for re-
ligious persecution. 1t is submit
ted, therefore, that it would be wiser
to keep out of political issues. and
as far removed as possible, all re-
ligious or sectarian questions. The
affected cry of Catholic aggression
is sheer Pecksniffian hypocrisy, and
blatant demagogism, pure and sim
pie. While throughout the length
and breadth of this Union, Protes,
(duJ pISdCuClS, do
Thick as autumnal leaves that strew the brooks
in Ya1lombrosa,"
are enjoying the honors and emolu-
ments Of the civil service, vet il
would be difficult to find in all this
land a single Catholic priest holding,
or seeking to hold, a political Office
This is mentioned only by way oi
illustration. We care naught for
the multitudinous lumber of clerical
office-holders, and only ask that the
laws be wise and impartial, and that
they be enforced with integrity and
indiscriminate fairness.
The stump and newspaper. patriots
to whom | have alluded, hope to
compass the end in view, namely,
continued control of the government
by charging. among other things a
coalition between the Democratic
party and the Catholic church. This
supposed union is Uniformed in fact,
and is only predicated in the minds
of factious politicians. IF, for the
most part, we are Democrats, from
principle or affiliation, yet we are
not 'hewers of wood and drawers of
water for that organization. Our
relation is purely fortuitous, and it
cannot be construed into a coalition.
The Church is not compromised by
this connection, and neither is the
party. If Catholics are generally
found in the Democrats ranks, our
Republican friends know full well
eUhg it is So We were first driven
there for sanctuary in the evil days
of Know-nothingism and now a
kindred spirit of intolerance seems
to possess the minds of the more
radical portion of the party now in
power. A systematic and unceasing
persecution through every organ and
opportunity of opinion in newspa-
pers, in periodicals, at meetings, in
pulpits, by telegraph, and even in
centennial letters and orations, has
been persistently and Extensively
maintained by the faction reprobat-
ed. Aud not only are the nimbIe
pens of their penny liners inspired
by bigotry and malevolence, but the
mitre of the august head of the
Church. and the sacred symbol of
Christianity, adorn the subsidized
pages of their infidcl cartoonfsts,
Moreover, with shocking impropriety
even Ulysses, the Silent. must add a
word to-the cau.e of the intelerant
and unjust. @ @ - @~se
1t is not meant, in this ccmmuni-
cation, to inculpate that large and
liberal-minded class Of Republicans
who are, capable of understanding
and according to US our equal rights !;
but exceptionally to those, / do
mean such as are unjust and illibcr-
al of that party-those whose pie
thora Of prejudice is only compen-
sated bV a .sDlentiful lack of wit. -