The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-01-24
Amendments 10 the Constitution.

A Mr.. O'Brien, of Maryland, member of
the present congress of the United States, is
not satisfied with the present constitution
of the country, and thinks he can amend it
if the states will only acquiesce in what he
proposes. 1t is a little unfortunate
for such men that when their
souls are big with statesmanlike
conceptions they can secure delivery
only through the long, slow process of secur-
ing the concurrence of three-fourths of the
legislatures of the states. This some times
checks most patriotic and ambitious aspira-
tions to supplement the wisdom of the
fathers and generally benefit the country.
If some of these astute reformers should
only conceive and carry out the idea of
sbolishing this restriction, what grand
things might be accomplished under the
suspension of the rules every now and then!
Genius usually blazes out in sudden
corruscations, and its benevolence should
not be checked by legal limitations and
dry rules. In these days when flying
machines and balloon travelling are Just
within grasp of somebody's inventive
genius, what a pity that any sort of
hindrance should forbid the same sort of
rapid transit to more perfect ideas
of political propriety. The old idea
that political principles should be evolved
by experience in governmental affairs,
might do for an earlier age of the world, but
the day of proving things and holding
fast to that which is good is superseded by
the present plan of having good things
ready made. We live in an extraordinary
age, and ideas flash out upon the world
without premonition, dazzling the be-.
holder and astonishing the world.
Considering the accomplishment of Mr..
O'Brien, dashed of, as it were, during a
division of the House, there seems to be an
era dswning when the occupation of the
thinker will be gone. Look at the amend
nent he introduced yesterday in congress,
in the length and breadth of it, and mark its
sections. They number two. The first
deals with religion. The second is semi
religious, and refers to the schools, Mr..
O'Brien is not plagisrist. but still
finds 1t convenient to borrow q
phrase of the first amendment to
the constitution, changing the word con-
gress to that of state. In the
early history of the government the states
feared that congress might assume the
right of creating by law national religious
establishment. This would interfere with
the rights of the states to do that, and
when the states saw drift in that direc-
ton this amendment preserved to them
this right of creating a religious establish
ment If the people so desired. Catholic
Maryland feared as much the exercise of
this power as Protestant New England, and
hence for self-protection the states ratified
the amendment. But now comes Mr..
O'Brien and moves that the states shall not
do this But this is not satisfactory. Re-
ligion appears to him dangerous thing,
and the ministers OF religion are not to be
trusted with office of honor or emolument.
This is sweeping. The rabbi of the Jews
must stand aside, the priests of the Catholic
religion must hide away when public Office
Ia being Unfortunately thrust upon
men. The Protestant must not take
the oath OF Office. The clerical pro-
fession must be entirely ignored when
the offices are parceled out. But now
mark the concluding clause of the section,
ana see how neatly it consists with the
former. No religious test shall be required
as qualification for office-that is, the
absence Of religion should be no bar to
! oftice-holding, but the profession Of religion