Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-03-22
Non-Sectarianism.
LETTER FROM SENATOR BLAINE.


From the Concord Monitor.I
We regret that the following statesmen
like letter OF Senator Blaine, OF Maine, did
not come to hand sooner, so that we might
have presented II before election day to
the 10000 readers of our weekly edition:
for we feel certain that il every voter in
our state could have persued it before de
posting his vote, the adoption of the most
important of the proposed amendments 10
our organic law would have been assured
beyond peradventure. Mr.. Blaine's
treatment OF the religious test clause is
such As might have been predicted OF so
heightened. liberal and progressive
statesman and thinker; and his comments
on the educational question show how
thoroughly alive he his to the dangers
which menace Us in that direction.
~WAsHINGroN, ID. c. Dec. -, 1876.
} Hon. " E. Chandler, Concord. v. H.
My Dear II was glad to find in my
brirl interview. with you, as you passed
through Washington on your way North,
that you are warmly in favor OF removing
from your Constitution those clauses which
prohibit Roman Catholics from holding
office N New Hampshire. | doubt not you
viii find "a majority OF your fellow mem
berS OF the Constitutional Convention hold.
Ing the same views, and certainly hope
that all Republicans will unite in strik
ing IRON your organic law a prospective
test which the Democrats maintained dur
ing their long supremacy in your State
1t Will he especially gratifying and special
Is significant to see this disability rtmoy-
ed from the, Catholics by Republican
Constitutional Convention, at the very
time uf all Others when the members OF
that church are massed in the we'll nigh
absolute unauim!ty, aud intlamed with
unreasonable hate and bitterest rancor,
against our prrty. II is easy and natural
for any political party to extend the fran
chi,e and liberties of its allies and support
crs-but Il J. the peculiar merit and honor
Of the Republican party. that II has eX-
tended franchise ana liberty to friend and
foe alike. II has removed political dis
abilities from a large mass Of influential
men i'd all the southern States, with the
absolute certainty that the power thus
freely given would be used for the defeat.
and Il possibly, the destruction ot the pol
itical organization that conferred il.
Let Us be- just and lair towards all Ii
the Republican party cannot hold power
il tins country by the free suilrages Of all
the legal voters. without regard ID creed,
caste, color % nationality, Then ~ courses
We ~ out Of power and ~ ont with uu-
stained honor aud with il record oi magma
nlm.ty aud patriotism that has no parallel
IA the history OF political organizations in
America.
While Teaioving All disabilities from
Catholic voters IN your state, DO not fail at
the samc time 10 strengthen your system
Ot free common schools with all the sane
tons and safeguards vi organic iaw. Deep
Is Interested a. thousands OF Catholic Iay-
men are Ia maintaining free schools ~ The
only assured method ot providing cduca-
uon Tor thcir children, the Catholic priest
l~huod OF the JuItrd States ut America seem
determined 10 break down the system OF
non >ectaTian public instruction % happily
established and so PROSPEROUS IN most ot
the states. On that issue there must no
parleyiu. and no paitcriu:. Popular cdu-
cation. without regard 10 religious creed
must be maintained ia til, country at ail
hazards as the only sure ioundatiuu OF
popular government, the only guaranty OF
liberty regulated By law. And the Ca;ho-
he prie>t hood OF the United States may a.
we'll understand that on thi, question there
viii be no compromise and not one hairs
breadth OF yielding by the advocates OF
the free common schools.
have no desire to iuterpose my advice
gratultously in the affairs of your state but
the issue to which | have thus FREELY refer
red will affect public opinion far beyond
the boundaries of New Hampshire. An
injurious public policy maintained by the
Republicans IN one state binders the sue
cess oi the parry throughout the Union.
You IRE al liberty 10 communicate these
views to auy one who may care for my
opinion on the question involved. And #
YOU deem it desirable. may make this let
ter pubic.
Very sincerely yours.
i. G.. BLAINE.