The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-12-20
Pulpit Politics Again and Again

Pulpit Politics Again and Again
Mr.. EDITOR Some unknown JUS
tice' has shown his injnstice by making
a personal attack, through the columns
of your paper, upon Back Seat for
his views regarding the Thanksgiving
discourse, as expressed in the previ-
ons issue of the PRESS. He charges
the liberty there taken as an attempt
to vent some personal spleen upon the
speaker, to which the author of that
communication has but to say, that
there is no ground for such a charge
and it is untrue. To his knowledge
nothing but the most friendly relation
exists between the orator on Thanks
giving day and him. 1t was not the
man, but the sentiments expressed by
him on that occasion, to which excep-
tions were taken sentiments that of
late are universally expressed by pull
pit orators in the Christian Church :;
and those who give audience to such
cannot fail to remember that but a
short time since similar questions con-
stituted the theme of their discourse,
and through their mediate influence
the fires Of civil war were kindled on
American soil. However beneficisl
that war may have resulted to q class
of human beings or the people as a
nation matters not; such experiments
are dangerous in the extreme and
should only be the derneir resort, and
he who would advise or incite the
people to act upon different princi-
pie is an unwise and dangerous coun-
selor. respect the profession of the
clergy. love and cherish the teach
ings of the Bible, but from my study
of that book have as yet failed to
find even an excuse for such har.
rangue from one who processes to be
q moral and Christian teacher, as the
one delivered by Rev. Hills at the
new Disciple Church. l do not know
that should differ with Rev. Justice
in this, that the clerical profession
may perform duty that is not for
eign to their calling, by dealing with
the 'moral aspect of some political
questions; but if the discourse in
question was such dealing, then l
mnst admit that l am unable to dis
tinguish between the.t moral aspect OF
political questions, as Justice puts it,
aud politics itself. ask the author of
Pulpit Politics Again. to cite me the
authority in that Book he pretends to
revere, where it is made the duty of
a Christian teacher to calumniate and
SANDER the rulers and magistrates Of a
nation because, on matters Of public
and private policy, they have acted
upon principle different from what
he might believe would have been
dictated by natural justice. want to
know by what moral and God declar-
ed authority he is licensed to charac-
terize, without exception, the political
worthless, the peoples chosen, whose
lives haye been spent for the preser-
vation of the State and welfare of the
people, as thieves and robbers, liars
and perjurers, peculators and gam
blers, fit only to become inmates OF
prisons and penitentiaries, with other
hell-born cpithets and iron-bound
curses applied, which care not now
to recount. Have these chosen of the
people no rights which Christian min
listers are bound to respect? If so.
what rights have such pretended
Christian teachers which the secular
people should respect2 Do you deny
that such epithets were SO applied? 1t
you do, l appeal TO fact aud to the un-
biased auditors Of the discourse in
question. II you admit they were,
then I appeal to your frozen sense of
duty and prOpriety to know whether
such can be mildly pronounced as deal
ing with The moral aspect of political
questions. or is it malicious slander
and wicked abuse. .-.lsr ~ a...
If Christian tongues can thus spit
thetr duties OUT and courses live
where prayers do then the vilest ca
lumniator may teach morality with a
vengence that 'blurs the grace aud |
Dlush of mOdesty.' And for what
:ause have they to them derived his I
sngerr He names the passage Of the
silver bill in the Lower House during
he late extra session of Congress, a
,ill demanded by every sense of nat
lral justice and equity, demanded by
he people everywhere irrespective of
,arties, and to which these represent
Itiyes of the people were pledged to
support. As late as the 18th dav of
he present month, 5000 Of the business
men of the city OF Chicago, belonging
o all political parties, in convention
by resolutions demanded
he unconditional restoration of the
liver dollar; aud declared that should
nc President interposc his veto power
heir representatives would be justified
n Withholding appropriations until he
would succnmb, and for SO doing they
would have the earnest support of the
'eOple. And because OF this act of
he present Congress, this Christian
eacher, in "a Christian Church, under
he moral aspecr(2) of things. can
ind excuse to vilify aud slander with
ut stint the agents of the people in
congress, and for SO doing Mr.. Jus.
ice' declares that he performed
double duty doubt, Mr.. Justice
hat in your then state of conscious-