The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-02-28

some time since we referred, edi-
torially, and briefly, to the tendency
OF the age to break down the re-
stralnts imposed upon the moral ma
ture OF man by religion. This utter
ance has provoked reply from an
able correspondent. which we publish
IN another column.
We do not desire to be understood
as saying that the man or women who
disbelieves the dogmasof Christianity
IS necessarily rendered. thereby NOR.
ally corrupt. Such is far from our be-
lief. We think Thomas Jefferson.
Benjamin Franklin and Abraham
Lincoln will compare favarably with
any men of any church in their pri-
vate lives or their public services.
yet they were all unbelievers.
Religion consists of two THINGS.
its dogmas and it's discipline. The.
statesman has nothing to do with the
dogmas OF the churches, but he per-
celves that the moral discipline.
which religion alone gives, is nscesss.
ry to the preservation of society. It
must he remembered that the present
generation Of Europeans and Ameri-
cans is the result Of hundreds Of gen.
erations trained and subdued by re-
llglous influences. A comparison Of
the skull Of the Northmen, who de-
vastatedEurope thousand years ago,
with the heads of their descendants,
will show that the animal faculties
have been decreased and the moral
faculties increased. The unbeliever
or to-day is the outcome of 1000 years
OF belief. But what would 1000 years
Of unbellef produce! Would not the
moral qualities shrink and the animal
instincts increase! The religious
influence subdues self: it teaches us
to love our neighbors; to do him just
Ice; to treat him as we would desire
ourselves to be treated; it teaches the
brotherhood Of man; self-sacrifco.
charity, mercy, gentleness and virtue.
IL you sweep away this potent infiu-
ence what is left to restrain the brut.
al aggressions Of selfshnesse Is not
this our trouble to-dayi No man can
trust his neighbour; the courts are
full ofdivorce suits; the asylums full
OF abandoned children. One man IN
sures his debtor for S27 900 and mur
ders him; another puts q diabolical
machine on an ocean steomer to blow
It up and thus murder thousand
souia, SO that he may obtain fortune.
Society seems to be turned into pack
OF ravenous wolves tearing and eating
each other.
We agree with our c0rrespondont
that the domains Of church and stafa
should be kept forever separate. Re-
ligion will have enough to do IL il
trains the c0nsciences and hearts of
the people without interfering with
their laws. But ii we were convinced
that all the dogmas Of religion were
absurd. we should still be sorry to see
them assailed; knowing the incalcula-
Bile amount Of good to the race which
springs from belief in them.
| Unbelief is simply destructive: il
does not build up. That magnificent
enthusiasm which subordinates indi.
vidnal selfshness to the good OF the
many can scarcely be expected OF one
who belives that he il himself an &C.
cident, limited to . purely animal ex-
lstence, with no spiritual relationships
Or correspondencies. and with nothing
70 40 but TO satisfy the cravings OF 3
purely selfish, animal existence. Il
whole world filed with such people
u would be . sad sight.