The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-03-28
"writer. on Relislon".-A Reply.


"writers on RcIigion".--A Reply,
The Daily HERALD Of tho 7th instant,
contains IN elaborate editorial undor thu
above quoted caption, the substance (which
Ia that Diderot, Rousseau and Voltalro may
have been intellectual giants, but, neyerIho-
loss, because Of their irreligion thoy were
moral pigmies. Hence, that faith In the su-
pernatural Is essential to virtue.
This argument, with oil duo dcfopncc,
may be fallacsus. II has, however tho merit
Of inccssant repetition by Christian writer's
and speakers. They not only rely upon II
as against Inadols and Psgans, but it Is made
to do duty rs thewatchwordi in the irreprosei-
bio conflict between the sects. The Catholic
hurls II against tho Protestant, and the Pro.
testant launches II continually at the hoad Of
Catholicism, while each rival denomination
accuses tho other Of heresy and immortality.
Wherefore II these religious factions tell
the truth upon one another, land no orthodox
InAdel doubts them upon this score,
however much he may scruplo at their dog
mas), it Is proof positive that the fertile fields
of faith are us barren in morality rs the
Sahara OF atheism Indeed, one could I'LL up
every column Of the mammoth HERALD
with extracts from Standardization authors
of comparative shrines, charging each other
with every infamy charged in the decalogue.
For instance here Is paragraph from the
Catholic Tablet IN. ~
"The dominant religion and morality Of
the United States is unquostionably Evange-
ism, and equally unquestionable is it that
the whole Evangelical population of the
country is, as to both public and private
virtue, well nigh rotten"
Here 10 a Presbyterian opinion of Catholic
ism. "Monasteries and nunneries are sinks
of corruption. n y Popery Is the
malaria of nations. Popery makes tho very
land TO decay, while it ensaves and destroys
the ul."-Rev. John Breckinridge's debate
with Bishop Hughes, page $40. But here Is
witness TO the non-essential character OF
religion as amoral faction: "The Swiss poo
pie present to the political philosopher tho
unexpected and most remarkable social
phenomenon of people eminently moral
in conduct, yet eminently irreligous, at the
head Of the moral state in Europe, not mere
ly for absence ofnumerous or great crimes,
or of disregard Of right, but for ready obeii-
ence to law; for honesty, fidelity to their en-
gagements for fair dealing, sobriety and in
dustry, orderly conduct, for good govern
ment, useful public institutions, general woll
being and comfort; yet, at the bottom of
the scale for religious feeling observances or
knowledge. II lisa very remark.
able social state, similar, perhaps, to that of
the ancient Romans, in whom morality, and
social virtue were also sustained without the
aid of religious influences, "Laing's notes of
Traveller" page 1851,
well to ponder the following statistics,
directly upon the issue:
Official parliamentary report, at tho in
stance of Secretary John Trelawney, in
1878:
Criminals in England and Wales in
lS73....."............ ...".........."l46, l46
sEcTARIAN AND INFIDEL POPULATION IN
ENGLAND AND WALES.
Church of England. ,032, 1886
Dlssenters $50, lOS
ath0llcs......"......... ,OUO ,OUO
d, SOU
lnndelS ,UUU,UOO
RELIGIOUS PERsUAsIoNs OF CRIMINALS IN
ENGLAND AND WALES.
Church of England. ....................96 , 097
Catholics. ,5Sl
Dlssenters............".. ."..".."...".l0 ,B4S
jews. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 256
Lnnueis.....~.............". Z9l
CRIMINALS TO 5000 OF POPULATION.
Catholics. 500
Church OF England. 400
Dissenters $50
Infdels. ..."...................... s
1t would thus appear that belief in the
supernatural 10 not only non-essentisl but
that it is absolutely responsible for the great
body Of criminals. That the more faith tho
less virtue. SERyETUs.