Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-19

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We will plead guilty for the church on
every fearful count in the long and terrible
indictment But the church is not chris
tianity. In no way or manner can Christ
or His apostles be arraigned for the inhu.
man and unchristian acts Of their professed
followers. 1t is unfair in the highest de-
gree for any man claiming to be candid
investigator and faithful historian, to
seem to implicate them in such misdeeds."
tThe church of the present is
not responsible for the sins of the church
of the past" claims the Bishop. And lie
is right Let us, for instance, apply the
logic to civil government. Glancing back
through history, what an indictment might
be. found against the various civil govern
ments that have cursed numerous countries
and peoples! But it would be unjust to de-
nounce all civil government, and especially
the government of this republic. because
other governments have been bad. The
principle of authority and order survives
all maladministration Some governments
| to-day are unfit to exist, but for that cause
we are not to aim at the overthrow of all
governments and establishment of anarchy.
If Mr.. Ingersoll would direct his
attacks against the weak spots in the vari-
GUS churches, as in political speech he
would direct his attacks against the errors
of policy and practice of his opponents,
such discriminating attacks might be pro
ductive of much good. But his sweeping
attacks upon religion itself because of the
faults of the churches tend to strengthen
the church organizations behind their en-
trenchments of error, because the great
body of mankind would rather maintain
the imperfect church than see the founda-
tions of Christianity swept away. Suppose
the democratic party were in power and
Mr.. lngersoll should proclaim that the
whole fabric of government must be swept
away because the authority was badly ad-
ministered Would not such levelling
doctrine rally all the conservative elements
of society around the party in power, be-
cause they would prefer the government
with all its faults to no government:
The following form for an iron-clad note
is all apt and clever burlesque on the forms
used by the many grasping Shylocks who
infe<t this western country:
Son On or before the. day of lSSO: "a. D.
| 1880, for value received, promise to pay
to the order Of. -! ...........at... ..-...
| D. t.. dollars, with interest at 10
per cent. from date till paid, without relief
from appraisement stay or exemption laws,
and in case suit is instituted for its collec-
ton, anything and everything in my pos
session can be levied upon and sold, includ-
ing the last suit of clothes, the school books
and food Of my children, with the coffin or
coffins and tombstones of all my deceased
relatives, and in case that every article is
sold and there remains anything due on this
note, agree that the services of myself,
wife and children and servant girl shall be
sold until the demands of this note are sat
isfied; and further agree that in case of
suit on this note for collection will pay all
attorneys fees, together with the board
bills, livery hire, saloon bills, including
billiards and poker, and all other miscelia'
neous expenses and outlays of the plaintiff,
his agents and attorneys, pending the suit,
and to support the entire families of said
plaintiff and his agents and attorneys and
all his and their near relatives until final
judgment and full satisfaction of execution
thereon. And / further agree to live on
corn or barley bread and sorghum molasses
from the date hereof until the note is fully
paid and satisfied, with all the interest,
costs and disbursements aforesaid.