The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-06
POLITICS AND RELIGION.

IS SIMPLY disgusting 10 many OF us Gu anu
warmest friends. The Republican party
needs all of its members in line for the COM
ing campaign. Do you think it policy to try
to ALLEVIATE them by such a course? There
are thousands of free-thnkers in Indiana,
and they generally Republicans but will
not stand much of this kind of bigotry and
intolerance in their leading organs You
should now open your columns to some COM
petent person to give true sketch OF Ben
netts life. AMOS WOODBURY."
1t is a difficult thing to see just what con-
belief or disbelief in any religious dogma
As rule, every doctrine must stand or fall
on its own merits. 1t will not do to saddle too
much on the Republican party at one time. 1t
has already carried many heavy and valuable
burdens from the uncertainty of doubt to the
solid ground OF accomplished facts. 1t stands
to-day the exponent of all the better prnci-
Piles of government, and is the custodian of
all of the country's best interests. But it is
unfair to put upon it the burden of
being sponsor for any church or religion.
This it has never assumed, but has always
allowed the fullest, freest action in matters
spiritual. 1t has, however, always espoused
the cause of morality and good government
against immortality and chaos. The great
mass of the Republican party, while toler-
ating the greatest freedom in religious belief
and practice, has no sympathy with obscenity
or vulgarity from whatever source it may
emanate. 1t believes in honorable manhood,
!
has but condemnation and contempt for any
man or men who are guilty of practices or
teachings that can but be harmful to all with
whom they come in contact. The Journal is
in full accord with the Republican party, not
as an organ, but because it believes that the
party is right If the party is to descend to
minority because it dare condemn mmor-
atty, let it go there. 1t cannot afford to in
dorse questionable morals to curry favor with
nybody.
1t is not fair to infer from this that the
free-thinkers as body. On the contrary, the
widest liberty is granted in all things not
pertaining to matters polite, or affecting the
welfare of mankind while living.
The most notable freethinkers
and infdels in the country find
place in the Republican party, right by the
side of the most straight-laced descendants
of Puritan stock Robert G. Ingersoll is &C.
corded as much freedom as is any man. His
eloquence has stirred the party to renewed
energy, and he has enjoyed the fullest con-
fidence of his party associates His private
character is, so far as we know, blameless,
and he is good citizen. So far as his criti-
cisms Of religion are concerned that does not
prevent him being a good Republican, and
nobody has presumed to read him out of the
party because he is not an orthodox Chris
tan. But where man is found whose utter
ances are harmful to the morality and virtue
of society, there are few Republicans who
would not condemn him He might still be
Republican, enjoying all the privileges of
fellowship. But that is 10 guaranty that
he will enjoy immunity from criticism on
matters extraneous. The party cannot I'M
herents in all they do. Some Republicans
are dishonest. The party cannot indorse
theft Some are murderers The party can
not stand between them and the penalty
prescribed. Some Republicans are obscene.
The party cannot apologize for OBJ
scenity on account of partisan fellowship.
There are laws against public obscenity and
immoral teachings, just as there are against
theft and murder. In different ways and in
different degrees each is REGARDED as harmful
to the best interests of society.
Now, final word relative to D. NJ Ben
nett, OF unsavory fame, and his teachings
Bennett died under a cloud. Not that he
did not accept Christ as the savior of man.
kind, nor that he did not believe all or any
thing that is found in the Bibe but rather
that he taught doctrines generally regarded
as harmful to the best interests of society and
destructive of morality, the foundation
stone of good government. The Journal has
been free to criticise and condemn his teach
ings. 1t does so still, just as it denounced
the libel put upon the women of Indianapo-
lis by free-thinking paper in this city. 1t
was an infamous Islander and the Journal did
not hesitate to so denounce it. Free-thnk-
ers cannot afford to father every mountebank
who happens to proclaim himself wiser than
the great mass of mankind, and they certain
ly cannot undertake to endorse everything
done by indiscreet. characterless
men. So far as the Journal is
concerned, it is willing that its every reader
and that every Republican shall believe for
himself in spiritual matters A man may