Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-07-10
MI. BlaIne's Relixiou.

MI. Blaine's Religion.
Although there is nothing hidden in
Mr.. Blaine's religious opinions, there
are still some who, with mysterious
winks and mods, look at each other and
ray "oh, yes, but he is a Catholic
and you know 1 could not think of vo
ting for a Catholic" ~ if by doing SC
some terrible sin was committed tina,
could never be atoned for. Such persons
are entirely too much of the goody
goody" order to live in this wicked ant
unfriendly world. One, where there
were no such wicked things as Catho.
lies would suit them much better, but
where such a world can be found is
something upon which we have no in.
formation to impart.
We have often noticed that some OF
these self-religious zealots are the
strongest kind Of politicians. Yes, they
are often 10 be found, even amongst
Office holders elected by these same
Catholics whom they affect TO despise
1t is all right tor Catholics to vote fol
them, and they would even spend
money with a lavish hand and lose
many sleepless hours TO get such Votes
but i, would be AN objectionable sin
to think of making such rule work
two ways. We do not know what to
term such actions short of religion {
bigotry, and seli-pufied-up righteous
Eess that -" would bless me and my
wife, my son John and his wife, us
four and no more"
We have always found what we
deemed the best christians and the
most enterprisiug citizens amongst that
class of people who are so beral in
their religious views as to believe that
there are good christians found every
where, in all scots Of professors, and
even outside OF any sect. Pure re-
Ggion is not circumscribed and henmed
in by church creeis and chancel rail-
ing. 1t will not keep well by being
tucked up in napkins and hidden away
in cloisters and class-rooms. 1t shines
the brightest when exposed the most,
and its e1fulgent beams are thrown
broadcast over all the earth like the
sun shining upon the evil and upon the
good, and the rain that descends upon
the just and the unjust.
But we did not intend 20 90 off in a
religious tangent when We commenced
our article, and so We will return TO our
original purpose. We were talking
about some people who tried to make
themselves believe that Mr.. Blaine is q
Catholic, and for thar Tt ason he was a
very unsafe man TO trust in the Presi
den tial chair. We need hardly paus,
to say that these over-zealous person.
are Democrats, belonging to party u
which four-fifths of the Catholics in tn,
country are attached, and their whole
object is to create a distrust and secta
rian feeling amongst Republicans thai
will inure TO tue benefit Of the Demo
cratic candida g tor President, whoever
he may be.
We are pleased to believe that ther.
is nobody in the Republican ranks thai
will be influenced by such action. Tn,
barrier walls of sectarianism have be
come so low and weak in these days o.
liberal thought aud sentiment that sue.
\ hue and cry must lose its force. Til,
people are not looking after goo,
Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Baptist
Methodist or Catholic for whom TO cas-
their votes;they are looking after a maj
that rises above mere sectarianism, an,
such man they have found in jaime
G. Blaine.
But still the question is asked, is b
Catholic This is question he ha
fully answered himself in letter to hi
old preceptor in Washington College
written eight years ago. That let,,
should be read by everybody, and i
will be found in another column of 10
days REPUBLICAN,. In it he refers I
the sinister motives of those who raise,
the same question in those days, an,
yet some OF those same men sat wit
him in Presbyterian Bible class il
the same college. He has no hesita
tion in answe' ing and saying that hi
family upon his fathers side were al
devoted Presbyterians, and with a
little hesitation he says his mother
whom but To know is but TO love TO
her christian virtues, was devote.
Catholic.
Not for thousand Presidencies woul
mr. Blaine say one word against tn
religion of his mother. Mr.. Blaine is
Presbyterian, or, in New England,
Congregationalist,w which is the sam
thing, but be he what he may, belon
to what church he will, where is rh
man, woman or child, with rhe spirit G
manhood in their bosoms ,who will nc
say that James G. Blaine is a ma
IN the true accepta,ion Of the word, ris
ing Tar superior to the little carpin
spirit that would strike him down be-
cause his mother, whom he loved, wa
devoted Catholic, and his sense {
Christian manhood would not PERM
him TO say a word against the religio
OF MS mother? No, Mr.. Blaine is no
Catholic, neither is he a religion
bigot.