The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-07-05
The Proof.
Editor Golfer Ckroaicle:


Editor Golfer Ckroaicle:
Messrs. Wood, Payne and Brian
have turned over to Old Crusty the
task of proving that Editor Boone's
statements in the Baptist Chronicle
we're and are true. 1t will take a
series of articles to even briefly
present the proof called for. The
writer will try to confine each
article to one column. He pro-
poses that no bitterness, acrimony,
or abuse shall enter his side of the
discussion. The sole aim of the
discussion should be to ascertain
the truth. Some important facts
underlie this subject that we must
take into consideration to properly
understand it. The first is, Cathol-
icism has not, and cannot in this
country, reach the full baneful re-
suits Of its doctrines and teachings.
The reason for this is very evident.
All societies of necessity modi-
fed by the prevailing influences.
In no country on earth has heart
experimental life, modifying and
purifying religion, been as univers-
ally imbibed as in the United
States. So true is this that the
sixty-five millions of inhabitants
are largely influenced and con-
trolled by it. The seven million of
Catholics in this country cannot
help being restrained by these in
fuences, and thus is Catholicism
indebted for much of the good in
it in this country to the deep toned
spirituality of Baptist and Pro-
testant christianity. This is espe-
cially true outside of Louisiana,
for in this State Catholicism has
more adherents in proportion to
the population than in any State
in the Union; and one result at
least has followed, and that is, in
this State alone Except one little
new State) can a proposition to
fasten upon the people such a gam
bling, swindling concern as the
Louisiana State Lottery be even
got before the Legislature or the
people for discussion, much less
with any such prospect of success
as confronts MS here now. That
little new State had moral courage
enought to reject the bid to buy
its morality and its honor. Will
Louisiana do the same? If not
who will bear the blame?
Another great underlying princi-
pie in this country is religious
freedom. No people hold to this
doctrine more tenaciously than the
Baptist. Their doctrines forever
forbid their attempting to suppress
error or advance truth by physical
force. Every convert must make
his confession freely and voluntari-
". Boone's articles were written
in full view of this our cardinal
doctrine; therefore Boone says in
his explanation, ''men ought to
be able to discern between physical
force and the convincing power of
logic, between carnal and spiritual
weapons. The generality of the
articles in the secular papers showed
gross ignorance of the above or a
wilful peryersion of what was writ
ten with full understanding of it,
when they tried to make it appear
that Boone and Lear limited at
physical force. Again, it is great
underlying principle that agitation
and activity are essential to purity
and life. The Catholic church
showed that it was afraid to turn
the light on its teachings and prac-
tees when it forbade public dis
cussion of them and hid away much
of its work from the light. As it
secludes itself it is in danger of
becoming more and more corrupt
and rotten. "One of Them" does
not discuss these questions with
the writer, for his church has for
bid it sFor every one that doeth
evil hateth the light neither cometh