The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1894-06-29
Che 9ettafrat.
Church And State.
Editor Democrat:

Editor Democrat:
notice in,your issue OF June a. an article
entitled "a Sound Proposition" referring to
the constitutional amendment proposed by
tie National League for the Protection of
American Institutions. The total separa-
tion of church and tate is one OF the cardi-
nal principles which lies at the foundation
of civil and religious liberty, and on which
rests the stability Of our government. The
fact that these principles are being assailed
on every hand gives just cause for alarm
to every lover of that liberty bequeathed
to US by the founders of this republic The
creates. danger lies In the fact that so few
people are aware Of what is beiag done to
destroy their liberties;s so few are doing any
thing 10 turn back the evil tide that Is set
ting in upon us.
But it may be well to enquire what good
can come of this proposed amendment, and
what is the object Of the organization behind
it? The amendment is an innocent looking
thing in itself; ;but docs the League" intend
that II shall be construed in its most obvious
sense of prohibiting the governmental in
reference in matters of reigiona Do the
promoters Of this measure aisignto 'provide
that ;he church and the state shall be kept
separated 1t is quite evident they do not.
The insertion of such an amendment ss is
proposed in the national constitution would
accomplish very little in that direction.
The amendment provides that ''no state
make any Law respecting an establishment
of religion or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof" Mcst of the states have this or j
similar provision in their constitutions; yel
in spite of Il is fact, in several states, nota-
bic Tennessee, Georgia and Maryland,th
is carried on a relentless persecution oi
Seventh day observers for performing hon
est labor on Sunday after they have con-
scientiously observed th= Sabbath of The
Bible. A futher provision of that amend
mant is, in substance.
That no public funds shall be used in aid
or support of any institution under sectarian
control. This is nothing more than blow
aimed at the Catholic church. Daring th'
last nire years the Catholic church anC
about Dozen protestant schurches, In aagran
violation of the constitutioD, have received
trom the eovernmtnt ofover S4ooo,ooo to aiC
in carrying on their mission schools anon,
the Indians. Tho Catholics received owe
half this money. Inc protestant churehe
seeing the Catholics get more than two do!
lars to their one very naturally diA not lik
it. and protested against such an unevel
distribution of he money,bus without avail
And tten, rather than be out done by III,
Catholic church the pro:estants changes
their policy and have decided 10 take n,
more money, and are endeavoring to prsven
the Catholics from getting any. OF VIA
use is it to say that the states shall no
contribute to the supportof ssctarian insti.
tuIions, and shall make no law respecting
an establishment cf religion, when the na
tional government had already established
the Christian religion and established tn
precedent of supporting it wltH the nstiona
unds3 On the 2oth day of February IS9
he U S SurIeme court declare
in an oficisl decision that '';his is
religious people sand" this is a christia
nation.'' 1t follows therefrom that chris
.ianity is the established religion of ihi
nation. That being the case it logicall
deyolves upon the government TO propaga:
AMI maintain ii at the public expense
So far as this proposed amendment i
concerned, the government is not prohibit
from setting up and supporting any in
struetion or doctrine that it sees 1T. Indee
that very thing has already been done
In July 1892 when the matter of maxim
an appropriation to aid the Worlds Fai
came up in,congress,a a grand religious com
bins.ion composed of the National Reform
Association, he American Sabbath Union
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union
The Christian Eujeavor Society and othe
allied associations, representing all the lead
ing Protestant churches. brought tn
entire weight of their inf lerce to bea
uPo1 congress AMI by threats de
mandsd thlt congress should oficiall,
dec de and declare by statute thai
Sunday is the Sabbath and require is OBJ
servance as such by the closing of tht
Worlds Fair on Sunday. Congress yield
eI and surrendered itself into the hands oi
the religious combination, and did Iheil
bidding. Congress assumed the authority
to decide religious question and enacted
that Sunday is the Sabbath of this nation.
II congress can legistate upon and decide
one religious doctrine, it can by the same
authority establish national creed. All
this was done because the religious COM
bin1tiOn wantel it done. Now what il
this League for the Protection of Ameri-
cln Institutions for? Is it to oppose this
thing that has been done? Not by any
msars. Tne men who compose this league
are the very men who helped bv voice. pen
and influence to foist their religion upon
the Laiion, and commit the government
to religious legislItion: and they rejoice
that they have succeeded SO we'll. The
very men who favored that thing are in ia.
vor OF all that the league proposes; because
they see nothing in 1t that will militase tbeir
ambitioIs scheme 10 capture The United
States government and use is power to
further their awn ends.
F J Dye.
Shedd o.
'fhe Salem Journal gives the following
Reform school item to show how it is run;
On the 2lth Of A Auril Inhnnv McNamara