The record-union., 1895-01-26
sEcULARIzING GOVERNMENT.

The Stockton Independent has been
examining into the claims Of the pro-
posed sixteenth amendment to the Con-
stitution of the United States, and ap-
proves it. We do not understand how
any one who loves his country, and be-
lieves that the Government should be
wholly secularized, can reach any other
conclusion.
The amendment was proposed to Con-
gress in special message by President
Grant in 1875. Soon thereafter the
League for the Protection of American
Institutions was formed, and it has since
grown to great and useful proportions.
Mainly through it's efforts the vast sums
appropriated to churches for care of the
Indian schools have been Withdrawn, and
but one church now demands these ap-
propriatlons.
The league is an open-door organiza-
ton, having neither secrets nor secret
meetings. Its one purpose is to wholly
mostly toward any church, and is the
champion Of patriotic spirit, and that only.
1t has in its membership the most distiu-
guished men of the nation, the most
prominent publicists and the foremost
thinkers of the age.
1t is this association that is pushing the
amendment referred to. and which sim
ply provides that no State shall, by ap-
preparation or otherwise, devote any pub
lie funds to the support or aid of any
institution whatever that is wholly or in
part, directly or indirectly, under secta-
rian control or management. Can any
good reason be given why such an
amendment should not be adopted?
Twenty-seven States of the Union have
already carried it into their Constitutions,
and there is, we repeat, no reason why it
should not be likewise carried into the
Federal compact. AS the Independent
remarks
Such an amendment, if adopted, would
ents OF the different religious organizations
in the United States. 1t would prevent lobby
ing in Congress and the Legislatures for aid
10 or contracts with religious societies for the
education or care tor Indian children, q mat
ter which is now Ii cause OF much disquiet.
Whatever may be the opinion about the
United states being q Christian country it is
plainly neither u Catholic nor a Protestant
country under the prohibition Of tue Consti-
tuition. AS there are in the whole population
according 10 the last census, only about one
church member to more than two nOn-nem-
bers OF churches, it is probable that if such an
amendment were submitted to the people it
would be adopted. out OF O2,6z2, $50 in
haoitants OF the United States there were only
20,0G9.215 members of churches Out OF
this latter number 569,047 belonged to
churches or societies that are not recognized
as 'evangelicaI." OF these the voters, except
the 10Y, 900 QuakeTs, would probably vote
for such an amendment, and large numb
Of the latter would not depart from their
usual rule not 10 vote. There is, therefore a
strong probability that such an amendment
only needs to be submitted to become part Of
the fundamental law OF the nation. When it
Is considered that 1t would take out of Ameri-
can politics much of one cause OF ill-feeling
among citizens there should be a general de-
mand on Congress to take the necessary steps
10 have those prohibitions incorporated IN
the Constitution.