The San Francisco call., 1896-02-29

PutSuits. Such efforts are violations OF the
Iight OF conscience. They are destructive of
tne peace OF the people, and undermine the re-
speet the citizens now entertain for the mes
saRes Of religion
eter sr raised its head in this country is the po-
nlleel rellg ious society that seeks to invest
any creed with the character of domin6ncy by
,sans ,i,s OF political influences. Whatever us
netne or denomination or religious parentage
.t ls nothing more nor less than conspiracy
against the constitution of the United states
auu . me people seeking the protection or that
great and holy instrument. The tendency
VI u sacn organizations is, first, to glorlly
thelr own creed as the dominant one;
+ secondly, to exclude from the rights
or any number who do not subscribe
70 or accept the theological interpretations OF
tnelr creed, and thereby to introduce INTO the
country species OF inquisition, no less per
nlclous because among the reans 1t uses TO
accomplish its purposes are not the old means
ol torture and Imprisonment and death. 1hey
begin innocently enough. They commence
their corporate life social or political organ
lzauons, ostensibly for the purpose OF correct
ing abuses that have attached themselves 70
the government, but the cloven hoof is soon
visible. Hatred against other denomina-
tons and the ambition 10 make their
own creed a dominant influence soon ap-
pear to be, the motive. | have no at
tack TO make on any particular society
OF that character. hold them ALL OF WDafeYer
description, in equal adherence. hold tnem
guilty OF treason against the constitution.
cution They throw the country in foInent
that may result in the worst evils that nave
yet befallen US. For there is no hatred as ter
rib BILE in its consequences as religious hatre a.
There is no limit TO the extent 1t will go IN set
ting Gains brand on its own forehead. Poiit-
ical quarrels are bad enough.
Yet men may legitimately differ on lnterpre-
tauOns of the aims and objects OF government
and the principles of sIatecraft and political
economy in so far they affect the progress
and welfare OF the country and its people.
The abuse that political contestants hurl at
each other, the petty charges and accusa-
tions invented by candidates for political
Office have often q Pick Wicklan character and
it rarely fails that the seething caldron of
politics becomes still and silent the day after
an election.
But this is because within the century there
have been before the people OF this country
but two issues which threatened to involve: the
solidarity OF the Nation. The first issue was a
construction of the powers OF the constitution
in so far as they operated on the sovereignty
OF States; the second issue, the horrible traffic
in human life. The tariff question is not a
vital issue III that same sense, hence elections,
ing, in spite OF the latter pass off peaceably
and leave no rancor the character of which
seriously affects the Nation. When majority
of the people elect their candidate the people
are content.
But God in his mercy save us from the p9rti-
sanship now springing up in the landi 1t is
humillatng to think even OF the possibility. OF
American citizens prostituting the ballot-b0X
to give vent TO their religious hatredsl Shall
we, on the issues that are or may be before the
country, cast our ballots as Catholics, Protes-
tests or Jews? l should like toargue that ques-
tion with you.
The constitution and the institutions of the
country have nodded US into a homogen eous
body OF citizens, whose National ambitions
and political projects are derived from COM
mon source-our love for our country. No
other faculty can be called into play. Our re-
hgious affiliations have nothing whatever to
do with our duty as citizens. We vote for
measures, or, if we like for candidates, but the
latter must be judged by their principles, their
political opinions, their personal and moral
eharacter-never by their religious atfilla-
tions.
Ishall never vote for Jew because ne is q
| Jew. Ii Jews band together TO elect co.
religionist merely because he is a Jew l shall
hold them TO be perniciOus traitors. II Jews
should ever organize society with the intent
OF pressing candidates upon the people whose
greatest merit is that they are Jews, l should
| hold such society to be q conspiracy against
| the constitution. l avail myself of this oppor-
! tunity TO brand malicious falsehoods any
assertions TO the effect that such societies oi
Jews exist in the United States or elsewhere.
| They would not be tolerated by intelligent and
| patriotic Jews.
The latest attempt in Chicago to organize a
! Jewish Democratic Club was denounced in
! every Jewish organ III the country. Jews may
| affiliate where they please, but they must do
| so as citizens. The assertion that the B'nai
Birth ever was, or aspired to be, factor in
National politics, or in any other politics, is q
| falsehood on its face. The assertion that the
Russian Alliance exercised its corporate powers
TO influence the Legislature is not true, cannot
and could not be true. The Jewish citizens oi
the United States understand that in the dis
charge OF their political duties. no considera-
ton must be attached to either race or religion.
Neither OF the two constitutes test of good
citizenship. The Jewish citizen Will vote with
his party or for the candidate whose election
seems to him the surest guarantee that the
Government will be honestly administered
and that the fangs OF impurity and corruption
cannot fasten on the interests OF the common
wealth.
Jefferson was right and look forward to the
twentieth century with some uneasineSs, Jus
as he looked forward to the nineteenth cen
tury. see the flames of civil war sometimes
breaking out, though they may be extinguished
by the right.
What can we do when We see the passions oi
the people stirred up as they are now
When people are stultifying themselves bJ
violating the constitute of the United States
When the worst passions OF humanity are be-
ing stirred up? Our grandfathers all know
that the very worst passions OF humanity are
religious passions. Nothing in civilized life il
so horrible as religious passion. Nothing effects
the welfare OF q country more than religious
hatreds. Nothing will bring near to civil
war than the attitudes OF the sects 10 one an
other.
Dr. Voorsanger referred to the prophe
cies of glorious material progress that were
being made for the twentieth century, ano
continued:
But they overlook the fact that the peo
pie are involved in difference that threat
ems the very life of the Republic. They
should be trying TO make peace among the
contending factions. Take counsel of the
Jewish rabbi, because he holds the consti.
tuition of the United States as sacred as
the church. Synagogues and churche:
may break down, but the Nation must bt
maintained
WILL GET THEIR MONEY
Auditor Frederick Will Sign the War