The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-18
MINING POLITICS WITH RELIGION.

The fact that a very large majority of
the ministers of the country of all de-
nominations are opposed to the principles
advocated by one of the presidential cam
didates now in the field, and have given
free expression to their views, has revived
the old but threadbare protest against
mixing politics with religion This pro-
test originated before the civil war, during
slavery times. In those days the con-
science of the Nation, at least in the
Northern States. was constantly becoming
more and more alive to the enormity of
the sin of slavery and to the fact that 1t
was not only a blot on the national honor
but a menace to the peace and welfare of
the Republic. Many preachers held these
views, and while some conformed to the
traditions of the period and RETAINED from
speaking out on the subject, others were
outspoken against what they regarded as
a moral wrong and national sin. These
were charged by the supporters and apollo
gists of slavery with mixing politics with
religion. Churches were sometimes broken
up on this account, and the seceders took
great credit to themselves for setting up
a standard of religion so high and pure
that it would not permit a preacher to
denounce what had been well termed the
sum of all villainies." So the preachers
who are now speaking out against the
proposed free and unlimited coinage of sill
yer on moral grounds, and against the at
tempts to array class against class, and
the insidious attacks upon the Supreme
Court are charged with mixing politics
I'll - =: A.-
it brings these matters into the forum of
conscience and subjects them to the test
of right and wrong. But what is religion
for but to apply that test to the acts and
conduct of everyday life? The idea that
religion relates only to the future life is
obsolete. Playing on golden harps and
'loafing around the throne are a poor
substitute for the kind of religion that
makes men better in the life that now is
and that leads them to conform their
everyday lives and acts to the STANDARD
of right and wrong. A religion that does
not make men better citizens and truer
patriots is not worth preaching. Whenever
a public question or political issue in
wolves a moral principle ministers OF the
gospel have a clear right to express them
selves in regard to it. When the national
honor, integrity or credit is threatened it
is their duty to raise a voice of warning.
1t is as much their duty to protest against
acts of public dishonor as against indi-
vidual ~wrongdoing. Suppose that some
political party should declare in favor of
polygamy or In favor of granting divorces
at the option of either party, and should
make a presidential campaign on such a
platform. VIII any person say that min
listers should refrain from denouncing SO
monstrous a proposition because it would
be mixing politics with religion? 1t is
equally their duty to protest against any
other proposition that is essentially immor-
al or dishonest. One of the commandments
is Thou shalt not steal" To pay debts
contracted in money of full value with
money of half value or anything less than
full value would be stealing. To make
such money legal tender for the payment
of honest debts would be Offering a premi-
UNI on dishonesty. If it were merely pro-
posed to revolutionize business and create
from speaking on the subject, but when it
is proposed to commit a public sin and an
act of national dishonesty it would be q
cowardly evasion of duty for them to re-
main silent. When a political party or
presidential candidate proposes to violate
the moral law it is the duty of preachers
to mix religion with politics.