The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-04-15
Havre, Mont.
CHURCH AND POLITICS.

A DEFENCE OF SOME CLERGYMEN.
Editor Representatives:
In the Representative of March IL is an
article written by P Johnson, of Wheat
on, Mimi, and a commentary on the
same by Mr.. Donnelly.
Johnson's article proceeded from a
letter which appeared in the Representa-,
tive some time ago; and which contained
degrading accusations against the
Scandinavian clergymen in general and
Rev. Skogsberg in particular.
| l do not know Rev. Skogsberg, and
the accusation against him may be just
ly written
request permission to say a few
words about the Norwegian clergymen
in general.
| l cannot believe that the Scandinavian
ministers are such demagogues as they
are represented to be-in = that article.
That friend OF Mr.Donnellys who told
him Atan. the campaign of 1894 it
was matter ct common talk that the
halls outside of the committee rooms
OF the Republican party in St. Paul, actu-
ally swarmed with Scandinavian cler-
gymen, each coming to draw his little
5000 for services in the campaign" must
be malicious knave; still 1t is not i'm
probable that one or two of Knute Mel
sons tools have permitted themselves
to be mislead.
The majority of the Scandinavian cler-
gy are Lutherans; and 1t has been prin-
ciple among Lutheran ministers not to
take part in party politics. OF course
there are exceptions, since there is apt
to be some black sheep in every fold
A man that brings such an accusation
against the Norwegian Lutheran minis
tiers is either an adversary of Christian
lty or is one that is not in the least &C.
quainted with the Norwegian people
1t is not my intention to defend the
clergy as being infallible; but l think
they have never before been accused of
such ignominous actions; neither is it
true that they are the leaders in politics
for the Norwegian people; nor is it true
that the Norwegian papers controlled by
the clergy among the Lutherans, exclus-
lively defend the old parties, because they
do not NEEDLE with party politics.
Almost all the Republican and Demo.
cratic Norwegian papers in st. Paul,
Minneapolis and Chicago are controlled
by private corporations, and have no con-
nection with the Lutheran church, ex-
cept one paper, the 'Folkebladet," which
is controlled by couple of professors.
The Norwegian people have always de.
Tended the side which they believe is suf-
fer1ng from an injustice; and when their
clergymen are SO often represented as
scoundrels in the reform papers, and they
know it is not SO, then justice bids them
stand up for their ministers
Those papers which deride Christiani-
ty and the ministers injure their own
party, whichever it may be; and the Nor
wegian press is aware of this and there
fore work under the pretext of being
Lutheran minded in order to get in with
the church people.
The reform papers will never gain the
Norwegian people as long as they at
tack religion.
If any one wishes to find the leaders in
politics, then notice the businessmen in
towns and villages, and it will soon be
| discovered
History shows us that it is detrimental
to Christianity to draw the church into
politics. 1t is my opinion that the re-
form papers would do we'll in leaving the
ministers out of consideration in poll
tics, because the ministers, as a rule.
are conservative as far as Christianity
is concerned, and this they must be if
they shall be able to properly instruct
humanity in the great reform which is
laid down in the fundamental principles
of Christianity.
w. THOMPSON.
Evansville, MINI.
eve are glad to publish Mr.. Thomp-
sons defence of the clergy. The Repre-
sentative has never attacked Christiani-
ty; and it was careful to say that religion
should not be held responsible for the
| 70 ino If ifc cd
of the Scandinavian clergymen were hon
est and heroic men. Our informant is a
good Christian and friend of the Scan
dinavian race, and mentioned the facts
referred to in sorrow, because he was
ashamed to see good and honest people
so disgraced. We think Mr. Thompson
will agree with us that such black sheep
should be driven out of the flock The
clergyman who will become a pensioner
on political party, we care not what
party it is, is disgrace to his cloth.
We ask Mr.. Thompson to look into the
charges made and put stop to the po-
litical preachers working for pay, if he
can. We invite discussion of the widest
kind. We know that when we ran for
congress, in 1873, on the Anti Monopoly
ticket, clergyman canvassed northern
Minnesota against us, and announced in
his bills, in Scandinavian, that he would
preach" at such times and places; and
when his congregations assembled his
whole sermon was political harangue
against Ourself and in favor of Wash
burn, whose friends were conducting the
most rotten and corrupt campaign ever
known in the history of the United
States. Congress subsequently inveSti-
gated it, and the committee reported that
bribery was practiced by the Washburn
agents on gigantic scale, over a terri
tory as large as all New England! We
have forgotten the name of that cler-
gyman, but those who were living there
at the time will probably remember it.
We would be glad to publish it if oul
friends will furnish it. The campaign
was called the "Brass-Kettle campaign -
because we were trying to protect the
farmers from the robberies practiced on
them by the Wheat Ring, through the
villainous device; and yet clergyman
could be found to take the stump, under
the color of religion, to defend the
thieves and assail us as the very devil in.
carnate, for trying to protect the pro-
ducers. ]. d.
THE RIGHT SPIRIT.
Editor Representative:
At regular meeting of the Carsonville
People Party League April 2, a collection
was taken to help defray the expense OF