The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-08-18

themselves in politics, and in what
manner that interest should be mani.
tested, long has been mooted question.
The late Doctor Talmsge said. shortly
before his death: During the past
six presidential elections l have been
urged to enter the political arena, but
never have and never will turn the
pulpit in which preach into politi-
cal stump" Many eminent American
churchmen have expressly or tacitly
avowed the same sentiment. 10 1896
Cardinal Gibbons declined to give his
views on the silver question" The
late Archbishop Kane, when asked
for an expression Of political opinion,
replied: 81 am u churchmaD, not .
politician;" aud that was his attitude
all through life Probably the only
living archbishop Of the Catholic
Church in this country who has shown
keen interest in politics is Arch.
bishop Ireland.
1t was remarked by NJ. de Tocque.
vile in his classical work ON DemOc-
racy in America. that Religion in
America takes 10 direct part in the
government of society. = They
t,he clergy take no share in the al
tercations Of parties. Public opinion
is therefore never hostile to them"
But this Was written before the Civil
War, and before the "Know. Nothing
movement enlisted the hostility Of the
Catholic Church against the politicians
engaged in that movement. Immedi-
ately preceding the Civil War the NOR.
al issue involved in the slavery ques-
ton evoked much comment from the
clergy. 1t was then that many great
preachers in the North, like Theodore
Parker, arose to denounce the iniquity
otslavery, while the clergy ofthe South
for the most part, arrayed themselves
upon the opposite side of,be question.
After the war there succeeded ten.
dency toward retirement from politics
on the part Of the clergy, until the
political campaign Of 1884, when par'i
sau politics, to some extent, again
usurped the pulpit. Then it was that
Henry Ward Beecher supported the
candidacy of Mr.. Cleveland. On Octo-
Der % of that year 2O6 clergymen
assembled at the old Fifth Avenue
Hotel in New York, and warmly Is
poused the candidacy of Mr.. Blaine;
one ftheir Dumber, Doctor Burchard,
declaring that the antecedents Of the
Democratic party were Rum. Roman
ism and Rebellion" a statement which
SO incensed the Catholic that the heavy
defeat suffered Nv Mr.. Blaine at the
election shortly thereafter was sup
posed to have been t. some extent at
tributable to their efforts. Comment.
ing upon this occurrence, Professor
Bryce, in his American Commonwealth
has observed very aptly that "There
is nothing 50 dangerous to man as bis
friends; especially when they are anna
tours" During the past few years q
good part of the American clergy, Of
all denominations. has been conduct
ing crusade against the liquor traffic.
The varying nature Of the relations
between politics and the pulpit in diff
erent ages has contributed not little
tnward rendering the exact definition
Of those relations at the present time
matter of some difficulty. Ancient
", the closest adherent to the doctrine
Of state supremacy might willingly
have conceded to the church far
greater scope and freedom ofaction in
political matters than the most ag.
gressive churchman now would con-
tend for.
After the downfall of the Western
Empire, the ministers Of the new re.
ligion, by their erudition, their habits
of peace and their Industry. greatly
accelerated the formation "fth"se civ
ic institutions which constitute the
substructure of modern European
governments. Professor ROscher, in
his Political Economy, states that the
church has passed through almost
every stage of development in advance
of the state. Thus was founded the
ecclesiastical supremacy of the Middle
Ages. From that supremacy it can
not be denied that much good resulted.
Besides the sanctuary. and in the &C.
clusion of the cloister. were reserved
from the despoiler's hand those remn'
ants of ancient learning which made
the Renaissance possible, and but for
,,L;oh tho nork A 0es MIGHT have been