New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1910-05-14
RELIGION AND POLITICS.


joined letter published in the
Times-Democrat on May 9th:
"With blare Of trumpets and
promoting the publicity of their
pending activities. Dr.Smiley, rep
resenting the Minister al Associa-
tons and the Anti-Salpon League
and the sole agency for the dis
pensation If high morality. threat
ened active interference with the
work of the General Assembly,
about to convene next week.
A self-constituted authority on
morals, a mandatory Of high
IDEAS and plain living in our
system of government, is about as
much of a living subject and a
missing necessity to progress and
piety as a periodical cyclone is to
a systematic fertilization of the
farmer field.
The yelled threat involved in
the announcement of the opening
of the Smiley headquarters is a
pure piece Of impertinence, and a
promised discipline and pulpit ex-
coriation to recalcltrant members
an element of unpardonab,e i'm
pudence.
What right has an institution
or an individual in the face of an
anti-lobbying bill, to intimulate
the Legislature and to seriously
change the independence, the
liberty of it's members.
1t is not only an insult to the
intelligence of the body but viola
tion of the spirit of self-govern-
ment.
The Legislative is fully capable
and willing to safeguard the in
terests of the State and should
not be placed in the attitude Of
deserving a good spanking unless
the members display a sanctimo-
NOUS appearance of contrition
and repentance.
Nobody sees any necessity for
church interference in our gov
eminent or making of Louisiana a
church ridden State. This media
eval idea is part Of the darkest
pages of the history Of the Middle
Ages, and can never stand the
disinfecting influence of clear
public opinion and intelligence.
Undoubtedly many measures,
covering a multitude Of questions
and problems. will come up be-
fore the Legislature and for any
organization. whether it be re-
ligious or anything else. to pre-
sumo to dish out an O. X. certif-
icate to every piece Of legislation
that passes it's inspection is spe-
cies of idiocy remarkable only for
its virulence and mischief.
Does anyone suppose that the
Rev. DR.. and his associates have a
monopoly of expert knowledge
Of the needs and the wishes Of
the people of the State2 Their
reputation as successful men and
their places in their respective
spheres does not warrant such
an Interpretation. AS guardian
angels and winged protectors of
something they have not digested,
and, according to the best evil
dence and authority. have never
approached with a view to give
practical effect to their vapid
theories and erratic statements,
they become the State courts
testers at the capital.
Teh situation has been created
by an irrepressible desire for
notoriety, and a public protest
and legislative rebuke would 60
far toward relieving the atmos-
phere from a heavy load of ia
naticism and offensive nitoler-
Alabama is just emerging from
that scourage and Georgia is re-
pairing its fences.
Will Louisiana allow bigotry
and fanaticism to be translated
into a disturbing political power,
or profit by the lessons of its sis
ter Statesf
The very word Protestant is a
reminder against the insidioua
tyranny born of the exuberance
Of few sanctified extremists.
Allow the Legislature to work
put the problems and portion its
task with the genuine pa
Eriotism that only the true love
If State can reflect"
PROTESTANT. |