Year: 1861




as inevitable end rs necessary as sects ol
denominations in religion. Under despot
&c rule, there is only the one government
party and the one government church. .-
In proportion as a people become free aat
intelligent they differ in political and
theological questions, and hence arise
| political parties and religions sects.
/ Men may declare that they repudiate
all sectarianismin in religion, and set
about establishing pure Christisnity.-
But this cannot be done without laying
down some principles Of faith and prac-
ice, and this lays the foundation for a
new sect or revives an old one.


So in politics, individuals arc found,
from time to time. proclaiming that they
have renounced all party platforms and
party organizations. Yet these same in
dividuals are seen forthwith holding con
ventions, adopting resolution and nom
mating tickets and going regularly
and systcmically through all the forms Of
party drill and party Organization


The mistake Of many a sincere Christi.
an and Of many an honest citizen, in he.
ing seduced into non-sectarian or n no
party movement, consists in supposine
that real Christianity cannot be developed
IN sectarlan or den ominational churches
and that true patriotism cannot have free
play in party organizations. Such a
| suppositiOn strikes superficial minds ms
/ something very beautiful in theory; yet it
! is Of little practical value, and often
works mischief in the hands Of those who
imagine they are doing their God and
country great service.


SO far is it from being true in real life
that mans refusing to attach himself
to any religious sect or denomination is
a proof Of his Christianity, that it is
by practical men generally considered as
prima toc;e evidence, at least, of the re-
verse. Taking the world as it is, and
not as we would desired to have it, practi-
cal good sense requires, as general rule,
that man who would lead a religious
life and be useful as q true believer,
should belong to some church or congre
CATION Of Christian men and women.


Men may ignore and denounce political
parties, and it may strike the unreAecting
as a very fine thing. But let them re-
fleet little, and they will clearly see that
it is absure in this free country to talk
Of ignoring and obiterating parties even
for day or week. 1t can only be done
by destroying freedom Of thought, and
compelling all men, apparently at least.
to think the same things and be of
one opinion.


1t is a delusion to assume that there is
necessarily any inconsistency between true
patriotism and attachment to political
party. A man may belong to party
without being a mere partisan, as he
may belong to religious denomination
without being bigot. In free govern
ment like ours, where the citizens must
necessarily combine in order to advance
such measul es Of governmental policy
and reform as they deem necessary, patri-
otism and devotion to the country's best
interests can in general only be manfes-
ted through the medium Of party organ
izations.


Do we find pastors of churches, when
infidelity rears its bold front and immo-
alty and irreligion are stalking hand in
hand, through the land, ignoring their
deLominational ties and denouncing all
separate religious organizations, and ad-
vising their flo,ks to do the same? On the
contrary the exhortation is to contend nor
valantly for the truth as they have receiv-
ed it. Different sects may labor for COM
mon object, and all the more effectively,
without abandoning their separate or
ganizations or renouncing their peculiar
creeds.


When man is convinced that the prin.
ciples Of a political party, to which he
has attached himself, are wrong and will
work mischief to the country, patriotism
requires him to abandon the party at once
His doings so is a proclamation to
the world that such is his Conviction
In this country, at the moment of peril
to abandon party whose principles we
are satisfied are right and conservative o
. the Union, for the Utopian scheme Of no
party organization, betrays either grea
cowardice or lack of common sense =
Patriotic men may, as they have hereto
fore in our country, labor for n common
, obiect-the defense oft the Union and tht
Government against foreign or domestic
foes, without detaching themselves from
their party organizations. They need no
sink the partisan in the patriot; for snch
men are never mere partisans. Their
attachment to party seldom conflicts will
their allegiance to their country; for they
attach themselves to a party, not for th'
sake of office or personal ggrandizement
but for the purpose of being better able
to serve the country, by association with
| those whose ideas of the true prn-
cplcs and policy Of the Government cor
respond the most nearly to their own
- Statesman.