CHAPTER III.

RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES IN GOVERNMENT.

THE rebel States endeavoured to establish a government on the infidel principle that God and Eternal Justice have nothing to do with State and National affairs. And if this government, and the people, as individuals, act on the same principle, how are we better than they? The people do not rule directly, but through representatives chosen to act for them. We do not live under a pure Democracy, but under a Representative System of Government. A pure Democracy is where the people meet in a body-in mass convention—and enact laws directly. The ancient Grecian States were pure Democracies.

In a Republican Government like this, we cannot make laws ourselves, but select

men to make laws for us. Hence, the great necessity that these chosen men should be capable and honest, and do for the people what they would do for themselves. Therefore, if all who are entitled to exercise the elective franchise, would take a part in selecting representatives, and would demand faithfulness and capability in the candidates, we might expect reform and progress among the people.

If a majority of the people are corrupt and disorderly, they will be likely to elect bad men if left to themselves, that they may continue in their corruption. Therefore it is very essential that all lovers of order and progress, should join their influence in support of good and honest men, without regard to minor questions or party prejudice.

For when men of honest and patriotic principles are in power, every thing is safe, whether they might be Republican, Demo

crat, Union, or Conservative. In such a case the great fundamental principles of government would be sustained at all hazards. Such a government being strong in the hearts of lovers of order, 'offenders would be speedily brought to justice.

No government can long prosper which ignores the principles of morality and religion. We do not believe that religion and civil government should be so connected that a particular creed or denomination should be established by law, as in England and Rome, because religion is a matter of faith or belief, and should be entirely free. No person should be compelled to give his assent to any religion by the civil authorities. But this kind of tyranny has been practiced in many countries, and is now in some. It is not only unjust, unscriptural, and unconstitutional, but it is attended with the worst of evils, such as persecution, strife, and hatred.

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While every man exercises his own judgment in regard to the particular interpretation of the Scriptures, there can be no dispute about the great principles of justice and humanity which they teach; and every true American Citizen, of whatever name or sect, will take a decided interest in seeing the rulers or public servants of this nation bear such a character as will do honor to these great principles.

A man must have an abiding faith in these principles, or he cannot be safely trusted with the weighty matters of law and judgment. An atheist might be honest in many matters, out of respect for his reputation among men, but the greatest sanction of honesty is wanting. For certain worldly considerations he might be induced to betray the liberties of a whole people.

We believe no man should be trusted with important stations who has no respect for the teachings of the Christian religion,

for in that case the greatest motives to honesty are wanting; viz. his belief in immortality and accountability.

Neither is the man whose mind is uncultivated, dark, and prejudiced, fit to be a ruler in a free Republic, though he might profess the Christian name. The good citizen will not give his influence to elevate such men to office, but he will endeavour to reform and enlighten them, that they might be better men and better citizens. If we go back to the early days of the Republic, we shall find that the politicians, statesmen, and public servants, who then had charge of governmental affairs, were men of moral and religious principle. There were Washington, Franklin, and Jefferson. We will not exclude Thomas Jefferson from the list of men of moral and religious principle. We know that Mr. Jefferson has been accused of being an infidel, but we think the accusation unjust.