Government that they propose under their Christian Constitution.
That is the way in which they propose to convert men to the Christian
religion. That is the way in which they propose to exemplify the
sublime Christian principle of brotherly love, and the means which
they will employ that brotherly love may continue! That is the way in
which they are going to bring about the reign of universal peace,
even, as they say, the millennium itself. That will be indeed the reign
of the saints (?)! By a like scheme of the Christian endeavor of the
"Society of Jesus," there was peace once in the fair Waldensian
Valleys. By like exertions Innocent III. succeeded in creating peace
amidst the graceful scenery, the rich fields, and the splendid cities of
Languedoc and Provence.
This, too, is all to be done in behalf of liberty of conscience,–that
is, the conscience of the National Reformers. They give us clearly to
understand that it is entirely out of respect to their own consciences
that they propose to do all these things. Mr. Coleman says further, in
the place before quoted:–
"If there be any Christian who objects to the proposed
Amendment on the ground that it might touch the conscience of the
infidel, it seems to me it would be in order to inquire whether he
himself should not have some con-science in this matter."
So, then, in this National Reform Christianity, it is the perfection of
conscientiousness to outrage some other man's conscience. And the
reverse of the Golden Rule becomes, to them, the law and the
prophets. Their chief complaint is that the present Constitution
disfranchises them (which is false), and therefore they must have it
changed so that it will disfranchise every one but them.
And so, All things whatsoever ye would not that men should do to
you, this do ye even unto them; for this is the law of National Reform.
And who are they that propose to do these things? An Association
of which the vice-presidents alone number one hundred and twenty,
than whom we verily believe that there cannot be found in the United
States an equal number of other men who could exert a more positive
influence. In a complete list given in the Christian Statesman of Dec.
2, 1883, we read the names of thirteen Bishops of such of the
evangelical churches as have bishops, fifteen College Presidents,
thirteen College Professors, ten Justices of Supreme Courts. As
printed in the Statesman of Dec. 24, 1885, we find eleven Bishops,
sixteen College Presidents, fifteen College Professors, three exGovernors,
seven Justices of Supreme Courts, five Judges of
Superior Courts, two Judges of the United States District Court, one
Judge of the United States Circuit Court, with such a number of
