WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY 1843 (BEEBE)

EDITORIAL.

New Vernon, April 1, 1843

WASHINGTON’S BIRTH DAY.—The streaming of flags from our windows, the waving of banners from our public offices, and the animating sounds of martial music in the streets, conspire to remind us of the birth of one, whose name is destined, at all times, to be held in reverence as the greatest and brightest adorning the annals of nations,—a name, more sacred, and moving with a purer lustre, and the deepest awe, than of a conqueror!

There has been, but one WASHINGTON. And there is some consolation that even in this age of political demoralization, there are men of all parties, sects and creeds, who can pause amid their contentions, and in the mad-career of business, to do homage to this great name.

The close of this day is to be marked by a celebration in our Tabernacle, as peculiar as it is appropriate and will be imposing. Washington was a man of temperance, and this is to be a temperance celebration—got up by the Washington Temperance Society,—to which corps a selected banner is to be presented with an appropriate address and response. But there is a singular feature in the programme, worthy of all attention and praise. It is to be a union celebration of Protestants and Catholics! Therefore, Frelinghuysen, Chancellor of the University, and the Rev. Dr. [Berrian], are to speak. Thursday, James [E.]s?, and the Rev. Dr. Constantine Pise! allude to the occasion. What will add to the interest of the occasion, the Power of Intemperance and religion, is that Protestant [and Catholic] are expected to represent in the Emerald Isle, Washington, however, is not a “temperance man!”—[Ed.]

TRUE.—There is spirit abroad in our great republic; there is something like a catholic christ[i]anity stirring in the free States. [Demos?] are, the [bars?] of union, and more righteous and [corrupting] the social rights of the freemen sons of America, than the old association of the priest. For one of the centuries of our common [cause?]. Even corrupting nearly all the presses of our country, poisoning the fountains of common education, and swamping the very [vitals] of our institutions of civil and religious rights. A more specimen of this evil spirit may be traced in the example copied above, from the New York Commercial Advertiser. State functionaries honored in the proud city, but to accomplish his work of darkness his ministers also assume the habiliments of ministers of righteousness, the more effectually to accomplish their wicked purposes. A [solemn] temperance [flourish?] of Catholic and protestantism, of religion and politics could scarcely have been brought about by the disorderly associates of bigots. What have these [wings?], and rivers of blood have flown to enforce such a state of things; but all is vain. Fraud is found to be more effectual in our country than force, [because] [it] cannot avail. Truly, Washington was a temperate man, but his temperance did not lead him to embrace the doctrines of the total abstinence societies of the present time. His course was far more in accordance with what rubbing them, or abusing himself with them. He was a substantial drinker, but none have ever dared to accuse him of drinking to excess. He furnished to his soldiers spirituous liquors, and on his own plantation, he furnished cider to his domestics and to his guests; nor did he discover any impropriety in his course while he lived. But now that he is numbered with the silent dead, his repose is invaded by those who hyena-like would rob his sepulchre, and in a most clandestine manner pillage his name, his honor, and his fame to give validity to a cause which no other merits could not fail to excite admiration. The writer of the above extreme exults in the general amalgamation of Catholics and protestants, ecclesiastics and abstentionists, in [the] [great] [scheme] and the consequences of our citizens. The language for which he pledges is not that of which the primitive Washington was a patron, nor is it that for which the Apostles of the Lamb contended, but is that of which “Father Mathew,” a Roman Catholic priest, is the apostle. A system, for the authority of which, the priests and not the scriptures are quoted. The King of Zion has chosen and commissioned but twelve Apostles; this project monk was not of that number: he must therefore be, as false apostles, the ministers of darkness, denominated false apostles.

The popular clergy are now in league with aspiring politicians, and with the former class are merging themselves into ballot boxes, the latter will pander themselves to reciprocate their favors when in the legislative assemblies; and hence it is that vast sums of money are now being appropriated by this state to support theological colleges, and a bill is now before our legislature to appropriate thousands of dollars to two or three sectarian colleges, while very few in our state of [professed] sectarian schools, while very few in our state legislative councils will lift their voices against these innovations upon our rights. Those who dare to suggest that the voice of right given by the authority of God and not a superior to the devices of men, are to be denounced with the Divine Lord as wine bibbers, enemies of temperance, and advocates of drunkenness.