1805-06. Mutual religious freedom guaranteed. Founded on Christian idea of civil government. What later treaty shows. TREATY OF PEACE, AMITY, AND BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND CITIZENS OF THE UNITED CONCLUDED JUNE 4, 1805; RATIFIED BY THE SENATE APRIL 12, 1806. ARTICLE XIV. As the government of the United States of America has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity of Mussulmen, and as the said States never have entered into any voluntary war or act of hostility against any Mahometan except in defense of their just rights to freely navigate the high seas, it is declared by the contracting parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two nations. And While it is true, as indicated in the treaty with Tripoli of 1797, that the government of the United States is not, in any legal sense, founded on the Christian religion, it is only proper to state that it is founded on the Christian idea of civil government, which is that the government shall be civil, and not religious, in harmony with the principle laid down by the Author of Christianity, to render to Cæsar only that which is Cæsar's. And, as suggested by Bancroft (see ante page 144), it was the first nation in all history which "dared to set the example of accepting in its relations to God the principle first divinely ordained of God in Judea." In this sense, and in this only, was it founded on the Christian religion. But the National Reformers wish to overturn all this, and have the government, by law, select and establish the Christian religion as the religion of the nation. 1" Treaties and Conventions Concluded between the United States of America and other Powers, Since July 4, 1776," published by the Department of State, 1889, page 1084. 2 Like the treaty of 1797, this treaty showed the government of the United States to be impartial in matters of religion,- that it had no established religion, and that the question of religion and religious opinion was not to be considered in national affairs. It showed that it was not the policy of this government to compel those within its jurisdiction, who are not Christians, to act as though they were. The spirit manifested in it is the very opposite of that of the bigot, Freedom the consuls and agents of both nations respectively shall have liberty to exercise his religion in his own. of worship house. All slaves of the same religion shall not be guaranteed. impeded in going to said consul's house at hours of prayer. which, under the title, "The Bigot's Creed," the poet has fittingly described in the following words: "Believe as I believe no more, no less: And then, and only then, I'll fellowship with you. "That I am right, and always right, I know, Because my own convictions tell me so; And to be right is simply this to be To question, doubt, or hesitate, is sin. "Let sink the drowning man, if he'll not swim ""Twere better that the sick should die than live 'Twere better that sinners perish than refuse To be conformed to my particular views; 'Twere better that the world stood still than move In any other way than that which I approve." An editorial in the "Western Watchman " (Catholic), of St. Louis, under date of August 25, 1910, says: "We have no union of church and state in this country, for the simple reason that our state is not Christian; and the Church cannot be yoked to an unchristian commonwealth." The decision of the Supreme Court, of February 29, 1892, declaring this a "Christian nation," however, has paved the way for the union to which the "Watchman" refers. See pages 487-513. There are those here who are ready for a union of church and state in this country as soon as the state can be converted to their way of religious thinking. 1800-1880 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. FIRST AMERICAN PLATFORM. Preservation of the Constitution. Religious freedom. Political freedom. Equality. Rights not abridged on entering society. ADOPTED IN Congressional Caucus, PhiladelphIA, IN 1800, BY THE 1. An inviolable preservation of the federal Constitution, according to the true sense in which it was adopted by the States, that in which it was advocated by its friends, and not that which its enemies apprehended, who, therefore, became its enemies. 8. Freedom of religion, and opposition to all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendancy of one sect over another. 9. Freedom of speech and the press; and opposition, therefore, to all violations of the Constitution, to silence, by force, and not by reason, the complaints or criticisms, just or unjust, of our citizens against the conduct of their public agents. EQUAL-RIGHTS PLATFORM. DEMOCRATIC EQUAL-RIGHTS PLATFORM, ADOPTED IN THE NEW YORK We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created free and equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that the true foundation of republican government is the equal rights of every citizen in his person and property, and in their management; that the idea is quite unfounded that on entering into society we give up any natural right; that the rightful power of all legislation is to declare and enforce Rights must not be only our natural rights and duties, and to take none of them from us; that no man has the natural right infringed. to commit aggressions on the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the law ought to restrain him; that every man is under the natural duty of contributing to the necessities of society, and this is all the law should enforce upon him; that when the laws have declared and enforced all this, they have fulfilled their functions. Limitations of legislation. PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY. ADOPTED AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTIONS FROM 1840 TO 1856. Resolved, That the American democracy place their trust in the intelligence, the patriotism, and discriminating justice of the American people. Public opinion. Government limited to granted. That the federal government is one of limited power, derived solely from the Constitution, and powers the grants of power made therein ought to be strictly construed by all the departments and agents of the government, and that it is inexpedient and dangerous to exercise doubtful constitutional powers. Principles of Jefferson That the liberal principles embodied by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, and sanctioned reaffirmed. in the Constitution, which makes ours the land of liberty and the asylum of the oppressed of every nation, have ever been cardinal principles in the democratic faith. Resolved, That the foundation of this union of States having been laid in, and its prosperity, ex Foundation principles. founded on principles of religious lib erty. Political Government pansion, and pre-eminent example in free government built upon, entire freedom of matters of religious concernment, and no respect of persons in regard to rank or place of birth, no party can justly be deemed national, constitutional, or in accordance with American principles, which bases its exclusive organization upon religious opinions and accidental birthplace, and hence a political crusade in the nineteenth century, and in the United States of American, against Catholics and foreign-born, is neither justified by the past history or future prospects of the country, nor in unison with the spirit of toleration and enlightened freedom which peculiarly distinguishes the American system of popular government. crusades against any religion unamerican. Equality of all persons of LIBERAL REPUBLICAN PLATFORM. ADOPTED AT CINCINNATI, MAY 1, 1872. We recognize the equality of all men before the all religions. law, and hold that it is the duty of government, in its dealings with the people, to mete out equal and exact justice to all, of whatever nativity, race, color, or persuasion, religious or political. REPUBLICAN PLATFORM. ADOPTED AT PHILADELPHIA, JUNE 5, 1872. Complete liberty and the exact equality in the enjoyment of all civil, political, and public rights should be established and effectually maintained. throughout the Union by efficient and appropriate State and federal legislation. Neither the law nor its administration should aamit any discrimination |