Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/239

 Religio)i still the Key to History 229 of law, or no change of custom or law ; that a war or no war ; the maintenance of an ancient policy or the substitution of another: the support of an existing government or its overthrow ; is demanded by duty to God, and you have a motive of action that is likely to prove irresistible. It is a motive easy to apprehend and there are always those who are ready to suggest it. Xot only are they ready, but they have a vantage-ground which gives to what they say peculiar weight. It is that of the church. Between man and religion stands everywhere something in the nature of ecclesiastical authority, either self-asserted, or govern- mentally affirmed. The formalism in religion which naturally re- sults from an established church makes for conservatism in politics. In proportion to the hold which such a church has on the com- munity, it saps the springs of popular enthusiasm, and makes against business activity. Time which would otherwise be spent in labor is consumed in feast-days or fast-days. Leisure is gained, but at high cost and under circumstances unfriendly to its best use. In public educational institutions studies of more importance are apt to be put aside for instruction in the symbols and liturgies of the church. The same tendencies proceed in all countries from churches to which a large majority of the people belong, though not established by law, if they are ceremonial in their institutions. This cause has colored the life of the people and vitally affected the course of industry in Spanish America' and British India. There are twenty American republics. Two of them, Cuba and San Domingo, are bound to us by political ties of a peculiar char- acter. The rest shun us. We want their trade, but it goes to Europe. We want their sympathy, but what we receive is rather apprehension and suspicion. We meet them in Pan-American Con- gresses, but while projects are framed few are consummated. Why is it that with their political institutions so largely copied from us, they are foreign to us in spirit? Race and language. I believe, have been less the cause than religion. Religion counts more with them in influencing habits of thought and measures of social order. The church, as such, is a greater power. In South America and Central .America the church was so long the only fountain of education, that public sentiment deemed it a sufficient source. There are countries in which the state has assumed this function, where churches have been found to promote ' A. striking, and not inaccurate, forecast of its probable history was made in a letter from Jefferson to Lafayette, of May 14, 1817. Writings of Thorn :