National Reform and Papal Principles
“MANIFESTLY there is an irreconcilable difference between Papal principles and the fundamental principles of our free institutions. Popular government is self-government. A nation is capable of self-government only so far as the individuals who compose it are capable of self-government. To place one’s conscience, therefore, in the keeping of another, and to disavow all personal responsibility in obeying the dictation of another, is as far as possible from self-control, and therefore wholly inconsistent with republican institutions, and, if common, dangerous to their stability.”—Rev. Josiah Strong. When we remember that National Reform principles are essentially Papal principles, we see in the above a strong indictment of so-called National Reform.