declare that anyone who is really endowed with a correct
knowledge of our religious system which acknowledges the existence of a
living God and an accountability to Him, and a future state of reward
and punishment, who feels that he has an apology for this abominable
pagan worship, is not a fit person to be ranked as a good citizen of
the American union. It is absurd to make any apology for its
toleration. It must be abolished, and the sooner the decree goes forth
by the power of this government, the better it will be for the
interests of this land.

I take this the earliest opportunity to inform these gentlemen
composing a majority of the committee that we have in the United States
no "religious system;" that this is a secular government. That it has
no religious creed; that it does not believe nor disbelieve in a future
state of reward and punishment; that it neither affirms nor denies the
existence of a "living God;" and that the only god, so far as this
government is concerned; is the legally expressed will of a majority of
the people. Under our flag the Chinese have the same right to worship
a wooden god that you have to worship any other. The constitution
protects equally the church of Jehovah and the house of Joss. Whatever
their relative positions may be in heaven, they stand upon a perfect
equality in the United States. This government is an infidel
government. We have a constitution with man put in and God left out;
and it is the glory of this country that we have such a constitution.

It may be surprising to you that I have an apology for pagan worship,
yet I have. And it is the same one that I have for the writers of this
report. I account for both by the word superstition. Why should we
object to their worshiping God as they please? If the worship is
improper, the protestation should come not from a committee of
congress, but from God himself. If He is satisfied, that is sufficient.

Our religion can only be brought into contempt by the actions of those
who profess to be governed by its teachings. This report will do more
in that direction than millions of Chinese could do by burning pieces
of paper before a wooden image. If you wish to impress the Chinese
with the value of your religion, of what you are pleased to call "the
American system," show them that Christians are better than heathens.
Prove to them that what you are pleased to call the "living God"
teaches higher and holier thing