, 1866-09-05
MEN FOR OFFICE.


Duties Of Christians a. Members of the |
BODY Polite.
We commcud the following article from |
the Eorth.ctatef1 Christidn 4duooo!e, edited |
by the Rev. T. NJ. Eddy, D.. D., to the
thoughtful attention Of our readers:
1t Is time that moral men, and especially
Ch, istian men, awake to the importance Of
securing men Of virtue, Of sober naoits, o.
II our institutions are based upon virtue and
Intelligence, If vice is demo1nl{zlnE to good
government, and corrnpting to our political
life. then indifference is disaster, while neg.
II is q sad thing to visit Washington md
study public character. We viii not speak
OF those higher In station than Senators and
Representatives In Congress, hut how ntlen
have Senators reeled in thcls places, and
chamber? How often IRE Representatives
under vinous or cereal inspiration when they
arise to aadress thc Honse? Shameful NJ
terlY shameful, and without apologyl The
| inebriatc member is ft for no duty, aud yet
his vote may decide for var Of peace, may
! change the policy Of generation.
| Nor Is It the only sice Of public men. Tho
"eocial evil u Is shamcfnily prevalent. In
mere than one quarter It Il understood favors
are readily ohtained If they come aided by
the influence, OF argued with the persuasion
ofcamlnF. md arc untitled ~ its intense e1-
element for the performance Of duey. Others
belcA profanity and Bpuc oaths and tmpreca.
tious, shocking all reverence and sense OF
Il is time for good men to pause md ask,
how lorr this shall lastf And then let them
answer It Is they only car tTuthfnl1y, thus
As long es ne continue criminally careless
Of our obligation as cltlzena, and no longer
| arrange nominations to suit The roughs, as
: suming that good men, staid citizens Chris
! | tain men, viii submit, and we regret to SUI
, such has been the usual history ot the e5a o Q
nominating conventions. ,9at MnalH sa5,n ,,7 as
= primary meetings to ronghs, to shJsters
!, bsTroom ioafers. and politicians BY trade, !
viii continue to be history While men
= virtue feel absolved from performing th
The whole conrention-nominating systel
: seems caEelesaly rotten, and Jet y can 3
cured If good citizens will assume its mar
. accmeut It is only their apathy. which Il
II daces gambling politicians 10 stake 80 mic
uR1n thsif ssanisiiesnsSs f. nuh,1e men,
- official life is the property Of my constlt'
d cnts my prirnte life is my. Own, and VII
- that they have nothing to DO" This Is OF
Il Of those halEtruths 10 greatly worse than
ordinary lie; It L true that with ordi1a' i1ts
n mcddle. The man has the right to worsh1
- to regulate his house, to adjust bis relation
- to society aa he will, without que
au aau tlou bpt vet, "none Of US nveth IN
ne himselG'' The public has a right
r. ask, is the priratelife Of our chosen agent
nd for such l. The public odicer-snch IS e re
Ter der it dangerous to entrust him with u
nd performance Of grave duties: He naye
ed sober In tho street and in the hsll, but
ith 70 to his room and drink deep aud long
al Brain and nerves must be affected aud
ny have right to ask If bis privste li1e u I
Or 70 PUBLIC interest. The pnelsSi ~ M s1S
|on arms Of a har1ot, II his private NE IS 50
M. thbt 1t Is dangerous to rePose confidence
;as ua lis public virtue. The public has right,
'hs Know il its servant comes fresh from
-. maddenine excitement Of the gaming ta6
toa for # be does it Is unsafe to trust him +
For be The victim Of either Of thesa vices, Il
70 dangerous to trust hlm-1ttefly dange1ou
Il is sad, too, to think how low to
In political life promises to become how
hb Of chicanery and intrigue how office
de- comes . thing to be bought and sola
mo- we will trace the category NO further.
two Shall there be reform shaMif ceasg
he said that our National Capital Is SIM
t.s corruption, and our State Legislatures