Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-09-21
From the American presbytsrlan.
EI"II EII0 zlIll7TIVHH TtaUI IHTIAUs
NEED OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE
OUR POLITICAL ARUANGENTI1N1

NEED OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE IN
OUR POLITICAL ARRANGEMENT.
Outside of the veryfew protesting Chris
tians of the North whose religious scruples
prevent their voting at all, VIC have large
body of Christians, some of whom show en-
tirely too little concern or sense of rcsponsi-
bility in the important duty of voting. Or,
if they endeavor to perform this final act ir
the choice of rulers, faithfully and wisely,
they are indifferent to all those preliminary
stages of the process, in the management of
which most of the art and energy of pro
fessed politicians is so successfully employed
Voting indeed, is often but the blind ohedi-
ent confirmation of the previous decisions
of politicians who have almost come to re-
gard the people as mere tools of their will
In their primary meetings, held mostly in
small disagrceable places, frequently in i'm
mediate proximity TO-, or under the same
roof with, drinking establishment, tC
which the rough characters of the township
or precinct are apt to come in far greater
numbers than the reputable and the good,
these party managers are pretty sure to have
their own way. That way has no regard
for justice, honor, or the public good, only
so far as is necessary to preserve appear
anees with the class of voters who are
guided by principle. Their object is tho
success Of the party for their oaSn tadicidual
pratt. As class, the political managers of
the country, the men who have acquired
that cleverness and astuteness which arc
regarded as the highest accomplishments of
the professed politician, are the most un-
principled set of jugglers to be found any
where. They seem TO become such IN spite
of good intentions and fair character at the
start. But whatever they were at the be-
ginning, they, as a class, are not the men
to whom the people should for one single
hour consent to trust the destinies of this
country. II is, indeed, nothing less than
monstrous that country so leavened with
| Christian principles as is ours, should he
suffered to fall so much under the influence
of the mere wire-working schemers, the
men whose highest qualifications arc not for
the kinglY art OF government, but for chi
canery and intrigue, for personal advance
ment or personal revenge. That such a
class should exist in free country, is not
indeed, wonderful; it must be expected in
the course of things; but that Christian
people should quietly submit, year after
year, TO their dictation, should allow them
to hold completely in their hands all the
preliminaries of political action,-this is
the real miracle. This is the abuse which
throws discredit upon the working of oul
free institutions. The question is not,
whether there is piety and patriotism enough
in the country to save it; we may grant thai
there is. But is there enough practical g0oC
sense, along with our Christianity, to bring
it to bear efficiently upon the politics of the
countryP Is there an everyday selt-deny
ing patriotism among Christians, making
them willing 10 bear in some degree the bur
) dens and responsibilities of proper manage
ment of our political affairs, and to saw
them from irremedable corruption at tht
, very fountain heads of powerl
We do not believe the other sort of pa
triotism, which is ready to expend life ant
limb and treasure for the country, admira
i bic as il is, will avail for the salvation of ou
country, if it is not attended with tina
. steady and sober, and perhaps more dit1lcul
form of loyalty, which directs its efforts t.
n the every day working of our political inst
tutions, in their first stages, from the nom
q ination of school director to that Of Presi
dent.
The good people of the country, Chris
r tians and others, must declare that ba
u men, depraved men, incorporate men, ol
ponents OF the Sabbath, mere selfseekin
T. politicians, who have no thought of reve
ence toward the Ruler of all and no concer
ol for principles of righteousness, justice an
humanity, shall not rule this country; thi
c. such men shall not clutch and hold til
. rens of power in every stage of its exercis
IL Let them say this; let it be understood thi
= this is their position, and the very tim
vi serving and strategy of politicians will lea
them TO better and wiser courses of action,
-, Other aspects OF the subject will come L
for consideration.