Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-11-28

DO that which is good, and thou shalt
have praise OF the same; Tor he is the
minister Of God 10 thee for good But
II thou do that which is evil, be afraid;
for he bearelh not the sword in vain; for
he is the minister Of God, revengor, to
execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not
only for wrath, but also for conscience
sake. For, for this cause pay Yc tribute
also; for they are God ministers, ,atend-
ing continually yupon this very thing. Rem.
der therefore to all their dues; tribute TO
whom tribute; custom to whom custom;
fear TO whom fear; honor to whom
homer" Now | regard this as the
grandest political sermon ever preached; (;
and, no docbt, If some Of Paurs audi
ence were disposed to rebel against
paying taxes TO Caesar, they were ready
TO say: Preach the gospel aud let poll
tics alone" But Paul regarded the
proper instruction Of the disciples of his
day in their political duties as a part Of
the gospel Of Jesus Christ. And Christ
himself commanded: Render to Caesar
the things which are Caesar aud to God
the things which be Gods" How could
the common people obey this command
unless they were taught 10 distinguish
between heavenly and earthly politics2
They could not do it. What does the
word politics mean2 II is from the
Greek polifikos, belonging 10 the citizens
or TO the state; from politics, citizen;
from polls, city. Politics, says Web
ster, is the science of government; that
part Of ethics which has to do with the
regulation and government of a nation
or state, the preservation Of its safety,
peace and prosperity" Now, have |,
have other preachers, any interest in the
preservation. safety, peace and prosper
ity of this nation2 No. we have not;
out your drunken loafer and vagabond
of the street, who will sell his vote for a
drink Of whisky, has This is the logic
of the modern politician.
Now, | do not consider it as necessary
| for preachers to instruct their people in
politics to-day, as it once was; and this
| is my only reason for not preaching Po-
litical sermons. This is the age of news
papers, and newspapers are largely given
to politics. so that the common people
may inform themselves. But when any
really grave issue presents itself, when
war is threatened, when the liberties OF
the people are menaced, Their hold it
to be the solemn duty Of the preacher
of Jesus Christ to instruct the peo-
pie according to his maturest judg.
ment-not IN the spirit of mere
partisan, but in the spirit Of a
public teacher, to whom great null
lts1 L. uatr Cd IN
enlightenment, and if he fails in this
matter he simply proves himself un-
worthy the place he holds.
Take as an illustra ton the present
noise about the Virginius, and the fran
tic efforts which few thousand Colo.
nels and army contractors are making
to rush our country into war with
Spain. Because parcel of lawless Ill
ibusters have managed to get themselves
war the end of which no man can see,
add millions upon millions of debt to
our already intolerable burdens, and
convert the swamps of Cuba into vast
graveyard for our young men 1t is
certainly matter of devout thanks
giving to Almighty God that the com
mon sense of the people is against any
such madness and folly. 1t is matter
OF thanksgiving that better counsels are
likely TO proyail, and that with the sober
second thought all danger of war van
ishes. Surely, we of the South have
seen enough of war, and we will be
among the very last people to encourage
either internal strife or foreign invasion.
l have heard people impiously say
that they had nothing to be thankful
for, and that they could see no point in |
the preseut thanksgiving occasion. Such |
sentiment could ally proceed from a
very ignorant or very wicked perso1. |
True, as a city we have been sorcly |
scourged, but what is our local suffering |
colspsred With the general health Of the
whole country The nation has, dur
ing the past year. enjoyed remarkable
immunity from physical suffering OF
auy kind. But in our sore afiilc'
tong, now happily ended, see
cause tof hesrnelt thanksgiving
Though we mour1 tho asssauE Il msry
loved ones still let US be tlanktdi 10
Ged that we are alive. he has'spared
US for sog;e good purpose; let US be
thankful to Him this lSy, aud show our
thankfulness by consecrsting our iiFeS
aneF u hjs'serviee. And as we sit here
in fhis sanctuaSs, recolleeti6ns Of The
wondrons outporihgs Of the SgHpsthies
Of tte whole people should kindle into
a lively Game.tha spirit OF gratitude IN
all our hearts. While, probably, we
have more oceaAou for mourning to-day
than auy other city ia the land, 1t is
also true that we have more occasion
for thanksgiving. We are bound 70 the
nscpte o. lie whole continent by reason
Of cur tate soeeripgs. me aE!e, T. = some
sense, the cared for ohildFsRT OF the Es
ton. 1t isa blessed thing II. knew tbat
ye do not stand aloue--that the country =
IS flleq sits orr triends-and that while
memory ehall Teesll ogr snGeringS, it
shall also recall the fact OF the most
general s9d Spontaneous beneyolence OF
which history gives sccount. Certainly,
this is cause for profoundest thanks.
giving.
We should also be thankful for the
knowledge OF the causes which com
bined to bring upon us the late terrible
Visitation. Let us not blame the author
of life for the storm CT death which
ragged among us. We have long defed
the plAinest laws Of nature, and it is no
more wonderful that thousands Of eur
citizens should have fallen victims to
the DESTROYER than that deadly poison
taken in any other form should produce
death. Let ns learn lessons OF wisdom
from our bitter experience. Let qs 9e
thankful that We begin 10 realize what
We ought always 10 have known. I
And nov, IL We do not wish TO witness
the death Of our city as well as the death
Of our citizens let us bestir ourselves 70 ,
inauguraie better state Of things. VI |