Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-04-05
A SATURDAY SER MON.
The New York Tribune PreaehesIonaPol-
iiics and Religion.

The New York Tribune editorlally
breaches "a Saturday Sermon" which,
though to great extent especially ad-
dressed TO the people Of the Metropolis,
is also of general interest and application.
We make the following extract;
"Our neighhOr Johnson Is not only an
honest but devout man. He brings up
bis children In the fear and admonition
of the Lord. He carries the principles Of
Justice, which the Savior taught, Into his
minutest dealings with his customers,
and His mercy into every dole or kindly
word he gives to the poor. Into his
share of social life, and study of science
or literature, even into his recreation,
| he takes these great truths, and orders
! his beliefs and actions by them.
But the moment he approaches his duty
as citizen, Christian principles are
thrown aside as eiicte and lmpraeticable.
Either he votes or engineers his party
tactics according to the expediency of the
present moment, or washes his hands Of
the whole uncletn business. He will sit
by the hour bemoanng that "politics are
hOpelessly corrupt !" that the city, State,
or National Government Is In the hands
of men ready and willing to be bought to
favor any iniquitous scheme of specula'
tion that the elections In the cities are
carried by fraud, and are virtually con.
trolled by the basest class of politicians
and the element of rufflanism which
they bring to bear on tie ballot-box
Yet ne aud thousands OF his like decline
to interfere. They are content to all
TRANQUILITY groaning, day after day, ovel
their newspaper and the depraylty OF
their fellow men. Sheer Incidence is thu
motive power with most of them in thei
inaelion. They dread the shame, thu
bruit of unearthing corruption. "Stir no
Cup muddy water" is their faVorit
maxim. But with many the deterren
cause is the weight of Office held by them
selves or their friends. Who ever knew
the holder Of an Office turn against th'
, party which had given 1t to him, howeve
I, corrupt Why should we oust any bribe
, taker or heap reproach on him, when h
" spoke q kind word TO get Bill in tn
"Custom. house," or to "send Dave q
"Cousul to the South Seas" Honest
has weight ia public men, doubtless, ye
our own bread and butter on the othe
scale make it kick the beam"
'This sort of reasoning may do for th
poor mortals who profess no religion
r but lie II sufficient for those who ostensl
! bly, follow the example of Hin wnos
actions will tomorrow be expounded !
= countless pulpits throughout the land
E Now if Christianity means anything a
all, it means honesty. It means elea
: hands. II means fearlessness in duty
e and II a Christian owes any duty to hi
neighbor, it is that he shall choose me
to make the laws, and execute them, wi
have at least not been branded as thieve
liars aud perjurers. It Is that he sha
: uss what little strength and influence
y has to keep our elections from becomiT
u an exhibition of the power of the mo
- brutal mobocracyi our judiciary clear
u d at least open bribery, aud Congress fr
> of such disclosures us those of the Ia
. two months. The deveut man who kee
, himselfalooffrom politics and politician
.e lnwardiy thanking God he is not as the
=, men, Is in his place clearly dereliet
30 1rfV