American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-09-06

of government. Whatever troubles
the man of the world, as coming
from the ballot box, and the halls
of legislation, annOys and presses
hard the minister of the Gospel
even, who, above all men, should be
freed frOu worldly care. 1t is i'm
possible for him to be an Indifferent
spectator to what is tranSpiring in
the political world. If ministers of
the Gospel, whose constant employ
ment should carry them every mos
ment nearer their God, and being
thus panoplied to battle in the fight
of faith, are not exempt from the
oppression and Inconvenience of
these times of trouble, how can lay
! men of the church escape? But do
we, indeed, live in trOubIous times /!
To give a negative reply would
surely insult the patriotic feeling OF
the whole country. Patriotism does
not belong to party. fractional an
imOSiuicS sometimes become so
strong that this glorious sentiment
of the human soul is crushed to the
earth, and for years pushed to the
background; bnt its origin being
traced to truth, it will come again
and its tn undering cohorts vii
sweep away uSurpation as with the
bosom of destruction.
Our current literature is laden
with accounts of horrible animosi-
ties. The teiegraphic wires are
trembling, while l speak, with the
intelligence OF preme!itated MUIR
der. Hundreds and thousands
of orr people are now rushing mad
ly after the glittering dust, which
inspires the bears of Wall street to
the possession of millions in one
year, a week-in single transac-
ton. Here in the Southland, not a
few Of our own native population
are toilinG with the hope of laying
up from Que crop OF cotton, that /
which will enable them to dismiss |
forever the perpiexities incident. to
the plantation. In this career of
utilitarianiSm, do the actors stop to /
view the circumstances? Do they /
notice the brick which is Crumhling
from the foundation of their dwell /,
ties of family and society," I he I,
plunge is made, and the mind rev els
in the chances of Tomorrow. Do
you ask whether these things have
not always been so patent as we
find them to-day? | reply by an !
swering. that in former days, there
were higher moral influences, and
stronger legal restraints upon those
who would forget all the obligations
of citizenship, except that of pro-
viding for ones own family, or self /
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
There was period in the history
Of this country, when it was an hon
Drable distincti2p for man to be
elected to the Legislature of any
State of the Union, and rare hOn-
Or to have seat in Congress. 0,
temp0rc, O, m0rcs j.! But all honor
to those representative men who
have not yet bowed at the shrine
of corruption. What have these to
do with us, in our capacity of il San
day School Convention Much.
very much Public men cannot act
inconsistently with impunity. The
uS VI SoiiistoIf olttuiou 10 ttt |
stake. The interest of the church
is directly involved. The condition
of society is tempered with, and the
finances of the commonwealth are
deranged. Hence. as confusion
walks among lawgivers, in that
do we fluid embarrass
.nentS mingled with the reports OF
the heads of departments, both OF
church and STATE. Does the legis-
lator ever consider whether the bill
which he urges for adoption will
tend to impede the advancement OF
whose mission is to
spread scriptural knowledge over
all lands, enlightening the world
with divine truth! Though no adj
vocate for a union of church and
State. vet, ! assume the position.
that it would be highly honorable
for all law-crealing bodies to have
the fear Of God before their faces.
With these uutoward circumS' an
reS, are we almost ready to aban- {
don the ship? We sec that honor,
and truth, and justice, are not as
much admired by the leaders of the
= ]
vine principles having become i'm
rs it were, III our minds
III account Of the sway they held
over the representatives of the peo
Die of this Republic Tor nearly ii I
hundred years, are now, to all hui
nan appearances, about TO take
heir eternal flight. =. impersona-
ions of celestial good to man! ye
blessed controllers OF the goddess
# liberty. ye, who in the long gone
,ast. were cherished and beloved
" the fathers of our county We, 4
e. without whom this great nation
viii rush from its political or con .
orbit, and be ruined to
III inteuts :. III purposes, stay your
light, until when? Has not a I
been established and
ire States and Individuals in pos
.cSSiou of any ri VhtS which may no;