The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-27
THE PARABLE OF J0THAM.
THE REv. DE WITT TiL1 on THB
SITUATION IN POLITICS.
SbnI tho Brpmbie RciGn over V-e-Tbe
Hand Of God IN Wade iInmpton's Letter
Curses on Him who would Raise strife.


The Rev. De witt Talmage preached yes
terdiy morning from judges tx. Ia Then said |
all the treoe unto the brambe, come thou and
reign over us" Tho politics Of the 1sraelitlsh |
nation, he said. hopelossly mixed. Some
OF the people wanted one man and some an0th-
or to rule over them. While the masses were
thus perplexed and distracted they assembled
bt the foot Of Mount GerIzlm. talented, witty
aud Ina agiuatiyo man by the name OF Jotham,
got up on the pulpit Of rock on the side OF
Mount Gorizlm, where he could not be seen,
but from which he could easily be heard, and
thrilled the assembly beneath with the fret par
able OF which the world has any record.
lie represented the trees IA coming together
TO hold a political convention, to decide who
should bo the Chief Magistrate OF the nation.
After the convention had been called to order,
and an the levee Of voices bad teen hushed. and
the officers Of the convention had taken their
places, the meeting rose M, and by acclamation
nominated the olive tree for their rulcr. The
olive tree politely declined the nomination,
because II would be too expensive position to
hold and It would cost more tn II It would come
TO. The ng tree was next nominated. but de-
cllned for the same reason. The vine likewise
declined the honor. The convention was sue
cessful In its next effort. They called upon the
bramble, which said, with affected nIodesty, Il
thank thee for the unexpected homer and all
the trees Of the wood at this display Of arboreal
eloquencc. cried. Hear hear" The analogy
between this convention Of trees, In the text.
aud the milllon-nomnatcd convention filled In
one respect. The convention of trees adjourned
sober lLsughter.l After 10 ding the parable
he continued. I'VE. the people Ut the United
states. want a ruler Tor The next four years.
The convention assembled at the ballot box one
party nominating one whom We will coll The
olive tree and the ng tee, and the other party
nominating one whom we VIII call The
vine But 10y a strange and unlocked for
perpieNity' thero IL danger that the lrosluen-
tial chair will be occupied by the hramhie
OF DIVISION OF thorns. Of despots-the nettlo of
national irritation. For that VIII he Character
isiiC OF the ndminisir .ton OF either OF these
men n they take the position at the hands of
boards. [Auplause.l There are people who are
saving, In the words Of the text, " Bran ble
come thou and reign over US" But believe
that the majority OF Democrats would rather
have Rutherford u. Hayes rule them than have
their candidate IN the highest position Of the
Ard the vast IN. Jority of RepuDh,aus would
ia'herhaye the Democrats rule them than know
that they occupied their exalted position
through corruption. lAtplause lgrousc your
Chrisiian patfiuti-m, and TO rtrenN hen your
faitn In God. aud to kiudle your " Ners for
men and ministers NAV not stand OH from
puoHc affairs. l am teelotaily ani forever
opposed u carving politics into religion.
carry religion INTO politics. have no
I i'm IN the elections that are started m toe
the back uarts oi the grog shor. Whefe.h.il Il
bcglnY Ana now shall the political scales be
tufnUd2 viii TIE professed POLITICIANS do ~
No. WIN It be political orhtor,f For the most
part. no. stop at the Democrattc heaJquar-
thieves. | stop 1t Reuublcan headq Iarters.
ana near that the Democrats are no better.
iug the opposite party. The truth must come
from the word OF God. ana the spirit Of God,
believe IN the Bible and the Judgment Day,
Where We mus give an account OF our votes 10
J in IN tho Christian work of reformation. Rich
men my exercise the power Of suffrage. and 20
back to eli learetul parlors ana feel easy aud
ind pendent. Bnt u WILL ue telt in their homes
aud M thclr business. Many pat aside their
religion Tor three months OF the wear In
speeches. and hayo been more frequently angry
and Intoxicated than ever before. joseph Was
"a politician % t., ~ set lie never sacrificed hi,
IN tgritl. Iaul was toHtitiin III nlpllun,
yet he was ateetotalert 10 the end. Mo-es.w a. the
graude-t Of pohtIclans. but tie hOnored God
more than Pharuah. Abraham wa politician.
out he - called 10 this day the Father Of tne
Painful And there are hundreds Of Cntistian
men VINO. In the contest OF rolitical parties. can
meet on election Gay the loathsoue slIm and
coarse crowd who frequently s.rrOuud such
ul,ces and tetire, after doing their du " A. pure
a. when they went. But there are great tempta
tions there. Around the ballot box YOU viii
recognize men who are honored ~ tho vlri Us
walks Of lie In different stages OF inebr.tiOn.
Ihey are unnaturaliy flushed IN the cheek, talk
louder than they commonly talk. Though not
accustomed t. such things theN viii offer to bet
on almost anything. You call them conyivlal,
very vivac0us, ana ecstatic. but God calls them
| D a
year ago but To calculate how nuch Won have
left now will he a sum m vulgar fractions.
l. Wa Ought to show our grntitude 10 God for
| IN, e,uiu.Is. Of the nation. behold the most
| sut lime sprcincls On earth-two political pnr.
tie, alter lonu and tremendous ~ md
| M in orderly silence waiting for the clear and
dtstinct enumeration of the ballot hor No tiots
in IN. streets For less cause iu other yenrs our
elites have been .priukled with violence The
rnlIucaI Inrfv In south Carolina rejected by
Inc rrrty op1ostng, Instead Of trvlng 20 raise
m -triie call upou tteir constituents to leave IL
10 me hitnsr tribunals Of the >ta'e ana nation
lAnnlatl,eI ii Kuow - no more admirable doe
ument ihan thri Of Wade Hampton. 1t Is the
yoire ana hand of GOD heluing w. in 1s,B AS ne
d, Ii ,ered us IN l,7d lie is not worn cut with
our nj doinrs aud ingratj.ude. There viii be
no civil WAL. and 40 need OF any contest Woe
he To the u IA who dares propose IL! lie VIII
wish he hud never beru born. lApnlausel
Vurrp is toe monster that will. hy pcu OF
tongue -iriye to r.ise strifsY Ma, his ip. turn
MiIie wtth eteru.l lrlro-N NJ: The people ..fe
dattrfuincu 10 uud out VIVA Ia rlsht. 1nough
TINS question may oe unsettled Tor weeks and
months when II h. settled tns reuple viii he a.
pleased a, they Wprn on the Inauguration ot