Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-04-14
An Inside and an Outside View.

1--WE are happy to see that the venerable
DR.. Bacon is not to round off his long career
Of notable service in the church by short
term Of service in the legislature of Connec-
ticut."-Vermom Chronicle, April Sh.
"These id literary fellows are getting to
have too much Importance in this govern.
ment. "-Remark By Simon Cameron, ap.
ropos Of DanaS nomination.
Each of the quotations above is at once a
sermon and a stigma on contemporary poll.
tics. Never did parties call so imperatively
for pure and honest men as now. Platforms.
principles and policies are to vindiCate them.
selves hereafter in personal character. And
whatever Of purity or talent can be contrib
uted to government, helps so much to reform
what now seems-is-vile and corrupt. If
government does have a human mission,
show us the man who by nature or culture is
too holy or select to share in its administra-
ton. And if the clerical profession contains
the character aud integrity needed to redeem
politics, wherein consists the glory of ministe-
rial segregation It's this 6ne-art dAintincss,
this fear Of possible contamination aud phar.
isaic disdain that have depressed and de.
graded politics to their present level. How
idle and empty those rebukes and structures
that float down from the ether-hightS of the
sequestered caste. If culture units per-
son to engage in the affairs of men by lifting
him above the dust aud din of politics into a
region Of serene idea aud beautiful sentiment,
alas for politics
In point of consistency, with how much
grace does the Chronicle deliver its crit.
cisms2 Church and state do not diverge at
so abrupt an angle that widespread cor
ruption in the latter cannot react upon the
former. Blunt the moral sense in politics,
and the edge Of religious conscience is also
dulled. All human institutions are en-.
braced under one human nature and so init.
mately are they interviewer with each other,
that harm to one is injury, greater or less,
to all the rest. Attempt to hedge in men
enthusiastically, while they run riot POLITICAL
ly, and what is accomplished /? No, no the
conduct of affairs may impart fiber to the
moral sense no less than the contemplation of
the ideal and speculation upon the perfect.
The opinion that office purifes the man
per Sc, and embelishss character, is becoming
less and less popular. Men are beginning to
see that position borrows its dignity from
its relation to the best hearts and ntellects
and the highest endeavors for good. Ger
taiuly at this hour, when ideas Of duty and
purity are taking the name Of action, it i'll
becomes an authority like DR.. Lord to con.
graduate venerable divine that he has es.
capped the contingency of soiliug his sacerdO-
tai robes by participating in public affairs.
But, again, if the clergyman is too "pro-
nounced and cathedral" too opiniative aud
oracular to participate iu politics how could
he as an editor present an opinion or utter 4
criticism on public affairs Apply this prln.
cple for consistsncys sake and you gag
alike the Golden Rule, the Christian at Work,
aud the Vermont Chronicle as to any ex-
preston bearing upon politics There is no
reason why ministers with their superior av-
erage culture are not qualified to detect tie
practical needs Of the time and advocate and
influence the best legislation. 1t was Bsecher
who, when the rebellion was imminent, went
to England and literally created a public
opinion favorable to the North. 1t is not at
all probable that DR.. Bacon with his sterling
tact and judgment would announce his
presidential choice as arbitrarily as did Bish.
op Haven. Such zeal is unfrequent and ex-
ceptional.
But few clergymen would brook with
much humility the charge of lacking sufficient
vim or "pure grit to defend even 10 legiS-
lative halls a measure they knew to be right
Has not the church itself its politics subject
to discussions long and severe, in councils,
conferences and conventions But assuming,
for a moment, the Chronicles theory Of
the Beeoher case, how many proprieties
would be violated by transferring the DR.,
; Bacon of the Brooklyn council into scat ia
the Connecticut Legislature If he escaped
contamination in the former he would Ger.
tanly not suffer the loss Of prestige in the
latter.
Now in view of the present fallen state Of
politics and the fact that civil government
aud religious government are really concen'
trio circles, let US have the elements, what
ever the source, that shall give tone and
character to what is now in many places
odious and corrupt.