Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-11-24


taking its flight.
VINO can hope for better times with men
and parties around vieing with each other,
not as to which shall be most careful of the
rights OF others, but as to which shall be
most INSCRIPTIONS in maintaining their
own. The real destroyer of character and
confidence is Sin, therefore, if we would
have busy shops; brisk trade; ready sales.
free circulation of money; general good
feeling, and fair elections, we must find a
remedy against this root-evil, for sin is a
reproach, and will destroy the most IA
vored and prosperous people.
This brings us to the third head of the
argument, namely, that the deficiency Of
character is due to the deficiency of chris
tianity. We find on examining into public
affairs, that in some sections and among
some classes christianity is intimately as
soclated with the very evils which we de-
deplore and from which we are suffering.
Judging from appearances, the most pious
are sometimes the most bitter, and those
who make the loudest professions are the
most suspicious. The political element
enters very intensely, it must be admitted,
into many of the most promising evangel-
ical enterprises Of the day. The wicked
hatred Of neighbors is taught by illustra-
lions drawn from the righteous hatred Of
sin We must remember, however, that
Satan has always inflicted his heaviest
blows as an angel of light, and that he
will of course employ the fairest and most
popular externals of religion to promote
bis cause OF irreligion. Journalists, who
make those eXternals essential, will indeed
by this policy be greatly puzzled and per-
picked, but as long as we hold that the
Kingdom Of God is not meat and drink
but righteousness and peace and joy in the
Holy Ghost we need have no difficulty.
True christianity can make men truthful,
| can make them reliable, can destroy sec
| tional jealousy, can render election super
vlsors honest, showing them that to con-
| nive at fraud for the sake of party success,
| is to sacrifice the Kingdom of the eternal
Jehovah for four years domination of
finite and fallible man. It eau inspire men
with moral heroism. 1t can spread such
an awe Of God through the land, as to hold
thu most reckless in check.
Applying the matter to ourselves, perhaps
we have not shown that we would rather
be right than have our man for President.
Perhaps we have not condemned the policy
Of fighting fraud with fraud. Perhaps we
| indulge the feeling of victors, rather than
! of promoters Of the public welfare. Per-
haps we have gone prayerless to the polls
in years past, and are reaping the con-
sequence. Perhaps we have not done our
best to spread Christianity, combining all
our efforts to our own class or section, and
have passed by the stripped traveller The
wounds of him that fell among thieves
! have been transferred in these days, it
would seem, to the Indifferent and com
Portable priest and Levite. Neglected
Louisiana haunts and troubles opulent
| New York. Let us then address ourselves
rather to humiliation before God, than to
glorlfication before men. Surely we have
had enough of rags and protests and po-
verify. Let us now henceforth serve God,
and be rich, prosperous and exalted.