The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-31
This Is for Democrats.

When Preacher Haney declares that
neither in sentiment or act did he ever
affiliate with the democratic party, and
when he stands up in the midst of the
people with uncovered head, with eyes
reverently raised towards the heayens
above, and with voice tremulous from
OVERLOOKING emotion thanks God that he
never was democrat, it would naturally |
be supposed that democrats would be |
equally grateful to the Supreme Being
that the preacher had never belonged to
their party, and in all human probability
never would. But Preacher Haney and
candidate Haney are essentially two differ
ent personages.
The former appears before sinful
world to teach unrepentant and wicked
men the exceeding sinfulness of sin and to
point out the way of redemption and safety
through the mediatorial agency of cruel
fed Redeemer To make his mission
more important and to impress upon his
fellow man that he speaks not by his
own authority but as of the voice OF
God, he solemnly declares his convictions
that he has been called by the Divine
Spirit to preach the gospel to poor dying
sinners, aud that WOE is me" if he neglec
ted to take heed and obey the divine COM
mand. The constituted authorities Of his
ecclesiastical faith with solemn and appro-
pirate ceremonies, and 10 accordance with
his wishes and his profession of zeal for the
ministry of his Divine Lord, duly conse-
crate aud nominate him to this high and
sacred calling, And forthwith he becomes
instant in season and out of season work
ing the works of godliness, in faith believ-
ing, aud preaching with all urgency, and
rebuking sin III high places. and exhortinP
men to become reconciled with the God
who made them, through the great and
unspeakable love of his gift of the only be-
thanks to ALMIGHTY God that in his in.
finite wisdom and power and goodness he
had never suffered his servant the Prea
cher, to become a democrat.
But when, with lapse of years. and il
the inscrutable mysteries of Providence
the Preacher is left to banker aftel
the flesh pots of Egypt, and feeling
no longer the burning ardor of his early
love in the Masters behalf, he mounts the
hustings as a candidate for Congress, ther
he bawls as loudly for democratic votes
and essays to tickle the ears of his hearers
with hattering words as much so as th
wickedest political orator in the land. l
is alEf that come to his net then-whel
the Preacher is laid aside and the Candi
date stalks forth to public view.
He tells you he is a republican still, h
is no democrat, and he hopes he never ma
be-but withal he feels a deep and paintu
yearning for the redemption OF the poo
workiugmen who have been left uncare,
for by the corrupt old parties of the past
ard with he love Of men flowing in hi
soul be still breaches, but it is ne,
message, the political redemption of los
aud ruined world.
And when his hands grow weary wit
being long uplifted, while the battle rage
and he presses in fierce wrath against tn
oppressors Of the people, how beautiful anr
refreshing to his great and throbbin
heart must be the thought of his eve
faithful Jonathan doing battle b.
his side, and in the same en-
noblng cause There is somethin,
inexpressibly tender and touching 10 tn
harmonious relations, which, for party
sake, have brought into the fold togethe
the doughty republican Preacher and tn
democratic Veteran of forty years. Naugh
but the grace of God and the utter an,
hopeless corruption of the democratic an,
republican parties, especially the former
could possibly have joined the hands of tn
lncorruptible old political Veteran and th
stout Boanerges of the preacher corps |;
warfare against the parties to whic
they have heretofore loyalty borne alleg
ance, aud protested the deepest devotion
But the times change and men chang
with them and the Preacher of the Go,
pei of Peace and the valiant warrior of 60,
ty political campaigns, rushing away froI
the corruption and oppression Of the oil
parties like Bunyan's Christian from th
city OF destruction, they journey and e.
hort and exhort as they journey, but a
ways pressing forward to the land of Be-
lab and home in the Detachable Moul
tains, where grateful thousands shall sin
p@ans In honor of their yara
able years and love of humanit
They SO loved the laboring me
thai they refused to dwell in the tents
wickedness, they cast off the shs,kl,