The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-09-13

laI dctOIo vi y tbboI btuko
Being Americans. and the children
of Bible-reading, God-fearing people.
in the same lessons in which we
learned to reverence the mighty men
of the Old Testament we were taught
that our own country had produced
men whom we we're compelled. by
every reason applied to exalt the be-
roes of past ages, to honor rs the
mighty men of renown of our age.
and the lineal descendants and sue
cessors of the mighty men of the
past We were taught, and the his
tories and biographies of our country
still teach. that our Washington,
Adams, Franklin, Hamilton, Greeley,
Lee, Lincoln, Jackson, and many
others. were of that line, and, beyond
any question, mighty men Of renoscu.
We were taught BY reading of these
heroes that the highest duty to our
age, our children and ourselves, was
to perform such public duties as
were delegated to rs, whether the in
strument used be psn, sword or
tongue, as did our fOrefathers in the
war of l776, with the fear Of God, .
prayer for bis aid and blessing, and
calm reliance on ourselves. We
had even imbibed the idea, which
history strengthens, that, be loves
his God beat who best loves his fell
low-men. We had partially dei6ed
such men as Arnold Winklereid, DR..
Guion, and others, who knowingly
gave their lives 20 save others; for,
has not Christ said, inssmuch as you
have done any good act to even .
child you have done it t. him. We
have further been taught that we,
living in free country, under . gov
ernmsnt such as the world never saw
before, were expected to take share
Of the burdens upon ourselves; that,
being citizens, We were bound by
every law Of God, nature and coun-
try to fulfill our duty in the fear ri
God and regard for our destiny.
We consider the RIGHT to VOTE q
sacred one, <and the duty imperative
TO vote rsgkt. We consider that in
choosing men for Office we should So
lect those who are best qualified by
reason of education and religion. l
use the term religion advissdly, as
/ am assured that . man who was
known to be an atheist or infidel
could not be elected to high Office.
1t is true we do not always select
members Of the church, from the fact
that many of our best men do not
belong to such organizations, but
they must be known to hold broad
liberal views on religious subjects
and favor instruction in ali ite forms.
both secular and religious.
But, lol after all these years Of
study and instruction, we have TO
learn that we have all the time been
in the wrong. that our Washington.
Adams. Frankling and jackson, were
ignorant of their clear duty Is chris
tians, and jeopardized their claim to
heaven by the part they took IN pub
lie affairs, and that their only chance
of being saved rests in their G,gful
ignorance!
You will Indignantly ask, "who
presumes to dispute their actions
and to ascribe to them Ignorance
and obliquity?"
It remained for one unknown to
fame, the pedagogue Of an Obscure
village, not one-tenth as large a.
Bethlehem Of Judea, to become the
exponent Of q new train Of thought,
with authority to mount the forum
and declare the old order of things
wrong, and to lay down the new Law
that, Christians should not uote non
hold office, nor in any may take porI
in secular things, but instead TO hold
aioof, refuse to appear as .citncsses in
any case # an oath or affirmation b
enacted I Never voting, never hav-
ing word to say 10 the interest Of
secular affairs, to become . nonentity,
cipher, thing; TO put themselves
on an equality with . Chinsman snd
mule in the affairs of parish and
State government! Hail to the latest
prophet and the new ordered thin6sl
All hail, Montgomery
Voters, read this and tremble
Fathers, send your sons to be In
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