The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-10-25
POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE.
ADVICE GIVEN BY THE REV. DR.. BELLOWS TO
HIS CONGREGATION.

ADVICE GIVEN BY THE REV. DR.. BELLOWS TO
HIS CONGREGATION.
The Rev. II. W. Bellows preached on Sun
day in All Souls Church, in New York, a
sermon on "The Illumination ol Conscience"
from the texts, "Those who, by reason Of
use, haye their senses exercised to discern |
both good and evil" "And not rather (as |
we be slanderously reported and as some
affirm that we say let us do evil that good
may come, whose condemnation is just"
In the course of the sermon he made the
following references to current politics:
He is no true patriot who dares TO insult
God and conscience by the blasphemous
boast "my country, right or wrong Look,
too at the pleas made by an average con-
science in regard to the duty of citizens in a
time Of close and uncertain elections, in
volving disputed issues alleged to be of criti
cal importance. l can very well believe
that honest men of both or many parties
think the issues now before the American
people Of great aud even critical national
importance. Many are alarmed, and not
without reason, at the threatening loss of
state and local rights; at the alleged over
awing of voters at the polls. Others are
alarmed, and not without reason, at the
possible loss at the polls, with ballot boxes
stuffed and rightful voters intlmidated, of
all the costly gains of the war, and even
with the possible reputation of debts or the
re.watering of the currency. There are
serious issues before us which should make
all wise men ofall parties prize and use their
opportunities as voters; study the issues of
and cast their ballots according to their best
judgment and the highest conscience. 1t is
time for both and all parties to lay out
their utmost strength, and waste no votes
and spare no labor. Faction and eccentrici-
ty and mpracticable independence are un-
wise and dangerous.
| But there are limits to useful and bccom-
ing acquiesccnce in party policy which are
prescribed by the precept that we shall not
do evil that good may come. If party,
call it what you will and on whichever side
of our national issues it may be, and how
ever important their triumph may be, pro-
ceeds to gain its end by overriding morality
or corrupt bargaining, or by sacrificing or
demanding the sacrifice of conscientious
scruples on the part of those who honor the
general principles of the party, or by nomi-
mating candidates purely for avaiableness
and not for competency, character, integrity
then it is the higher duty Of those who
feel that truth virtue and conscience are al
ways the supreme interest of the country
and before any success of party measure, to
stand by their conscienccs to vote by their
conscicnccs, to adhere to the right and the
true.
Machinery is indispensable in party gov
ernmeut. But they are not the foes to ma
chinery who when some ill-contriyed ma
chine is seen to be involving and wrecking
interests more sacred than its own ends, re-
fuse to feed the fires that turn that particu-
lar kind of machinery they refuse to serve
T or to use The world so far as it is worth
saving, society SO far as it is safe and hope
fu!, is run by different sort of machinery
than that which controls primary meetings
and district caucuses and party conventions
There is such a thing as moral machinery,
1t was that sort of machinery that abolished
slavery after political machinery had failed
for a century nearly to loosen its malignant
power halr. 1t was that sort of machinery
I that maintained and fought out the war fol
! the Union. There are times when the dam:
and the stream are more important than the
spindles and the mill wheels, when public
D sentiments need more attention than publ,
, measures and much more than party plat
i forms and nominations. Yes, machinery
c by all means, but not bad and low and dis
c gusting machinery, not machinery tha
makes it necessary to vote for candidate
convicted of abuses and poculation by legis
lative committees ofan bipartisan character
@ Would it be nothing if thirty thousand in
4 dcpcnent voters of either party, by strikin
4 of from either ticket names that stand 70
dubious, dar, and selfish aims made tina
difference between their vote and the maxi
" mum vote attained by men for whom it
no strain on conscience to vote heartily?
!, believe with all my heart that no issu
" at any time can be so serious in tins com
try as the issue whether narty maneuvr,
can compel us to vote against our conscienc,
W and convictions of high policy, to ensu
y the success of a party with whose gener
;" aims we are in sympathy, be it Democrat
or Republican. do not care to save an
.or policy at the cost of any principle. Rig
4, ends by right means good, by good way
" This is the Christian policy. counsel q
who believe in the imperative voice of du
~ to vote only for men they believe hone
It competent and faithful and to trust God tn
- :, by such course they are taking the sur,
y way Of saving their country and their oy
~ souls.