The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-07-14
Csesarnsm the Parent of Assassination.

The Rev. Mr.. Moment, of the
Spring Street Presbyterian Church,
New York, preached from the text
'No man can serve two masters."-
Matthew, vi, "a.
"This text" he said, sis taken from
the Sermon on the Mount. 1t con-
tains great self-evident truth, as
applicable to nations as to individ-
uals, for nations can not serve two
masters. Cesarism and Christianity
are struggling for the mastery in all
| governments. Cesarism is the spirit
which strives for power by every
means-honest ones if they be con-
venient, but if not, itstarts not at the
use of those which are dishonest,
base, unmanly, bribery, blackmail-
ing, slander, tyranny, even death it.
self is familiar to the mind of a
Cesar. Power, when gained by the
| spirit of Casarism, is used for per-
sonal aggrandizernent, not for pub
| lie welfare. Rome has a race of
mighty Caesars, and from them we
get our word Cesarism. Drawn
from them it embodies all that was
base and vile in their methods of
government. They gained power
by coercion to use it for selfish pur-
poses, notfor the good of men or the
upholding of empire. Gibbon gives
as the cause of the fall of Rome the
results which flowed from this policy
of the Cesars. In history we find it
again and again the name is chang
ed but the spirit is the same. Is it
to be found in this country? Have
we clear political record, one that
would stand the test when examined
by the light of the great sun of that
noble statesman who, one hundred
and five years ago, devoted his life
to the cause of American liberty
Everywhere we see politicians and
parties striving for power by un-
manly and ungodly meth ods; by
forgery, bribery, blackmailing, by
tracks known to all politicians. We
have heard the cry ofreform, reform,
reform for years, yet the majority
of political appointments are for
sale. They are not sold at the price
of capacity, honesty, Intelligence,
moral worth, experience, but at that
of party service. Twenty years ago
congressman resigned and cried Sc
cesSiOn because they could not get
power. Only short time ago 9TH |
ers ran and deserted the post of duty |
because of personal grievances, sac |
rificing public good TO personal ends. |
From every quarter, in federal,
state and municipal governments,
we hear the cry against office-hold-
ers. Frauds-Indian frauds, post
Office frauds, railroad frauds, street
and more than | can
tell come from Casarism. In the
last twenty-four hours Cesarism has
shown its hand of blood. Long
years ago C8sarism struck down
Julius Caesar, il led Louis XVI. to
the guillotine, it killed the Car of
Russia, and now, in our own land,
we have it in the would-be assassi-
nation of our beloved president. IL
is constantly taking this form-mur-
der is IFS logical and inevitable end.
do not say that the guilty man now
in custody Is member OF any polit-
lcal party or section. He is but the
executor of the spirit,
The deyilish spirit of Cesarism which
fills our land With many of our
public men rule or ruin is the motto
to which they give their allegiance.
Rule or ruin always results sooner
or later in some poor, half-crazed
wretch translating ruin into KILL"
The speaker then pointed out at
length the remedy for4his state of
things which exists in Christianity,
and concluded with an eloquent ex-
hortation to his hearers to choose
for themselves the service of the
right master, and thereby to make
American citizenship synonymous
with true manhood ,~.a ~,