Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-12
THE RECENT CONTEST
Between the Republican and the Demo-
cratic Parties for Political
Supremacy.
The Part which the Best Elements of
The Community Should Play I'm
Politics.


the election Is over, and we have all hur-
rahed 10 our hearts content. With the SUBJ
sidence of The excitement, leisure for calm
reflection is afforded once more 10 those who
regard the privilege of rejecting at all as
among the most healthful exercises restless
humanity can indulge in.
With such reflections there must return TO
the memory of all certain campaign phrases
and stock expressions used to describe poll
tics and politicians; q lot of strong subatan-
tiyes and violently descriptive adjeciives
that CRATE upon the ear of good taste and
offend ones sense of decency;- in short,
seem altogether queer when taken In conuec-
ton with the fact that these campaigns are
gone through with for the purpose of select
ing and electiBg men TO whom are to be en-
trusted the most vital interests of the coun-
try, interests that come very near TO every
household in the land. "Cesspool of poll
tics, slime ''filth, ""mud flinging," down
in the dirt of the political arena" "de6le-
ment of politics" etc, are few sample ex-
pressions to illustrate my meaning. Now all
this sounds SO terribly terrible, you know, to
ignorant women folks, who don't know how
TO gauge masculine utterances, but are prone
to think they always mean something; that
it would seem to them absolutely necessary,
after every election, that the successful can
didates should be carefully lifted out OF this
cesspool with pair of longs and promptly
doused into preparation of extraordinarily
strong disiufectants carried through Turk
ish bath of steaming and boiling and scrub
bling, a ceremony of publication of the un.
clean, as it were, before they could be pro-
nounced fit TO administer upon affairs of
state.
Now if this state of afairs--eafry does
exist. is il not ---;.iJ uUe 10 the fact that a
very large proportion of our best men con
slider themselves TOO good to mingle in poll
tics? You will hear men say with an air of
virtuous pride, "Oh! have nothing TO do
with politics." quite if politics were
thing for trickslers and gamblers, which,
alas, has grain too much OF truth in il as
things now stand. II the American form of
government, with its periodically returning
elections and excitements, is acknowledged 10
be our style OF governing Tor all time 10
COME then it would certainly seem the part
OF wisdom for all her most solid, purest and
highest-toRed moralists 10 have Just as much
to do with elections as possible. 1t should
rank among their duties as men who aim at
directina and controlling the moral tenden-
cies OF their times. The lawyer at the desk,
the astronomer in his observatory, the re-
cluse in his study, the chemist in his labora-
tory, the minister in his pulpii, have each
and every one solemn duty 10 perform on
this subject; not merely by casting dumb
vote into the ballot box at a stated place and
hour, but by mipgling in the fray TO encour-
age the faint. hearted, instruct the ignorant,
reDuke the hayward, and by. their own vivid
and intelligent interest in the right direction
decide thousands of vacillatipg voices
for the right man. What are our
ministers of the gospel doing to vim
dictate the sacred and indissoluble union
between church and state? If they
would prove themselves the power that their
high calling proclaims them, why should
they hold themselves aloof from what con.
Germs the moral as we'll as the material in
teresis OF the fiocks they are the shepherds
Of? Is the Church's constitution of such a
feebly delicate character that it must be
jealousy guarded against all rude contact
with the outer world, or are its limitations
so narrow that beyond the orthodox duties
of visiting the sick and burying the dead it
has no duties TO perform?
What would be thought of the doctor of
medicine who was always promptly TO the
fore when diseases OF a mild and manageable
type called for his services, but shrunk away
in loathing and disgust when the disease to
be remedied was loathsome and disgusting?
Aud If the fostering corruption that has for
years past infected our body polite does not
call for the ennobling and purifying minis
trations of our doctors of divinity and our
purest men OF all sects, then where can help
be found? Ii the Savior of the world could
afford to cepsort with publicans and sinners
that good might come of it, why should His
professed followers, in or out OF the pulpit, |
fear deflement by coming in contact with |
the same sort of people? The further |
politics are pushed from the arena of religion |
and rsspecta5ility the greater the chances |
Of fraud and corruption. One noticeable |
TACT is, that the PR JUDGE to politics does not
extend to the politician. The very men who |
are far too nice to assist actively in securing |
The election Of any particular set of men, are
aot apt to be at all behindhaud in claiming |
he friendly recognition; or bespeaking the |
good services Of his exceliency the governor
Or the Hon. So-and-So.
What minister of the gospel but would |
gain The plaudits of the world and the
approval of his own conscience by throw
ing the weight OF his pure exam Pile and dis
passionate judgment into the scales, to help
win victory for truth and juetice? Buckle,
n his History Of Ciriization goes the length
,f saying that there has not been one step
AIKEN in the great moral truths of the world
ince the days of Moses. Perhaps that is
because the great moral truths necessary for
our guidance were handed down to us in a
state; but that is no excuse for |
'pathy, lukewarmuees in keeping people
live to those moral truths. Surely, the |
Lords vineyard is not similar to we'll kept
,arden whose trim hedgings and neat par
erres need nothing more than a Ianguid |
observation-disclosures to keep them in order |
Rather, is it not full of wild and tangled
int which the faithful laborer
must go, armed against poisonous contact
With noxious weeds, prepared 10 get many
cratch and scar in doing the Lords service,
ven to become momentarily bedaubsd with
ONE of that clay and dirt that is a terror 10
he too sensitive laborer? Purify The people
nd you purify their politics. Our purifiers
'alk in our midst with certain naughty
loofness that would indicate them with US,
ut not of o.. They dread 10 DO anything
uorthodox rs they would dread an actual
rhine. To be seen at the hastings eudeav
ring TO biss public opinion, or 10 take seat
u speakers platform aud indorse him by |
is presence, are thiogs without precedent,
ence they must be things of evil.
All hail to the crave and dauntless wearer
the cloth, who seeing the ship OF state in |
sril ls not content to stand sfsr off in safety
mong the weak and the useless, but with
is conscience for his life-preserver, fearlessly
lrows himself into the troubled waters, to
Ill side by side with the roughest sailor or |
he s;urdiest clown among hem all in brisk |
nd manly efforts to steer her into a safe
aven. Worshipful sirs, believe me that
ire is naught set down in malice.
MOTHER GOOSE
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