National Republican., 1883-10-23
Annamites and Democrats.

Annamites and Democrats.
Or. Hammond has converted thousands OF An.
nantes to Christianity. The Annamites observe
that only Christians get the postoices.-NeiO York
Herald Gable Dispatch.
We are accustomed to look to the east for
light. Civilization had its origin there. 1t
was cradled in the orient and has Travelled to
the west by slow degrees. 1t took long time
for Bishop Borkeloy's words to find utter
the course of empire takes its way" but it
took the aforesaid course long time to find
its way west. Now it has gone there perma-
nently to growup with the country.
Science also had its first homo in the cast
There the shepherds watched their 1ocks by
night, and, while they lay on their backs lis
tening to the blcating of the lambs, measured
the distances of the stars on improvised rods,
and laid the foundations of the science of
astronomy. There astroogy had its birth,
which was to blossom aftorward into the
science of all sciences, embracing at once as
tronomy, metcorology, and the signal service.
Itwas said of old that not Il sparrow fell with
out the permission of an overruling Provi-
dence. Now it is demonstrated that not an
English sparrow becomes u victim to the
school boys devil sling, except in accordance
with eternal laws and the movements Of
storms arc regulated by the samo rules that
control those of recdbirds and orioles So
much arc we indebted to the east for the fun
damental principles of practical science.
But it seems the east is the home also of
political scieuce, or at least of political
strategy. The Annamites, says the Hcrdlds
cable dispatch, are being converted by thou
sands to Christianity. 1t is added, with
charming frankness, that "tho Annamites
Offices" The defenders of the faith every
where will be prompt to approve of sys-
TEN of government under which only
Christians are eligible to postoflices, and will
be equally generous in their admiration of
the Annamites, whose worldly tact enables
them to take so practical view Of the situa
tion. OF course, it would be pleasant to know
that the Annamites were converted to Chris
tianity from purely conscientious convictions;
but it is better that they should be led into
the fold by postoflice than not at all.
The lesson to be drawn is one of special
significance and interest for tho democrats.
Let them learn from the east, the home of
| light and science. Let them initiate the An
namites If the democrats want postoilices,
For many years past-in fact, ever since they
ceased fighting against the government-the
democrats have been trying to capture the
postoflices, sometimes by q front, sometimes
| by "a flank, and sometimes by rear move
ment. From whatever direction they oper-
ated their objective point has always been the
same, viz the postoflices and The appur-
tenances thereunto belonging. They have
exhausted every resource from free whisky
to prohibition, and every device from forged
ballots to false returns, but have never
once bethought themselves of the plain
and simple method of the AMMAN
ties, that of becoming converted to
Christianity. We advise the democrats to
learn from their prototypes in tho east.
There is nothing mean about us, and we do
not begrudge the democracy the possession of
the postoflices whenever they shall demon
strate their worthiness to possess them. In
fact, We are in favor of the democrats having
the postoflices if they ever become tit for
them. But us first step we insist that
the democrats shall, like the Annamitcs,
become converted to Christianity. 1t is all
very we'll for Mr.. Pendleton to talk about
civil service reform, for Mr.. Hendricks to
prate about tho old ticket and for Joe Nc
Donald to insist that the people demand a
change on general principles. All this simply
means that the democrats want tho post.
offices. Very well they have right to
aspire in that direction, but let them
first emulate the wisdom and the example OF
the Annamites, and become converted to
Christianity. The next step in the process OF
evolution and elevation will be a conversion
to republicanism, and then tho regenerated
democrat may reasonably hope that he OF
some of his descendants will become fitted
for postotice
The Mississippi Fusionists.