The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1884-08-16
PREACHERS IN POLITICS.

Week after week, with sickcrng regular
ity, we are regael with utterances from
New York sensational pnlpits on the polit-
ical aspects of the country, and particularly
on the merits nf candidates for the pel'-
dcncy. 1t would really seem as If all that
was necessary to complete the travesty on
pure religion and undelilcd, now conducted
in New York, is for the congregations of
popular churches to infIse politics into the
election of preachers, and have regular
tickets-republican, Independent or demo
cratic as the case may be.
Among these pervtrleis "f he sacred
office of the priesthood, there is no greater
offender than (tho Revd.) Henry Warl
| Beecher. Scarcely day carscs that he is
not interviewed by som, eager reporter, to
whom he readily impartS his views on tie
campaign. Truth to tell, tic situation
would be ridiculous, were it not 50 humil-
ating, so sad. When Beecher consecrated
the energies of his manhood to the cause of
negro emancipation, he engaged in work
which in no way conllictel witt hs high
calling. The ab ,iton Of slavery was pact
| of the grand scheme of Chris ianiy. But
when distinguished preacher makes use of
| his prestige, his power and his pulpit to
a -. l,t.. Il &.
much to be feared that he is competing with
the campaign liar for the profits Of an
unsavory trade. Already Mr.. Bcecher has
come in for some hard knocks and painful
reminders at the hands of the Bline faction,
| whose members clearly recognize that il Mr.
Beecher quits the Sanctuary of the church he
cannot expect the benefit of the mantle of
respect and protection which custom acc1rds
to it.
This evil example has not been slow to
bear f1uit A few weeks ago Mr.. Talmage
used his sacred Office to address words of
council to the young men of his congrega-
tion on their pol teal duties in the coming
campaign. Now there is not the slightest
suggc ,tion that Mr.. Talmage like any 9th cr
citizen. is not entitled to tho fullest exercise of
the suffrage, and to the fullest and freest
expression of his views on public platform.
But the case is materially altered when
minister of religion takes advantage of his
position to enforce the doctrines of the party
to which he belongs, under the guisc of
words of sacred almonition. Few men can
enter into the political arena and leave it
clean-hauded. Preachers are mortal men,
and flllible. Few men will believe that they
undertake to champion particular cause
without good and sufficient reasons, in
which the suspicion of filthy lucre cannot
be lost sight Of.
Moreover il a man takes upon himself the
solemn and binding obligations Of a pastor,
he has no time to dabble in the troubled
waters of politics. He may be pure as the
driven snow when he enters, but he cannot
emerge undefilcd, when mud-slinging is the
order of the day. Has Mr.. Bcecher escaped
the besmirching grasp Of the campaign poll
tcian? Has Mr.. Tlmage escaped it? Are
these men respected to-day for their devo-
ton to the cause OF Christ, or are they
admired simply for their brilliant talents
and the practical worldly use they have
made of those talents?
We cannot read tho story of the Req. Mr.
Ball and Governor Cleveland without think
ing how terrible weapon is placed in the
hands of scolfers aud atheists by the gross
abuse of sacred Office BY men who ,ssibly
mean well, but wh1 certainly adopt very
questionable methods of displaying their
Christianity. 1t is in the last degree painful
and humiiating to find christian minister
rising up to thwart the purposes of AN
opposing party, and to subscrvo the base
designs OF the newspapers of his own faction,
by revving or galyanizing into life breach
of the moral law committed by public man
long years before, an for which breach that
man had to the best of his ability made
reparaton and atoned.
Is it surprising to find that tie Req. Mr..
Ball is in turn put on his defense, and that
charges are made rejecting on his conduct
as clergyman in the present and in the
past If History teaches anything it is that
the priesthood is a calling which has 10 part
in the administration of civil government.
The downfall of the Catholic hierarchy in
England, in France, in Germany and in
Italy was caused chiefly, if not solely, by
the ill-adviscd interference of the clergy in
matters of internal and external national
policy Mr.. Becc cr and Lis imitators may
not have long 10 wait before learning to their
cost the truth of the adaGo that History
repeats herself.
The Sand-HOle Lot.
f The petition signed by residents in the
i neighborhood of Twelfth AID Tatnall whicl
, | yos endorsed Inv the siunaturas of uinetepI