The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-09
ST. PAUL AS a CANDIDATE.
An Argument Showing that the Independ.
ents OF Greece Would Have I8olted Him.

An Argument Showing that the fndepend-
ents or Greece Would Have Bolted Him.
New York Trlbunss
Nothing is more certain than that if Paul had
been nominated BY the Corinth convention the
independents Of Greece would have holted him.
They would have admitted that he was dashing,
brilliant impetuous but they would have said
he was not safe They did not like his foreign
policy He was too aggressive. He was not
content to see the church plod along comforta-
bly, among the Jews where il originated. but he
must needs 80 Haunting hts new freedom among
the gentiles and bring on warfare outside. of
Judea Unmindful of apostolic dignity he
pouneed upon Peter in full Congress- assembled
at Antioch--he who was, as it were, new mem
ber while Peter had been an apostle from the
beginning, and withstood him to the face be-
cause he was to be blamed. Worse than all this
was his record-his own letters which show that
he was man utterly unfit to be President
Lock for instance at that most brazen boast of
timeserving ST am made all things to all men,
that might by all means save some.n The
Corinth Independent could no more vote for such
q man than it could lie or steal The Antioch
Christian Union would not only bolt him for
President, but condemn him for any Office what
ever. The Rev. Washington Gladdens, of
Greece, would cut off their right hands sooner
than drop ballot for him. The Thomas Went
worth Higginsons would lock him into an ice
chest and sit on him.
Our religious authorities appeal to the context
to save Paul They tell us to look at his mean
ing and not denounce him because a possible
wrong twist can be given to his words Ali
Messieurs Authorities, pardon the expression,
but your argument is too thin. The astonishing
thing is that any man Of intelligence and con
science doesnot see that Paul.was simply trying
to get his salarysby showing that he had earned
it in all sorts of t0rtuous ways: that he was not
. a deadhead In the enterprise of spreading the
gospel. that he had been useful in many chan
nels and would continue his willy usefulness
Look at the context9 We do look at it and see
Paul unblushingly pleading that he had jewed
them, or fooled them, or played the learned
dodge on them anywhere and anyhow according
to which would be most likely to swell the party
and make votes ITO the weak became / rs
weak; to them that are without law as without
law: to them that are under the law. as under
the law; to them that are jews as y jew, that
might gain the Jews
1t is, to be sure, possible TO construe the word
ms preachers do construe it; that Paul simply
meant that he was willing and eager to look at
thinesfrom the Jewish, or legal or ignorant point
of sight in order to get at the exact difficulty OF
his hearers and remove it,. but the Eiots. and
of Corinth, were too old birds to be caught by
such chat. They knew that what Paul wanted
was an interest in the Corinth funds. He was
expounding the text that they which preach the
gospel should live of the gospel-Or.. perhaps, as
we should say itroff the gospel The question,
as the Greciau GLADDEN. would astutely ask, was,
how did his hearers understand this reference to
his past c0urse2 And as that gentleman with
terpretation could they put upon it but this: thai
Paul would use his power as Speaker whenever
he ,fcOuid safely do SO to promote their enter
prises: TO those Of them who wanted to