St. Landry democrat., 1889-07-20
The Christian in Politics,

The law OF Christ is laid on every part
of Christians life Whether he eats or
drinks, or whatsoever he does, he must do
all to the glory of God. This takes in
civil duties, as we'll as social and reli-
| gious. Indeed, in sense, every duty is
a religious duty, and every act religious
act, for the spirit of worship should run
through all
The scriptures are declared to be per-
feet treasure of Heavenly knowledge, and
Paul declared that they were given that
the man of God might be thoroughly fur
nished These same scriptures give US
all the needed instructions to guide US in
our political duties if we will heed them.
| Without attempting a thorough discus.
sion OF the scripture view of the matter,
| let US take few hints
| We are told that when the wicked rule
| the people mourn. This is not occasion
ally true, but habitually true. It is true,
| no matter to what party the rulers may
belong. 1t is true because evil influences
go out from wicked men Just as certainly
as malaria proceeds from muck heaps.
And trouble and sorrow follow in the
train of wickedness always, so that to
| increase sin is to increase sorrow 1t fol-
lows that whoever knowingly votes to
elevate to power wicked or corrupt men,
to the extent of his influence and vote
increases the sorrows of the people.
Wickedness enthroned is powerful to
br, ak down righteousness
Again we are told that s'when the
unrighteous are exalted, the wicked walk
on every side Charles the First, of Eng
land, was very disolute ruler, and there
gathered around him multitude like
him, both men and women. His court
became the shame of Europe, and it's
influence went far towards undoing the
morals in the kingdom. Evil men congre
gate and conspire. If the rulers of the
people are bad, then will the wicked ele-
ment of society gather around them, and
the forces of government, ordained for the
punishment of evil doors will become the
means of their protection and encourage
ment. So will evil men wax worse and
worse, and still further corrupt them
selves and the people. Elect gambler
as mayor of a town and his office will
become resort for his kind 1t goes
without saying that they will not be pun
ished.
Reformers have never advanced an inch
except by men fully in sympathy with the |
right. 1t is certain that righteousness will |
be exhalted in the earth by the exhalta- |
ton of righteous men. To elect wicked |
men to office is to call to the front and
surround the throne of power with the
lawless.
In rendering to Caesar the things that
are Cesars-to civil government the
duties of citizenship-we are bound by
our Christian obligation to consider what
is right, what and who will promote the
ends of righteous government. This will
lay powerful restraint on party zeal and
personal interest.
By the conditions of Christian citizen
ship, we are bound to so use suffrage and
influence as to promote the general good
rather than the advancement of any friend.
When Washington was chided for having
appointed an opponent over a personal
supporter and lifetime friend, he said
'If could have used public trust to
serve personal friend Mr.. should
have had the place, but / was convinced
hat the other man would better fill the
place, and therefore | was compelled to
appoint him" This is the true conception
II official duty. And if a President is
pound by the law of the public good, how
much more citizen who is greater than a
resident, by as much as the maker is
greater than the thing made
The last hope of the country is an en-
ightened Christian conscience in politics,
egnant on the busting and at the ballot s
,ox, in the men who make rulers and in /
he rulers.
This conscience must, of course, be an
Individual conscience. There duty is done
s elsewhere, piecemeal by individuals, ,
ot by aggregations of men in the lump =
very Christian must for himself weigh !;
1en and measures and out of the facts =
1ake up his judgment, then render that g
Judgment an efficacious thing by his ballot. .
long this line come all the conserving q
orces OF society. And as the destructive 9
lements gathered and combined to destroy =
ne nation, more and more Christian men y
re needed in politics to act as Christian y
len and not as the sons of Belial. q
And if Christian men everywhere would ~
3 true to their principles the right would E
revail, for without doubt in this country q
le balance of power is in their hands, Il
outhern Baptist Record. u