Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-01-25

Christians in Elections.

Mere protesting goodness should al
WAYS vote in the elections held in this
great commonwealth the one great
trouble has been that the real Chritian
has in many cases too often abstslned
from his duty in this respect. He has
counted politics as too low and degrading
to be participated in; but Oh the Other
hand the protesting Christian has, in
many cases, allowed himself to 60 into
politics and follow in the foot steps Of
the ungodly, taking up all and every
known method of chicanery, deceit,
bribery and corruption that is known to
the vilest Of the vile politicians. At first
it NAV shock his modesty, but then the
thought comes back, ~ may be IN a way
to become noted man, in political
way, and for me to revolt would be death,
perhaps, TO my political aspirations.'-
Then he suffers corruption that he may
gam worldly distinction. | have never
seen until in few years gone by pro-
| fessed Christians take hold Of the dirty
lever of political machinery with such
seeming willingness. And the worst OF 1t
! is that they don't seem to be ashamed Of
their crimes, and go unpublished. 1t is
said of a superintendent Of Sunday
school, who, in the last election, II am
not Gin the soup" for | am with the in
coming administration offered five dol
lars, and in one case paid four dollars for
voters to vote his sentiments. Others
who are highly respected and have thei
names written on the church record did
as much and more to influence voters
In recent local option election an ex-
superintendent Of Sunday schools and
class leader was made president of club
of "wets," and declared lie would swim
in dung to 90 to the polls to vote liquor
ticket. / know several ministers OF the
gospel who oppose the Temperance AL
lance, and who are favoring the rum
seller. These are few samples Of pro-
fessed Christian Inconsistencies.
The Christian people Of this country
should have more concern in the political
affairs than they have had in the past
but il should be done in no compromising
way. SO long as the ungodly manipulate
the nominating conventions, and so long
as they corrupt the sacred franchise, and
the count OF the ballots. 40 long we will
p, have corrup ton in the primaries, rum
and rascality in the nominating conven,
tons, bribery in the votes, cheating 10
the count, aud all these combined III the
man elected So long as the Christian
people stand aloft from politics, 40 long
will ungodly men continue to polute cleo
tions and bribery and intimidation run riot
over the country. We should take hold
Of the work assigned for us to do. W.
are az much responsible, perhaps, for th'
way in which elections are held and fo
whom is elected and the laws by which
we are governed as the unZodly. Their
why don't we do our duty, and assert on
rights Why don't we attempt to purif.
the election franchise ? OF course not al
are polluted and corrupted, but the ten
dency and the growth of such lawlsss
ness is what must be checked. 1t is be
coming rather too common and is take
hold OF with too much relish to be toler
ated in so fair and Christian land as thii
: Bribery is said TO be a crime, but thi
r kind of crime seems TO laugh at convIC
ton and justice. Instead Of the Christia
element purifying the ungodly, the M
}. godly polute the Christian. Let tn
moral and Christian people march int
the political arena and purify the impur'
and let corruption whine for mercy. lie
: us keep up our standard If we csnns
overthrow theirs. FARMER.