Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-09-05
RELIGION IN POLITICS.
MISREPRESENTATION SER
MON FOE PRACTICAL MEN.
Whom tho Ballot BOX Is Surrounded by
Corruption Ii the Time tor the Christian
@,xx.,rL p.r,.cst-Dnnicl,s ExDericnca

u
onthc text, s.Thcn the King commanded,
aud they brought Daniel and cast him
into The den of lions. daniel vi, 16.
Darius was King of Babylon, and the
young man Daniel was so much a favor
ito with him that he made him Prime
Minister. or Secretary of State. But no
man could gain such a high position
without exciting the envy and jealousy
of the people. There were dcmagogucs
in Babylon who were so apprcciative of
their own abilities that they were af-
fronted at the elevation of this young
man. Old Babylon was afraid of young
Babylon The taller the cedar tho more
apt it is to be rivcn of the lightning.
These dcmagogues asked the ling to
make decree that anybody tina made a
petition to any one except To-, King
within thirty days should be put to
death King Darius, not suspccting any
foul play, makes that decree. The
dcmagogucs have accomplished all they
want, because they know that no one
can keep Daniel from sending petitions
before God for thirty days.
So far from being afraid, Daniel goes
on with his supplications three times a
day. and is found on his housetop MAX
ing prayer. He is caught in the act.
He is condemned to be dcvoured by the
lions. Rough cXecutionerS of the law
seize him and hasten him to the cavern.
hear the growl of the wild beasts, and
| see them paving the dust, and as they
put their mouths to tho ground the solid
earth qlakes with their believing. !
see their eyes roll. and l almost hear the
fiery eycballs snap in the darkness.
These monsters approach Daniel. They
have an appetite keen with hunger.
With one stroke of their paw or one
snatch of their teeth they may leave
him dead at the bottom of the cavern.
But what a strange welcome Daniel re-
cciveS from these angry monsters. They
fawn around him, they lick his hand,
they bury his feet in their long names.
That night he has calm sleep, with his
head pillowed on the warm necks of the
tanned lions.
But not so we'll does Darius the King
sleep. He loves Daniel, and hates this
stratagcm by which he has been con-
dcmncd. All night long the King walks
the floor. lie cannot sleep. AT the least
sound he starts and his flesh creeps with
horror. He is impatient for the dawning
of the morning. AT the first streak of
the daylight Darius hastcns forth to see
the fate of Daniel. The heavy palace
doors open and clang shut long before
the people of the city waken. Darius
goes to the den of lions; he looks in. All
is silent His heart stops. He feels
that the very worst has happened; but
gathering all his strength he shouts
through the riffs of the rock, 80 Daniel!
is the God whom thou srrveSt continually
able to deliver thcc?" There comes
rolling up from the deep darkness a
voice which says: 80 King! live forever.
My God has sent his angel to shut the
lions mouths that they have not hurt
me-"
Then Daniel is brought out from the
den. The damagogues are hurled into
it, and no sooner have they struck the
bottom of the den than their flesh was
rent, and their bones cracked, and their
blood spurted through the riffs of the
rock, and as. the lions make the rocks
trembe with their roar they announce to
all ages that while God will defend
His people the way of the ungodly shall
perish.
Learn first from this subject that the
greatest crime thatyou can commit in the
eyes of many is the crime of success.
What had Daniel done that he should be
flung to the lions? He got to be Prime
Minister. They could not forgive him
for that: and behold in that touch of
unSanctited human nature as seen i'll all
ages of the world. So long as you are
pinched in poverty, so long as you are
running the gauntlet between landlord
and tax gatherer, so long as you find it
hard work to educate your children, there
are people who will say: s'Poor man, 1
am sorry for him. He ought to succeed,
poor man!'
But after awhile the tide turns in your
favor. That was profitable investment
you made. You bought at just the right
time. Fortune becomes good humored
and smiles upon you. Now you are be-
ing in some department successful, your
success chills some one. Those men who
used to sympathize with you stand along
the street, and they scow at you from
under the rim of their hats. You have
more money or more influence than they
have, and you ought to be scowled at
from under the rim of their hats. You
catch word or two as you passed by
them. ''Stuck up" says one. SCOT it
dishonesty" says another s.Will burst
soon,' says a third. Every stone in your
new house is laid on their hearts. Your
horses hoofs went over their nerves.
Every item of your success has been to
them an item of discontinue and de-
spair. just as soon as in any respect
you rise above your fellows, if you are
more virtuous, if you are more wise, if
you are more influential, you cast a
shadow on the prospect of others. The
road to honor and success is within reach
of the enemy's guns. Jealousy says,
''Stay down, or I'll knock you down. :" 81
do not like you," said the snowflake to
the snowbird. ''Why don't you like
me?' said the snowbird. s'Oh!" said the
snowflake, ''you are going up and am
coming down." Young merchants, young
lawyers, young doctors, young mechan-
les, young artists, young farmers, at GER
tain times there were those to sympathize
with you, but, now that you are becom-
ing master of your particular occupation
or profession, how is it now. young law
ycrs, young doctors, young artists, young
farmers, how is it now? The greatest
crime that you can commit is the crime
of success.
Again, my subject impresses me with
the value of decision of character In any
department. Daniel knew that if he
continued his adherence to the religion
of the Lord he would be hurled to the