Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-06-16
PREACHERS AND POLITICS.
\ MaSterful Article on the Sub
ject by DR.. J. b. Gambrell.
Something Every True Minister
i'm Mississippi May Read
With Profit.
some Notable Examples of Preachers
without Becoming Failures"
Written for the BaptIs, Record

lSDIloh hECOkD .-COlnt WEEKS ago
your Observatory editor rose to re-
mark ave are opposed to preachers
condescending to be politicians, and
have never seen one who ever did any
good as a preacher, in any shape or
form, who took such a STEP" The
same editor, in the same issue, pro-
ceeded to nominate a Governor for
South Carolina, whack the little third
party, excoriate woman suffragists,
and, in short, to turn loose both bar
rels of his gun loaded to the muzzle
with political slugs. The promencia-
mentO style of the dicta was so cOnclu-
sive and so stunning, that it about
took my breath. 1t looked to me that
some of the best men | ever knew
ought to be on the mOurner's bench,
but before calling mourners, l be-
thought me to look into the matter.
What is there so bad in politics that
n preacher must needs hands off |
betook myself to Webster to see what
politics is any way. Here is what he
says:
"POIitics-The science of govern
ment; that part of ethics which has to
do with the regulation or government
of nation or state the preservation
of its safety peace and prosperity; the
defense of its existence and rights
against foreign control or conquest;
the augmentation of its strength and
resources and the protection of its cit
izens in their rights, with the preserva
tion and Improvement of their
morals
Not so bad, is it! Now looking at
the thing like it is, my spirits came
back to me, and concluded that pos
sibly one man, though he lived in an
observatory, can't see every thing.
Some men are not predestinated to
see every thing.
Whoever 10y word, or vote. or act,
seeks to influence public affairs "con-
descends to be a politician" and that
your Observatory editor does not see
every thing, witness some facts. The
South years ago was in a great strug-
gle, as we believed, "for the protection
of its citizens in their rights" NJ. p.
LOwrey made speeches, raised Il regi-
ment, won immortal honor on the
many fields of battle, and yet the
Baptists of Mississippi believe no more
useful minister ever lived in the State.
And NJ. p. LOwrey told me that if
Prohibition ever became question to
vote on in Mississippi he was going to
take the stump for it. If lie had done
SO, he would have still been useful, in
my opinion.
And all that has been said of Gen.
Lowrey may be said of Col. l.. Ball.
What time man would have max
ing the public believe Lewis Ball
:'never did any good in any shape or
form"
And there is j. l.. Pettigrew, who
actually "condescended" to aid in the
protection of our citizens .'in their
rights" during the war and voted the
third party ticket and yet he has so
fooled all the people that they think
he has done great deal of good.
And j. A. Hackett did the same
thing, and while out in Texas actually
united with Carroll, Cranfill and near
ly all the preachers of Texas in an eff
fort for "the preservation and i'm
provement" of the morals of the peo-
pie by enacting Prohibition as State
policy. If he has not done a lot of
good In several shapes and forms,
there are tens of thousands of people
badly mistaken.
Not so long ago but that many now
living can remember it, Lord Beacons-
field was leading the Tory party of
England. Gladstone was leading the
Liberals, ,as usual. There was trouble
in the East and Beaconsfield began to
exploit hisssgunpowdcr and glory pol
icy.n which was nothin less than a
bullying policy toward weaker nations
with the spirit of Rob Roy inspiring it.
Mr.. Gladstone went before the people,
as his Tory opponent put it, son a
passion pilgrimage" His appeal to
the voters of the kingd ,m was for our
common humanity, for the great prin-
ciples of equity, which ought to be
regarded by nations as well as indi-
viduals for the magnanimity which
should characterize the strong in deal
ing with the weak-in short, for ma
tional aud international ethics, as a
basis of peace and good will. The
war spirit was high /; the love of con-
quest, so strong at all times in the
English, was assertive. The contest
was doubtful. As the crisis came on
there was Baptist preacher in Lon
don Of some influence in the Realm,