Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-03-14
THE DEGRADATION OF POLITICS..
Report Of Sermon Preached at the
Green street u. T.. Church, Sunday.
March IL, 1892, by Rev. l. q. Ross.

Report Of Sermon Preached at the
Green street y. z. Church, Sunday.
March IL, 1892, by Rev. 1. q. Ross.
The announcement that Rev. /. G. Ross
Of the Green Street Methodist church would
preach yesterday On TIE "Dssradssion Of
Poiitscs," called ou. large sudierce, who
gave earusst ard careful attention to AZ
elcqasn, and able sermon. The scripture
lesson Of the morning vas Psui's Epis,le
TO :he Romans; srd the texs vas FROM
Psalms, IL, vii! The wicked walk O
every side, when the Eiisn uen are q.
sIted.7 Mr.. Rass said
/. 10 in part the province Of he puIpit IA
preach and sssch the gospei vhieh Offers 10
man 8 remedy for sir, ard method Of
grace that II accepted will insure his future
vsii-being But 70 10 slso iss m!s,ion TO
enforce AID apply the grsa; moral urisc.-
pies Of the gospel designed TO regulate the
c,nduet Of individuals AID Of Granted
society in has .ieoTid How 20 ares. the
sttsntioa and make truth sick 10 4 problem
that every earnest preacher mus. carefully
study. IL 10 sometimes wise {, seizs the
feirs OF attention when the mind Of tie
average bearer 10 already s.ea,sd By some
local or proviesufisl event, Ard To dlrec,
the course Of though. In the direction OF
moral Issues therein Involved or thereby
sussssts
In harmony With this method I take &C.
css:on on the eve Of Gu. municipal cleo
ton. the prffmipa,its TO which have a.
rssdy enlisted popular interest, to speak
upon the theme which / have announced.
In so doing !; IL net nv p1rpcss to cast
reflection upon iadiui1u'is. factions, CT
parties - sceh, nor to advance he inter
esss OF any particular Candidates. ftismy
purpose rather 10 give expression !, homes.
convictions in relation to i,suss involved
ard results growing cut Of the re ana
abtSe Of the privileges Of citizenship, and
to point the way, II may, toward the cor
rection Of evils more or less evident to
every thoughtful person not utterly blinS-
folded By Indifference or prejudice.
Politics Defined.
What do / mean by politics Something
very different, fancy, from what many
people thiak Of when that word 10 used. II
l were employing the term TO express the
thought Of which IL is the sign 10 soma
minds. my theme would sound strangely.
To speak Of the Legislation Of polite,
woaid then be good deal like talking Of
spelling What vas already hopelessly d,
lied. Hear Wees.er's definitions Of pol
tic,
81 The science OF government, that
part Of ethics which has to do viii the reg
ulation or government. Of the nslion or the
state. The eservstion Of Its safety, peace
and prosperity the defence Of It's existence
and iish's az, iast foreign control or COZ
qaesi. the augmentation Of its strength ard
resources. AID the pIoIe etiou Of It's citizens
in their rights with The preservation ard
impro .emeat Of their morals"
"2 The management Of political
party. the fdysncement Of candidates TO
cifice'
B !" q bal sense, srtful or di.honstt
management 10 secure the success, OF pol!i: |
cal measures or party schemes. political
tricksry."
These three de litions marx the stages
OF the degradation 10 which | refer. From
the high rank in the scale Of prs .ical and !
social ethics Of having 10 do with The science |
Of government, the preservation Of liberty, |
the development Of resources. and hs ia.
T
IA, been dragged down By urclean hands
to such low level Ia tia popular estima.
ton Of the better classes Of soc ETY., tbs. 10 !
call man q politician is Ia thsir judgement
almost equivalent to 4 term Of reproach.
Causes Of Degradation
!. Tie primary cause must he sought
for in the dtpravily and sefshness Of The
human bears by whose evil promptinss
men, IN sight OF what appeals to love Of
place. Of power. of enolnments Of office,
are led to resort TO unworthy means to
possess Themselves ot the coveted prize |
Under cur Republican system, with it,
hund'eds Of Thousands Of places Of trus. TO
excite smbiti9n CT cupiI,ty, the conditions
have been peculiarly favorable for the
p ut al dsgsner eey to which AN calling
attention.
= TIE unparalleled i1cfess4 OF wealth
in tna hand, OF icd,vidu.s anil corporations
add is prostitution rs mighty lever of
This po~aF il applied in 4
variety Of way. ~ By putting forward
4 supporting for Gflies incompetent. or
consc enceless men Who N be maasgsd a.
tools Of rich men or corporations for the
omPlishment of their designs 70 GUT
their greed. by despoihag the p1olic under
the cover of legal s.uc.ija. a. By bib.
iug leg sl.tors or personl IN PAGES of trus;
national, state OF municipal (3) By buj
log vote, for Tho mielyss. other with cash
down, promises to ray with uositioa or pro-
motion. or accomplishing 'h; same re ult
By intimidation, threats Of o5J II: in trade
or lose OF place.
The reign Of Doodle snd OF the barrel
the practice Of supporting nee and meas
nrss BOZ from appreciation II their worth
b It for boRuS hiss contributed in no small
,sgree TO the work Of political i9gredston.
p Men. 10 other respects decent and respsc-
,eole. men CT high social position under
the pressure of what they call political
are found having hand in this
business. I'VE must not be blsten by the
rsbble" they Gay. The rabble give
brides, cheat and srud ballot boxes They
viii win unless we best them At their own
game Have you rot heard men Tesscn
mus have. And have seen those who
ought to hsve been advocates and amples
OF IRE p,oschsble political Integrity IN res
ity joiniog hands with thu slums ia deg'sd-
u a cali that else had baen one Of the
IN ost honorable to such low rspute ne 10
lead the noble and purG- minded to shrink
ON it with Instructive dread.
The Power of the saloon.
There is ore phase OF thi. corrupHng
power Of money connected n 50 instisr
iion Which, while operatiog 10 other and
mu hilarious ways should be specially not
ed under this head and that is the p0Wer Of
the 0, gaai-ed hqlsoy tro6c. OF all the
cebssing. demorsliz ng agencies txerting
q disastrous inf uence t0dsy in public affairs
of municipality, state sud nation, none is
more potent for evil than this blighing,
whitening saloon curse. Its brides are
lsrger ard more numerous. its weapons Of
intimidation more dreaded. its methods Of
fraud sni intrigue more various, its
schemes snd plots more desperate, its deeds
more cruel and shameful aud bloody than
all other foes Of our civil and political lib
tiles. deem 1t no exsggeraiion TO say
that 20 u more than 10 any stayle influence