The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-12-04
The Church and Political Evils.

The duty OF the churches in reference to
the ballot has been discussed recently in
religious publications This has been
specially SO in regard to corruption at the
ballot box. The fact cannot be denied
that great deal more money is used at
elections than is needed for necessary ex-
penses. TIE purchase of venal voters is
charged against both the great political
parties. Candidates may not be directly
responsible for this. They contribute lib
orally, very often, to campaign funds and
do not trouble to INQUIRE how it Is spent
Eacn party incites the other TO increased
expenditure, and corruption in one pro-
notes corruption in the other, on the
questionable policy of "dghting the devil
with ire.n
What have the churches to do with all
that? This much: The churches can set
their face against all kinds of evil and
should use their great influence TO put
down any prevailing wrong. Political
| corruption is one prominent sin; political
falsehood and trickery is another The
churches can do two things in this direc-
tion. They can proclaim against the
iniquity and can discipline those of their
members who are known to engage in it.
The law is so lame aud hating In its
pursuance of political transgressors that it
is able to effect but little in the purifica-
ton of the political system. And because
the law is SO lax, people get to look upon
political chicanery and fraud as something
that is not essentially criminal, while many
go so far as to consider it perfectly justi-
fable. "Get there,n is the code OF
the professional politician, and "any-
thing to beat the enemy' his motto.
The church, therefore, as the exponent of
truth and the champion Of right ought to
take up the matter and make plain the
wrong and evil of political corruption.
1t is true that men who practically en-
gage in tbs giving and taking OF brides and
in the trickery and dishonesty of election
eering tricks. are not usually of the class
who have the fear OF Con before their
eyes. They are, perhaps, chiefly beyond
the power of preaching and outside the
influence of religious circles. But there
are church members who wink at the sins
and condone the iniquities Of the goddess
class, and some who are participators in
the wrong by the furnishing of funds for
its preparation. These ought to be treated
as though guilty OF gross transgressions.
The churches can proclaim in unmistak-
able tones the evil to society and the
eternal consequences of corruption and
fraud in politics, as well as of other forms
Of unrighteousness, and can thus do much
to bring about needed reforms. They can
olyoo 1h IL ~
members are known to be guilty of them
they can do more than frown, they can
bring them to trial and condemnation.
Political lying is no more iustifable than
ordinary, common, vulgar lying. 1t must
be as culpable in the sight of Deity and
ought to be SO in the view OF the church.
Crookedness aud double dealing. duplicity
and deceit, no matter by whom practiced
or under what pretext committed, are as
vile in politics as in other affairs of life,
and ought to be so considered and under
stood by respectable people and certainly
by all religious people.
The defamation of personal character.
which seems to be permitted method in
politics of reaching desired end, is another
of the evils that the churches can denounce
and help TO put down. 1t is despicable at
any time, and under any circumstances.
Libel should be no more permitted in poll
tics than in every day affairs. The char
acter and reputation of all men ought to be
guarded against the slanderer, no matter
how prominently they may figure before
the public. OF course if man is really
vulnerable and chooses to risk exposure hs
throws himself open to attack. But even
then the tendency to yentilate scandal and
cast up mire and dirt ought to be discoun-
tenanced.