Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-05-05

But see, when the day and hour
for nominations had arrived many
of the Christian sovereigns of
Edgefeld were too busy with their
merchandise, their briefs, their
factories and banks to take an
active interest in an election that
might affect very seriously their
business or their bosoms. But
mark you, your cutthreats and
gamblers, rum-sellers and BIAS
phemers and toughs of every shade
and size were out in full force, yigi-
liant, active, allowing no opportu-
nifty to: escape to further their
interests and welfare. But mark
you, under the inspiration of the
spirit of faction the. last one Of
you could turn out on Saturday
evening" though your town was
filed withtnegroes.
The Christian citizen will not
merely vote, but vote as his judg-
ment and his conscience dictate.
He will vote as a free man-free
in mind as we'll as in body. He
will recognize no aBoss," no "Ma-
chine" no party that seeks to build
| his conscience or fetter his will.
Rightly interpreted he will "vote
as he prays." He will carry his
religion into his politics as he
does into business. He will take
Christ with him. Will not go
from his knees and the presence
chamber of the Most High where
be has been praying God to send
us cable men, men who fear God,
men of truth; hating covetous-
ness," and cast his vote for some
scoundrel, blasphemer, gambler,
drunkard, libertine or corrupter
of men. Oh, how my cheeks flush
with shame when see the Chris
tian. citizen claiming his citizen
ship in heaven and claiming no
allegiance superior to the King of
Kings and Lord of Lords, being
insulted and controlled and bam-
boozledby the slaves and minions
and captains of hell. What did
you witness in your own court,
house. a number of years ago?
Whatibut a politician speaking to
a mass meeting composed largely
of Christian voters; saying that We
want no one to take a leading part
in this. movement but men who
had no conscience? Christian cit
izens send that sort. of men to
represent them in Congress. Men
who, above all others pretend to
hold principle dearer than life,
taken by the nose, brow-beaten
and compelled to do the sweet
bidding of demagogues, of ringsters
and scoundrels. Surely it is
enough to make heaven weep.
Cast your vote .gainst such men.
It cannot be lost even if it is the
only vote. 1t would be a protest
against vice anda commentator
of virtue that will surely bear
fruit some day. You may be as
:lonely-as Joseph,i Egypt or Dan
iel in Babylon or John the Baptist,
in the wilderness, so far as human
sympathy or companionship may,
be concerned, but God will be with
you and strengthen you.
Listenlto. me. ] am not talking
of an Independent party. I am
speaking rather of an indepen-
dence Of all parties. Let your
platform be built of stones quar-
ried from the mines of Sinai, and
Calvary. Independent parties like
the present great parties of our
country are often prostituted to
the furtherance of wicked schemes
and even more wicked and ambi-
tious, and, ,covetous men. You
ought to be a member of some
party SO long as that party reflects
your convictions. But don't, don't
hand over your conscience to any
man or set of men. If you do you
will be guilty of partaking of other
mems, sins and come lnto.condem-
nation. Assert your Christian
manhood. Vote first, last, and all
the time for the virtue and best
interests of society. Go INTO the
public meetings and conventions
OF. our people, and there with voice
and vote, and insist upon true men
and good men and able men and
God-fearing men as your repre-
sentatives. Gov. Tillman has
used the strikingly suggestive