The Portland daily press., 1893-01-24
PORTLAND CLUB.
Rev. Mr.. Hughes Speaks on "Political
Paganism."


The regular monthly dinner of the
Portland Club was given last evening.
Rev. Matt S. Hughes was their guest.
After the excellent dinner, Rev. Mr..
Hughes addressed the club on political
Paganism." In substance he spoke as
follows: s t&
The speaker opened by giving some
of h s experiences in political life in the
South. and recounted some of the charac-
t ristics of campaign life below Mason &
Dixon's line. He referred to, ex-senator
ingalls, much-quoted statement that the
ten commandments, SO far as politics
were concerned, were IAN iridescent
dream" He declared that such de-
claration was not worthy representa-
tive of one OF the states of our common
wealth. He much preferred that noble
utterance of Daniel O'Connell that
nothing is politically right that is moral
ly wrong" He deplored the idea, SO APP
parently prevalent, that man may do
some things as politician which in
strict morality he could not do as an in
dividual in his own interest. No man
has any right todo anything for party
that he could not in strict honor do for
himself. T
The speaker referred to one feature Of
political paganism which he designated
as party-worship. He pleaded rather
for principle than party prejudice. He
described the making of party platforms
but as having each plank as hook up
on line cast into the current of public
opinion to catch votes. The best plat
form is the one that stands for anything
or nothing as the orator of the campaign
may desire to interpret its ambiguous
utterances. 1t is understood that many
features of our party platforms are pre-
pared simply to fit the exigencies of the
campaign. Knowing that the great mass
of the members of the party will follow
blindly their party instincts, the leaders
fashion the platforms to catch others
without settled principles.
The speaker also deplored the appeal to
prejudice, heard alike in New England
and in the South. This appeal is some
times made to array us against England
as a nation, sometimes to create an an
tagonism of section against section. 1t
is devoid of morality. So, also, is selfish
ness, which plays SO prominent part in
much of our political life. Patriotism
should first be national. Our boys
should be taught to love country first,
then state, then county, then city. In
stead we find in actual political life that
we begin at home and make national af-
fairs, except in great crises, bend to
smaller interests. The representative is
expected to secure favorsl for his city,
though at the expense of the state. The
congressman is expected to turn a
stream, small or large, of national money
in appropriations into his district. But
first Of patriotism should be national,
and not selfish, local.
He also denounced toadyism in a party.
A great party down on all tours before
some clique or organization, sacrificing
its self respect to maintain political
power is pitiful object. The represent
atives of any party who will sacrifice the
public interests or their own self respect
ing manhood in such an effort are worthy
only the name of political pagans. 1t is
the grossest immortality of action.
In closing the speaker declared that
the great need of our country was intelli-
gent Christian morality. He pointed out
the significant fact that all the enemies
of our government-those who are called
the dangerous classes-are also the enc
mics of the Christian religion. The va
grant classes, the thieves, the gamblers,
the rumsellers, the bribers. the anarch-
lists, all enemies of civil government, are
the enemies also of the Christian religion.
What does all this mean? 1t means
simply this, that just as the morals of
religion prevail our political life will be
pure, our government stable and secure,
and peace and prosperity will be the
guardians of our public veal. He then
is the truest patriot who in political life
recognizes Christian morals in theory
their binding force is Justly entitled to
the epithet of political pagan.