The sun., 1893-11-09
THE CHRISTIAN ciTlzEN.---WIio
Is HEP
By WILLIAM GnoRaE TRowER. !

POLITICAL ne Is 30 SOiihiOhs hC Y
most optimistic citizen cannot but
realize this deplorable fact. Many
reasons are given for this state OF af-
fairs, but we will venture that the one |
supreme reason is that the Christian
citizen does not live up to his privil-
ege, both as a Christian and citizen.
Many christian believers go so far as
to say that christianity has nothing
to do with politics. We marvel that |
they can say so in the face of Christ's |
touching about the "kingdom" and
the "world." In his parting dis
course with his Disciples, he speaks
fifteen times about "the world" and
by this he meant more than the soul
life. The salvation of Christ is re- |
denton of the political, social and
economic world. He came to save
the good out of the evil; to make a
new heaven and new earth.
This pernicious teaching has made
men Sunday saints and political
scoundrels. Men may pack caucuses,
steal votes and even bribe legislatures,
and yet have position in society
and the church. Surely these things
ought not so to be; and the pulpit is
as silent as the pew in this regard. !
What is citizen? He is one who
exercises the kingly right of self
government. He is member of the
body polite who uses his influence
and his knowledge for the best in
terests of his fellow citizens, for their
highest blessing, and not for them
only, but for their descendants to all
time. The citizen acts for countless
men and their ch; ;ldren i'll the future.
For "no man iveth unto himself"
He is part of that government of
the people, by the people and for the
people"
What is christian citizen? The
citizen who carries his chr sian prin-
ciples into every duty and opportun-
ity. Christ gave a rule of conduct
to be our IDEAL: whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you
do ye even so to them" That as I,
citizen of America would desire you
to act, were our positions reversed.
The man who adopts any other rule
in his political life is not christian
citizen. He may be Populist or a
Democrat, or a Prohibitionist. He
may be minister Or a laYman. He
may believe in salvation through
Christ, but he is not a christian
citizen because he does not have the
Christ-like love for his fellows. The
man who believes in the kingdom to
come must do his part to bring ali ut
the esta blishment of that kingdom in
his own community. 1t is mockery
for a man to profess to love His mas
ter and then refuse to obey the prin-
cipla he gave. The christian citizen
Fhas grave responsibility resting en-
him, if he means what he says-that
he loves the Lord Christine viii do
his best to establish his principle.
He will vote for men and measures
that support the right and reject bad
men and evil measures.
The man who expouLds Gods word
does noble work; who comforts the
sorrowing; who relieves the Door. does
noble service. But often lie who
performs his political obligations in
, the spirit of christian brotherhood,
does more for mems redemption from
sin and selfishness than they all
They may touch but one life; he
, touches all. Theirs extends for a
day; his for decades and generations.
All the reforms Of the past have been
! the outcome of devoted efforts of men
who accepted their personal respon-
sibility.
} The future of our nation depends
on every citizen, not a few; and if
, every citizen realizes how important
} it is for him to do his part there
would be less corruption in politics.
In many of our cities the business
interests control the politics of the
, community. The gambler secures
legislation for his benefit; The brothel
remains undisturbed amid christian
churches. Who is to blame for this
state Of affairs? Not so much the
gambler and the soloon-keeper as the
christian citizen. We do not fear the
criminal classes so much as the
christians attitude toward the evil.
We fear the apathy, the indifference
on the part of those who ought to
know better. It is the man who
dosen't care.
If the christian was half as wide
awake TO the cause OF bis Master as the
gambler is to his pocket-book, there
would be less corruption in eur po7
lit:cal life. 80
The duty of citizenship Is among
the most important that a christian
can undertake, because it touches
} many lives and because it is IN accord
with christian ethics. This duty
) rests upon the principle that he shall
use his power, not essentially for his
own comfort and fame, but to remedy
evils, promote justice, to establish
the kingdom of righteousness in the
world, and thus help to answer the
Savior's prayer. This duty is the