Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-10-12
CHRISTIANITY IN POLITICS.

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+. ,OHRIHTIANITY IN P0IITIOS,
Such was the topic from which Rev.
swickard spoke last Sunday morning
So timely is II, so ably was It handled,
and 80 instructive and profitable such
teachings are, that we believe n
readers will appreciate an occasional
condensation Of the main points:
Every recurring campaign is more
and more educational. This is a hope
full indication of better government.
The people have begun to think; they
demand facts. The man who hopes
for their suffrages must be in sympa-
thy with their needs, and he who would
satisfy their expectation must be wise
and true. Wise, that he may SO legis-
late and execute the law that the needs
and rights of all classes may have due
recognition. True, that he may re-
sist every opportunity for personal ag-
g~randizement, and ado right If he
stand Alone" But the people have
only begun to think for themselves,
and 1t would be marvellous indeed il
they made no mistakes. They know
what they need; the great problem is
how these longed for results are to be
accomplished. "Rome was not built in
a day." no more will this generation
behold the ushering in of the political
golden age" but We shall do what we
can to hasten its coming by pleading
for true politics" and denouncing the
demagogery that has led the nation
to the brink of ruin. If this is to be,
as WI hope, tan educational campaign"
let us begin by getting a true concep-
ton of politics itself; what it really
means, and therefore the scope of our
duties under that head. Question,
what is Politics?" Answer, "The
Science of Government" Not the art
of manipulating primaries, contriving
in conventions, nor mud-slinging in
the campaign; but a science, resting on
ence that give rise to the nation or
state. Note farther, it is a science of
government, not the art of keeping
some particular party in power re-
CARELESS of the results to all others.
Government is for the people, all the
people. and in a nation so perfectly in
structed that all know and desire what
is for the good of all, there would be no
need of parties. AS it is, however, po-
litical parties serve as schools to advo-
cate principles and theories and thus
enable the people, as a nation, to ascer-
tain more easily the principles that
may determine the government that
shall be best adapted to their needs.
AS between the parties, then, there is a
necessary conflict of ideas, but true
politics advocates whichever are proven
to be the best.
Believing that no farther argument
is needed to demonstrate that poll
tics is great enough in scope and inn
portant enough function to require
and merit the attention of all good
citizens, let III try, briefly, to answer
the question, "What will insure purity
in politics?" In one sentence, yes, in
two words: applied Christianity"
Find the answer.
If Christianity, applied, conduces to
social purity, individual betterment, is
it not reasonable that it will eliminate
evil from the body polite? Even non.
Christians recognize the truthfulness
of this claim, and the vilest of men
have confidence in the Christian, un-
less, as sometimes alas! is the case, he
proves UlLl6c1l W U0 uAWOCUuy. kAuU
the very charged unworthiness, proves
that there is an accepted standard by
which he is measured, to which he has
ceased to conform.
Christianity furnishes the ethical
code for politics as we'll as business.
The application of that code will, yes
does, condemn bribery, v~ote-selling
and vote-buying, lying to damage the
reputation of an opponent, setting up"
the drinks, changing election returns,
ballot-stufing, shot gun arguments,
wilful classifying of statistics to sup
port charges or strengthen arguments,
making promises to constituents, "like
pie crust, to be broken" in short, the
whole "slimy pool" would be soon
changed to a pellucid lake, if true
Christianity were operative in the
hearts of politicians. Again, Chris
tianity furnishes the true principle Of
government, and supplies the long felt
want in politics for q safe guide amid
the shoals of party prejudice and in
dividual self-seeking. Only that. gov
eminent can be just to the people that
is true to God. Only when the moral
sovereignty of Jehovah is recognized,
are the legal rights of all classes re-
spected. Politics, then, as a science of
government, must know and apply
these rules and principles to secure
the highest excellence; should never be
churchly but always Christian.
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