The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-06
PRINCIPLE VS.. POLICY"
Address by J. v. Black, Erskine The
oIorical Seminary.

The world loves compromise TOO
often for policy TO the disregard OF truth ana
morality. Yes. policy causes ma man ., 10 qe, hs
NAV be able to satisfy his own carnal appe-
tite. an the lusts of the flesh, the lusts OF
the eyes and the pride of life These Two,
formed a pair OF balances, but TO tell which
is in the ascendency on any great moral queS,
Iion we must first feel the public pulse. VIII
n certain cause meet with popular approval
lis IL ex pedent for me that advocate NOR
al issue? If l sit as judge must decide In
accordance with The evidence. in accordance
with truth and justice? Or TO follow the ex-
ample set by Felix, who being WILING 10
Paul bound? Or yet In the alter course OF
PLATE when he had rendered his verdict IN
regard to the Divine Christ. II Is True, as 5 Ias
as human power was concerned he did hold
in his hands the right TO pass Judgment on
all within his Jurisdiction. And as such ne
exclaimed II find no ia9lt IN this man: d bu,
actions says, "Oh, Countrymen," am but a
weakling in your hands. I.seek yourswill, l
court your favor. desire your pleasure even even
We him Go, cruelty him." Caiaphas thought
it expedient that one man should dls
for the people, but his policy brought dls,
on wrong principle ever has, and ever will,
ring destruction knell, to the individual and
TO the nation that seeks such ends. Zero
throne. % But he to sought policy, too much.
Oh. countrymen, is it for you TO 60 up TO Jeru-
salem to worship, why, behold these two
calves Of gold that l have MADE. Ihese are
they that brought you up out of the land OF
Egypt and now will place them convenient
for You, one will be found at Bethel and the
other over yonder n Dan. Oh, policy, policy,
what ruin thou hast wrought to the indiVld-
uals and nations Of the world.
Jeroboam thereby lost the love and favor
of GOD without which no Kingdom can stand
96er mora and
undermined the very foundations OF natlonal
prosperity and success.
But let US take more modern view, IN
more modern period, view the reigns OF the
kings previous TO the French revolution, and
what sad spectacle we behold. Charles and
Louis were seeking self aggrandizement,
while the nations BOSOM was ,h heavihs -,ybi WIN
French policy was forming an Ideal govern.
ment, "French statesmen were wearing the
gttering Jewels and diaaems tnat d6 daa cees geen
Statesmen TO whom right was unknown out
with whom vice was virtue. So IL was untll
the masses and classes Joined In holy union
and taught all sovereigns that the people
rule and that kings must be subservient 10
their will Oh that all people and nations
and races under the whole heaven from the
time that God placed Adam and Eve in the
garden of Eden had made every action, every
thought, every word, to conform to the prln-
, cipleS of truth and right and then, oh how
different would the pages Of history have
Principle indeed is the source of true pow
er. Principle builds up character makes men
manly, makes true manhood. Indeed three
great principles build up the manhood
knowledge, will. these two are strong, but
stronger still the third, obedience. IL is a
great tap root which knit around the rock OF
duty is not stirred though storm and tenn,
pest spend their utmost skill, true manhood
rests there STILL Devotion TO principle is the
secret OF true power. 1t is the leading spirit
In each and every reform. The songs OF
love and Inscriptions OF praise that daily as
cend TO the throne above are but evidences
of its power.
We are now in the closing hours of the
18th century and many OF US are abont to
place our frail craft Of life out on the sea OF
time, preparatory.to meet the great questions
and problems that will come with the dawn
Of the Goth. Shall We follow policy or princi'
pie in the handling and =; ia deciding In OF tneSe TSe
lives ofgreat men gone on before us should
warn US against running against the stumo
ling block and stumbling stone OF policy
something. We may lose by it some OF the
glitter Of time temporarily but It Will win iol
US glory in time eternal. We will loose some
thing Of earthly honor at times, earthly posi-
against us and naturally SO, but yet II VIII
respect us.
II is said that when prince Lorenzo of Flor
ence lay dying he sent for the Monk, the
Prior of San Marco, saying This is the only
monk Il really know, There were many
monks in Florence at the time, but none dar
ed say word against the lie OF profiigacy
that the prince was leading, save this ont
man. The Others had fallen in with the same
vices that had befallen the prince. But when
the last bitter hour came rs a blight over tnt
princes s,spirit he sent for this one man ths
Prior Of San Marco which was none othe
than Italy's great minister and teacher Sa
vourarola. Yes, he sent for him because b.
knew he stood by principle, by what ~
thought and knew to be right, The .worit
however may perhaps not wreath for US any
beautiful laurelS, Or sing Tor us any SWee
hosannas, or form for as any trlumphal pro
cession, but 1t will respect us. The poet tru
ly said,
Truth Is upon the scaffold
Wrong upon the throne
Yet that scaffold SwayS the future
And behind the din we know God is stand
ing within the shadow.
Keeping watch above his own"
You and have part to do, part to play
But We can never accomplish IL by following
policy. No! No! But let us follow principle
and 1t will be Fastening Of the day whel
1.-The sceptre shall indeed return to thorl
crowned truth, when we shall conquer ou
selfishness with love, the rule of gold will
the Golden Rule; Gibralter's power with th
Rock of Ages and in that grand and gloriou
- day the glow OF blood red Mars that illu
mines the sky above US and frets the dove
ofheayen with its bright star fire shall fad
away, amid the brightness OF the glory OF th
second advent, when Christ shall come, whel
peace and joy shall reign and the principle
of Justice rule in the heart and lives OF men
Oh, may God help us to hasten on this gle
rious day.