The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-09

room for apathy. If we wish to be
free from the tyranny of the slums,
we must fight. After the manner of
Patrick Henry, II repeat it, sir, we
must fight"
Well, we have soldiers of experience
in military battles. And we have
soldiers of experience in all political
battles. We want new mobilization
of the armies-a new line of battle,
and new massing of the forces. We
want Christian campaign for right
eousness in the seats of power The
crowns of glory must be honesty. and
justice, and political purity and in
corruption. There is just one only
political prescription that can save
the Republic-one omnipotent pan
acea, medicated by God himself, to-
wit-the purity of men in power.
Shall we have it, Can we have it?
Look at the obstacles before we ans
wer.
Non-Voters.
We have got to that crisis in public
affairs when the hazards of our Re-
public rests chiefly on one pillar, viz
The apathy of the non voters. Max
ing no rebates for spurious votes.
100000 men voted at the presiden-
tial election of 1892. But We had al
most 100000 of legal voters in the
country that year-a political army of
100000 of men not voting at all.
And the apathy would be so much
greater at the state and local cleo
tons that it is safe to say that not
much more than half of our free
citizens take regular political hand
in the support of our government.
And these non voters as a class are
moral men, thrifty men, industrious
a plenty of them are pretended relig-
ious men. But they are not patriotic
men. In the highest sense, there
fore, they are not religious men. For
the same golden lips which declared
-"Render unto God the things that
are Gods" also declared Render,
therefore, unto Caesar the things that
are Caesars" And among the things
that are Caesars in free Republic is
a voice in its government. What if
all did as these five or eight millions
do? Why should one shirk more
than another? By what law of ethics
shall men enjoy all the privileges of
a free and glorious country, and then
deny the one service that can keep it
free and glorious?
Suppose now that we were barbar
GUS enough to practice little retail
atory justice in this matter. Would
it be cruel to deny men, free citizens
of the Republic, the protection of
laws which they utterly refuse to help
to create, to sustain or manipulated
Spot their housesl There is a fire.
alarm. Clouds of smoke pour up
into the sky-but from a leprous
house. Shall firemen run, and hose
play, and water quench the flannel
But organized law stands behind the
water, the hose and the fremen.
Shall citizen invoke the aid of law
who will lift neither finger nor tongue
to create or sustain the law?
Withdraw the strength of law from
official papers in behalf of these apa-
thetic men. Devitalize their insur-
ance policy, deed. mortgage, check,
contract, railway ticket, pro nissory
note, bond, summons to court-from
all kinds of agreements between man
and man, and between corporations
and men, and there is no bit of paper
in all the pockets and vaults of the
civilized world that is worth the cor
ner of dusty spiders web without
the majesty and vitality of the law.
Where there is no law there is COM
mercial chaos and contracts are moth
ing but breath. Hence Americans
could be no better than bowling
tribes of savages without the force
and order and security born of the
law. Is it manly, therefore, to wrap
ourselves about with this sheen and
splendor of earthly benefcence and
yet refuse all part as to its construc-
ton and maintenance? Would it be
unjust to withhold the protection and
convenience of the law from him who
so absolutely repudiates it-except
for personal endss
"But don't pay my taxes-don't l
contribute my full share of the cost
of all these things9" says the non
voter. No sir, you don'tl There are
two Christian ends to this duty to
Caesar. There is money end and a
patriotic end. That's poor dog of
a husband who gives money but
won't give protection. You give
money and withhold your duty as
citizen, and we all must pay two dol
lore rpbara 0na MOULD ancu,ar oh.