The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-13
THE MAYORS PLEDGE
REV. f. A. ALLEN CALLS ATTENTION
TO ANTE-ELECTION PROMISES.
Mr.. Taggart Doesn't Want the "Rab-
ble's Against Him I'm His Guber-
Material Canvass.

At the Sixth Presbyterian Church yester-
day morning the pastor, Rev. E. A. Allen,
preached upon THE Development of a
Christian Life" from the text found in
Mark iv, 2s First the blade. then the ear.
after that the full corn in the ear" After
pointing out a number of ways in which
the Christian life can be developed, the
minister gave his attention to the better
development of Christian citizenship. On
this subject he spoke in part as follows:
1--WE must be mindful that the forces of
evil are much more potent in political life
than the forces for good. The evil can be
combined by INSCRIPTIONS politicians and
be managed as unit. The good cannot be
so managed, and in their independence We
find their political weakness. We need a
robust partisanship. for without party ac-
ton it is well nigh impossible to get unity
in public measures. / presume no great law
has ever been placed on our statute books
without the aid of a great party, but while
party action is essential to the public good
we should not forget that partisanship has
its limitations. There is a time when it is the
highest patriotism to bolt the party caucus.
There is wide field OF usefulness in Amer
lean politics for the independent-the mug
wump-yet it would be fatal to all progress
were We all to become mugwumps. We
should, then, observe the great golden mein
between the bind partisan on the one hand,
who is ever ready to obey at the crack OF
the whip of his political lord, and the viru-
lent, dyspeptic, cynical Independent who
Will put himself IN harmony with no or
| ganization. t..r..s
mo truer illustration of the weakness of
our government could be shown than that
| which is exhibited at present by our Mayor
and sheriff in their childish efforts to hide
| behind each other in the enforcement Of
| Jaw. Their conduct deceiyes no one. We
all understand that both these gentlemen
| are looking for political preferment and
promotion. They are to be pitied as well
as blamed. The problem before them is an
! old one. Briefly, it is this: They must en-
| force the law vigorously enough on the one
hand to suit the good and wink at its vio-
lation on the other hand enough to please
| the bad If they must offend either party
| they generally consider 1t good politics to
| go to the side of the bad. When consider
| our officials must go an order to get their
places. l am astonished that we have SO
| much efficiency in our government.
| When our Mayor pledged himself to en-
force the law IL was before his election.
| He then may have meant what he said
but now things have changed. He must
n sha saf Il he enree se
will have the rabble against him In his
| canvass for Governor. The sheriff likewise
knows that he must obey the voice of the
| rabble. -..st
lone of the sad things is that number
| of our citizens who make some pretensions
to responsibility and morality are lending
| their aid to the infractions of the law
| They seem unmindfui that while they are
tramplng the law beneath their feet the
may soon call Justify to the law for pro
lection. They are. Samson-like, pulling
the pillars from under our political fabric
only to be crushed by the ruins. Mr.
| Brush evidently forgets that the law he is
deliberately trampling under his feet to
day he may ask to protect his bushes.
| place tomorrow. The street-car company
Is willing for few dollars to be a party
to the Dissertation Of the Sabbath, but 1t |!
| within the memory of IN any of our citizen.
| when this same company cried out pitifully
for the law to come TO its rescue A law
breaker is the arch enemy of the Republic
He forgets that in trampling upon the right
of others he fatally imperils his own rights
1t Is a good land which the Lord our Coo
doth give u.s. but we can maintain ou
heritage only by guarding with vigilanc,
the sacredness of our laws
1.-THE only true remedy is to be found IL
more and better Christian citizens. Tn
stream will not. run higher than the foun
tain. We must have better citizens befor'
we have better officers. 1t behooves us
then, as Christians, TO be careful to plan
good seed, and then by careful cultivation
we shall have First the blade, then the ear
| aff ha ha f1ll m aa