Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-06-18
"poLIrfos.s
An Interesting Lecture To students by the
Rev. W. l.. y. Murray u, u.

An Interesting Lecture TO students by the I
Rev. w. q. ). Murray u, ID.
The Rev. W. L. s. Murray, D. D.,
Wednesday afternoon delivered an inter-
esting lecture to the students Of Will
mington Commercial College. His sub
ject was, Political and be spoke in
substance as follows:
"We are in the midst Of political
agitations. This 10 to be year Of great
political excitement unless it differs
from all former years when the people
have been called upon TO declare their
choice for the highest Office in the
gift of the people. One convention has
already been held, there are others
that Will soon follow The press is
busy discussing candidates, setting
forth principles and pleading for party
supremacy. Politicians are laying pipes
and building fences. True statesmen
are looking for the greatoat good to the
greatest number. Rtstlosaness and dis
content show the necessity OF measures
for conservation of the 5ood and true,
the reformation of wrond the prohibit
tion of evil.
"We are not In sympathy with those
who condemn politics, and warn men
TO avoid it. We claim that the science
of government is of such momentous
Importance to a free people that it is
every mans duty to qualify himself
to exercise his right al the polls and
no amount of corruption practiced by
evil and designing menIcan excuse him
from it. From the representations of
politics by different parties and par
tisans from their accusation and crimi-
nations and recriminations one might
suppose thd government to be on the
verge of sqthingrolcano. There is some
good someyhere. There is something
of truth AID honesty or the government
Of nation State and municipality
would bd overthrown and anarchy
would ttumpb. We believe in the
people, but mistrust the politician.
The political worker is necessity,
but thd partisan politician, with ali
tho modern methods of trickery and
duplicity is not necessity. In a
country like ours two parties are neces-
sary, Ihrhaps more. The press has the
right u represent as it may elect and
the Hople the right to choose as they
may dssire the party they will support.
The pain things we wish to say about
politI,s are as follows:
"Hrst-Dishonest politics should
have no place among us. The scramble
for tower and political preferment will
go bn, but dishonesty ought to be
stopped. The cheating men out of
their right to vote, the repeating of
volts, stulling of ballot boxes, erasing
md is names, making it almost impos-
siRle for voters to qualify. is all wrong,
ami ought to come to an end. An
hSnest vote and an honest count arc
dtmanded and anything else ought to
bling the blush OF shame and con-
dhmnation SO strong that it would bury
| il forever.
"Second Politics should not be
toaked in alcohol. For years we have
hotlced that times of political excite
iment are times of the greatest intem-
lperance. Men, who at other times
stand against the evil, fall at election.
Why should it be a necessity to hold
elections in saloons as is too often the
case Why should the candidates and
their friends be compelled to leave
money or an order that voters should
be treated and many literally pulled in
to drink when to wet the lips Is to fire
the blood and send destruction and
death? Many claim that the saloon
CbutTOlE DOilliCbs IL lbtb Db tTuby
wholly or in large degree, let this
country look we'll TO her interests and
remember the fate of Babylon, of Rome
and others that have gone down and
have perished forever
Third-That brihes should neither
be taken nor given. The power of
money for good or evil can scarcely be
calculated. There is legitimate use
and an abuse of this power in politics
which has been a growing evil among
us for years We are reaping, reaping,
sowing, sowing, and the will of the
people is in danger of being entirely
overruled by the gold of candidates
and their friends. This crying evil is
condemned by few, but cundoned by
many. OtherH condemn the bribe-
taker, but excuse the bribe, giver.
Think you this is right? No, no; d
Thousand times no. The debaucher is
worse, far worse than the debauched.
But what is TO be done? Do right,
though the heavens fall.
'fourth--That all parties through
their leaders should publicly declare all
the money necessary for Legitimate
campaign purposes, but not penny
for votes. Do you say we cannot
afford it? Cannot afford to do right:
What are we coming to? Good men are
saying we cannot afford to accept a
position on the ticket. We are OK
pected to spend our hard earned cash
and the risk is too great. Men, honest
mon, would esteem it high honor to
fill tine best places but gold gouges
them out Be assured of this great
danger, men who will buy their way
through your interests to the highest
place will sell out your interests when
they reacn the highest place. -