The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-07
CONSCIENCE IN POLITICS.
Rev. A. VI. Williams on the Duty of
the Citizen Mt the Polls.


the Citizen Mt the Polls.
Rev. A. N. Williams preached last night
at Wesley Monumental church, on the
subject, rs Conscience 10 Be Considered
in Our Politics7"
The text for the discourse was taken
from the sermon on the mount, Matthew
b:ls. ''Whosoever, therefore, shall heed
one OF these least commandments and
shall teach men so, he shall be called the
least in the kingdom of heaven and was
presented as an assertion Of the suprem-
acy, universally and perpetuity of the
moral law; that the conscience, the in
structed moral sense OF man, is to be used
in every relation Of life in the least as
well as in the greatest.
Mr.. Williams held that 1t is pre-emi-
nently the duty Of the pulpit to empha-
size the function of conscience, and that,
consequently, the discharge of duty as
citizens and the conduct Of political az
fairs becomes properly the province Of the
pulpit's suggestions for adherence to the
faculty. Not that the pulpit is to be used
as a position for the deliverance OF
speech in any party's favor, but that Its
every effort should strive for the intro
duction Of every mans conscience into
the great matter Of politics, thus seeking
its uplifting and regeneration, but not US
ing the influence of the church to sway
the minds of men in the way Of parties,
for the demands Of sound morals and
good government require that no external
force should bear on the voter in the ex-
ercise of his franchise.
Men, said Mr.. Williams, do
things without any condemnins
Qualms of conscience in politics
that they would scorn to do
in private and business relations and
this shows the wide belief that the sphere
Of politics is one in which the question
of morals holds no place. The stealing
Of an office is as much a crime as the
theft OF a horse, the success of party,
gained by improper methods, as greatly
to be condemned as trespass upon the
property of another. No man has the
right to discriminate between the degrees
of honesty he introduces into his every
day relations {. his political actions.
Many disapprovo OF bringing conscience
into politics. My party, may she always
be right; but, right or wrong, my party
This Is most vicious utterance, and Is
on a parity with the fathers injunction:
My son, make money; honestly, II You
can; but make money.
The importance of parties in politics
was admitted, but a mans duty to his
party ceases, Mr.. williams said, when
that party lends itself to measures that
are corrupt and uses means for its ag-
grandizement that are base. His duty
moves him rather to vote against the
nominee of his party when such are its
principles than sitting the voice of con-
science to array himself on the side OF
injustice TO his fellow man and derelic-
ton to his duty to God, for rulers are
His representatives, and the power OF
electing them should not be submitted
to reprehensible methods!
"Boltocrats' Is the name given those
that listen to the prompting of con-
science and sever connections that no
longer appeal to them as just and right
eous. This term of "boltocrats,' though
used derisively, should have no stigma for
it is the title Of adherence to convictions.
Let a man bolt from principles he no
longer deems right and he joins an illus
trious company of "bolters." Martin
Luther "bolted" from the teachings and
methods of Rome Wesley from the forms
OF the English church; Stevens, Davis
Toombs and others from principles that
held no place in their conception of right.
Negro dOmlnauOn Is phrase uSeu az
a bugbear to brighten voters as nurse
uses name for quelling her charges un-
ruly spirit. With one hand politician
will extend a proposition for the begging,
buying, or cajoling a negro vote, and, with
the other uplifted will cry out in righteous
Indignation against negro domination. The
matter should be faced squarely and II
an enemy the negro vote should be treat.
ed as such rather than temporized with in
such a manner. POS
! The real evil, said Mr.. Williams, lies In
the saloon element and the element OF
vice. There rests the power that domi.
mates, and 1t Is towards the result of rec.
tifying this that our efforts should be di-
| rected.
Tammany Hall, he said, is a great ma
| chine in which conscience in politics is al
lowed no place. Let a member develop
| any self-assertiveness and opposition t
! principles he deems nefarlous, and he Ii
! subjected to process they call 'discip
! lining"
The appeal to every citizen was made
! to let conscience rule and be not as cattle
driven; to be as heroes and to stand as
men to the solemn dictates of the con
science, and, then, when turning away
! from the ballot box, men will feel they
| have done that which is right for the ma.
! tion's good