Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-08-07

tne state. Inc best system OF dHtence
for nation is not forts cannon or ships,
but the organization of the character of
its citizens. Our primary concern
should not be with material means of
defence but with the causes which con-
troll the development of the character of
our citizens. These are three-fold, do
mestic, political, religious-the home, the
state and the church The home first,
because ii is the nursery and seat of vir
tue, and virtue is loyalty, and goodness
is patriotism. A noble nation of ignoble
homes is an impossibility. In the home
are the hidings of the nation strength
Also the ideas and standards which pre-
vail in the conduct of political affairs eX-
ercise a formative influence upon the
character of the people. a noble and
Christian state cannot be built up
through the leadership of tricky and
profane Legislators. Religion is another
molding force. 1t is the duty and prov
ince of the church TO set the light of
warning and reproof upon the immoral
citizen who aspires TO office.
During the next few months we shall
hear much as to our political duty.
Love of party and sectional interest and
class benefit will be appealed to rs in
ducementS to decide one way or another
vital questions. Let us remember that
moral questions are never settled until
they are settled right. We shall in
crease turmoil and public distress and
even danger to the national life by any
course that does not accord with the
eternal laws Of right. SelfshnesS is the
bane and curse Of our politics. Men are
more anxious to win than that right
shall be done. That is no true settle
ment of a question which subserveS only
class or sectional profit. 1t needs TO be
emphasized that any man who attempts
To secure a wrong decision of the great
questions of tariff and currency because
of some fancied benefit to himself, or TO
is a traitor, and is recreant TO his high
and holy trust as citizen.
Politics is not in itself an ignoble |
business. There must needs be poll
ticianS and leaders. Only let Us beware
lest by our indiScriminate abuse Of all |
those who rise TO leadership we do not |
make politics so disrcputable that honest
men will hold aloof, and the govern |
ment fall into the hands of lewd fellows, |
of the baser sort. The words of the |
Wise man of old are permanently, |
philosophically and unchangeably true:
when the righteous are in authority |
the people rejoice; but when the wicked |
bear rule, the people mourn So let |
us seek to exalt TO places of trust only |
good men, righteous men, sound at |
heart right with God and true TO hu- |
manity, men that can neither be bought |
Off, nor reasoned Off nor frightened off |
nor fattered off, from the simple and |
immutable right.
Let us keep ever in mind the condi- |
ton of the divine working in the life of |
nations as well as in the life of the in
dividual neither blessedness nor woe |
comes arbitrarily, but the reaping is as
the sowing. If righteousness be sown |
today, tomorrow will infallibly reap the |
fruits of righteousness. The secret of |
the national degeneracy, decay and |
final overthrow of the mighty empires |
of the past is that in law and life they |
opposed themselves to Gods laws of |
righteousness. "The nation and king |
dom that will not serve God shall |
perish. The same law holds good for |
life comes through friendship with God |
and obedience TO His laws. We need |
never fear our nations overthrow eX-
cept we, as the Jews of old, cruelty the |
Son of God with unrighteous bands |
There is nothing arbitrary about the |
destiny of nations. 1t follows the |
simplest law Of cause and effect; right |
eousness brings life, and unrighteous-
ness brings decay and certain ruin.
"The just person shall live by faith.
So also the just nation. The just state, !
like the just soul, shall live by its faith.
No height of privilege, no swelling
census, no width of territory, no per
fection of political construction, no
wealth or splendor of cities or of citizens,
can save the faithless people from
perishing.