Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-08-05
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PURITY IN POLITICS,
Rev. w. G.. Neville Makes a
ScOrching Araignment.

rev. W. VI Ncth1O AdhCS d
Scorching Araignment.
Adulterers and Liars In High Places.
If the Country Would Prosper
1t Must Wipe Out Prevailing
Practices and Seek a
Higher Plane.
Rev. w. G.. Neville preached pow
erful up-to-date sermon in the Pres
byterian church of Yorkville last Sun
day. His subject was the disgustingly
low plane upon which'politics in this
state is based, and although he used
no names, it is not difficult to see that
he was not dealing in generalities.
Here is his sermon in full
righteousness exalteth nation; but
sin is reproach to any people."-Prov.
xiv, "a.
We are taught by revelation, history
and common sense that good government
is one of the greatest and most valuable
blessings which we can possess. 1t is
something for which every person should
pray and labor. Without it, nothing in
this world can be secure. Life, liberty,
property and the pursuit of happiness are
all dependent on it. Without it there can
be no real prosperity. Even the progress
and welfare of the Kingdom of God in
this world are, in sense, dependent on it.
Without it, there can be no permanent
basis upon which to build the social, COM
mercial and moral interests Of mankind.
Without it, there can be nothing but dis
order, confusion, uncertainty and an
archy.
Therefore, we cannot shirk the respon-
sibilities of citizenship. Government is
one of the means of Gods righteous ad-
ministrations among men, and loyalty tc
God demands that the obligations Of
citizenship be discharged" "For there
is no power but of God; the powers that
be are ordained of God" Such is the
teaching of Divine revelation.
You are required by the Bible to pray
for those in authority. But you must back
up your prayers by your works. 1t Is
your duty, therefore, to put men in office
who will reflect righteousness both In
guarantee have you that your prayers foi
wick ed, worthless, rulers will be answer
ed when you deliberately put this kind Of
men in office?
Two things are essential to good gov
ernment.
l. Good laws. You must have these as
basis upon which to build good govern
ment. It matters not what you have:
without good laws, you cannot have good
government without good and righteous
laws, your government will necessarily
be built upon foundation of sand.
2. Competent men to administer and en-
force these laws, 1 use this word compe.
tent in it's broadest sense. A good law
which remains on the statute books as
dead letter, to all practical purposes, is nc
better than bad law. In order to have
good government, we must not only have
good laws but we must also have men IN
Office who will see to it that these laws
are vindicated and enforced.
When we look around US and see the
corruption that prevails in politics and the
low plane upon which our political cam
paigns are projected and conducted
when we see the scramble for office and
the unscrupulous methods which are used
to secure office; when we see how many
incompetent men are put in office, the
moral obliquity which pervades theil
sentiments and the corruption which is
practiced i'm their official acts, it must be
evident to every right-minded and think.
ing man that there is an urgent demand
for change all along the line. 1t is high
time for the people to rise up in thell
sovereign power and bring to right these
things which are wrong.
The trouble is not in our laws. AS q
rule, they are good, wise and wholesome
The tronble is in their administration.
We ought to be more careful as 10 the
kind of men we put in office. The peo-
Die are responsible for the character and
conduct Of their rulers in such govern
ment as we have. 1t becomes us, there
fore, to make a practical application OF
our religious principles in the selection
of men to fill the offices in our govern
ment. "We ought not to take politics,
in the technical sense, into our religion
but it is very certain that we ought 70
take religion, in practical sense, into
our politics."
WHY is it that our campaigns are con-
Quoted upon such low moral plane
where profanity, SANDER and drunken
ness SEEM to be at premium? Why is
lii? Is it because the candidates have not
the ability to discuss questions which bear
directly upon the highest interests of the
nation? Is true craftsmanship lost art ?
Are all of our statesmen dead? Or, is il
because they find such foul atmosphere
more congenial to their natures? Or, is
it because they are telling the truth on
each other? It matters not what the rea-
son may be, it is high time the people
were taking some aggressive steps towards
lifting politics out Of this dirty hole and
putting them upon plane of moral de-
cency and true craftsmanship. 1t is time
for this blatant blasphemy and debasing
debauchery and scurrilous slander to be
eliminated from our political campaigns.
The Christian public ought to speak in nc
l"Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin
is reproach to any people"
One of the representatives from the
commonwealth Of Kansas in the United
States senate, it is said, gave utterance to
these sentiments: "The publication OF
politics is an irredescent dream. Govern
ment is force. Politics is battle for su-
premacy. Parties are the armies. NOW
listen The decalogue and the golden
rule have no place in political canl-
lpaign." If this sentiment is true, then
political campaigns are sinful. or the Bi-
Bic is false in its teachings. When 1 hear
such sentiments, feel like saying what
an old gentleman said in open meeting
lone day. He was accustomed to speak
out his approval or disapproval when he
was deeply impressed. One day strange
preacher came along and III his sermon
gave utterance to sentiment which this
old brother thought very heretlcal ano