New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-31
SUNDAY BEFORE ELECTION.

This is q day 10 be marked with a rubrc In
the calendar Of humanity. There are II Is true.
some popular prejudices against what IS called
mixing religion with politics They arise from
two sources One is the natural and righteous
detestatOn men feel for the priest who would
make his office a mere adjunct to n political
machine, and through pretence OF spiritual
redemption lead men into civic slavery, as also
for the politician who would make Il pretencc
Of piety as n bait to lure his fellows 10 support
his selfish ambitions and as n cloak to cover
bis corrupt ntrgucs The other source Of these
prejudces is in the outworn notion that religion
is thing apart from ordinary life-"too pure
and good for human natures daily food" We
all remember how some Of the "unco guild used
to demand that their pastors should cOnfne
themselves TO preaching the Gospel. and not
NEEDLE with slavery drunkenness or any
such things. If they wanted TO denouncc any
sins. let them turn their attention 10 the sins
Of the Canaantcs. or at most of the ancient
Israelites. who hadn't n single friend in the
congregation. In the words Of Increase ID.
O'Phace, Esquire, they We're
-willn a man should go tollabe strong
AglL' wrong In the abstract, fer tibet kind O.
wrong
Is oilers unpopular an never gets ptied
Because it's crime no one never committed;
But he mustn't be hard on partikler sins
Coz then he'll be kickn the peoples own shins.
1t may be that somewhere in Frcakdom there
are those who still cherish such n conception Of
ministerial duty and OF the purport Of religion.
But among earnest and intelligent men Of all
faiths jew and Gentle Catholic and proes-
tant. the conviction prevails that true religion
is an intensely practical thing that It has to do
ia. f,;r tlot
1t not only prepares a man for the life that is
to come. but does so by making him do well In
the life that now is. 1t makes him better
man in his family in society. in business. in
politics, in all the relations of life. If 1t does
not do that it is a failure TO say that man
can be truly plous in church and AT the same
| time a rogue in business A debauchee in society
or corruptonist in politics is to insult intelll-
| gence and to deny eternal truth. To the man
| who believes. therefore. in any vital and prac-
teal religious creed. the Sunday before Election
| Day is n time OF exceptional interest 1t is n
| time when he may well regard his political
| duties in the light of his moral and religious
creed. and see what the latter dictates In refer
| ence to the performance Of the former
For men of all crecds. and Of none save that
Of what they call natural morality. agree on
| certain fundamental principles. They all be-
| lieve In obcying the command. Thou shalt not
| steal" whether they believe ii was or was not
| given on Mount Sinai. Can they apply II 20
| their private lives and disregard 1t in the public
| service: They all condemn the bearing Of false
| witness But Is that sin less sin in politics
| than in society? They all believe In the faith
| full performance OF promises. But Is man thus
bound and political party absOlved? Is not the
party which In 1904 pledged itself to non-partisan
| home rule bound In 1897 to fulfil that pledge !