The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-04-02
"YOUNG MEN IN POLITICS. i"
Address by REV. DR.. Smith Baker at
wtlIiston chareh.

Every seat In williston church was oc-
cupiea last evening by congregation
which listened vita the greatest interest
TO Rev. DR.. Smith Bakers very plain
talk on the "Young Man In Politics."
He first alluded to the condition Of slaves
In our country before the rebellion with
no vote, no ambition and no property and
tns ike condition Of asrfs In Russia and
labOring men In other parts OF the old
world and then coming to America dwsit
upon the glory Of dsmocr acy where the
highest opportunities are given to the
poor man and where the humblest boy Is
an heir apparent 10 the throne.
He referred to the customs Of our
fathers and the great influence Of the cid
Puritan church and the town mesting
and said that our ancestors read fewer
new sparers but they thought more and
taught their children patriotism. The
red school house was o debating place
WHARF the lstest speech on public affairs
was read and what Webster. Clay and
Calhoun said was freely discussed. The
Bible. the dictionary and the Revised
Statutes were the books most frequently
referred to and were always at hand.
DIR. Baker expressed the thought that
the strength and perpetuity Of our insti-
tutione rested not ON the culture Of the
upper Glasses but rather on the intelli-
zencs and character OF the lower GLASSES;
not on the exalted few, but on the
humble many.
Addressing the young men, the preach
or said that 10 was the duty Of every one
Of them to be o politician-not . states
man nor an Office seeker. They should
be citizens and feel the responsibility Of
q vote. and the humblest man who
neglsots his vote is as recrsant to his
trust ~ q senator or mera Der Of th Q
House of Representatives who fails to
record his opinion on q pubic question.
"a man onoe said &c me-" contin usd
DIR. Baker, al have not voted for forty
years. God pity that man." was the
preachers expressed opinion and he
went on to quote the lines "Lives there
a man with soul 30 dead. etc."
He advised young men to exercise In
dependence In politics and be the slave
Of no party or no man, and II any man
bSbkb W COutIbA u vuto W uflDtII1 W NOt8
thu other way and to say 81 am an Amer
lean citizen and what piece of paper put
into the ballot box IL not the business
Of any man or party"
He urged young men to stand on their
feet and vote for the party when CON-
science tells them they are right, he
Faw no present danger to the country
from any foreign power or internal
dissensions but remarked that rings"
rule the party. Ring rule and run rule
today seem to have olssped hands and the
"ring'' and the saloon are breeding q
social corruption in our cities.
DIR. Baker gave II ~ his opinion that our
Senate and House Of Repr esentatiy had
higher moral atmosphere than ever
before and quoted from the late Gov.
Dingley to the same effect. On every side
are honest and true men, also corrupt
men, and In the middle are the betwixt
and between men. The latter reminded
him OF certain dog described by Fred
Douglass who would roll over, roll baok,
come and get crao ker, just as the mas
ter saw fit to command.
When the ring finds out that you will
vote for only good men they will put
them up. So long as they give you
puppet you should not support the ticket
OF your party, be you Democrat or Re-
publican. DIR. Baker said that no man
should seek an office for by 30 dom he
compromised his manhood. Tho hustlins
process now In vogue was belittling to
a mans dignity. Stand on your dignity
and vote for the best man every time.
The preacher dwelt upon the moral
question which must enter into politics
and thought that city from it's moral
side should be protected like the home.
He said; "WhAt would you thi nix Of a
fateer who would allow a bar room to
be- started In his home and by like rea-
soning officers Of a city are recreRnt to
their official duties II they psrmis har
rooms in q oity which leads to our
You can run politics on
Sunday school principles Il can be done
ana thus young men can be saved from
the breAtbipG holes Of hell and what n
the name OF God Almighty you are afraid
of don't know, j don't hear a single
AMen from n politician. am not swear
ing but I am afraid some OF you win be
before get through"
DIR. Baker closed with a handsome
tribute TO America, Gods last and best
object lesson in democracy. to which the
res OF the world are turned and exhorted