The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-30
ALL SHOULD VOTE
GOD HOLDS MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR
HIS BALLOT.
VOTE SELLING DISCUSSED
EVIL CONDEMNED FROM PULPIT BY
REV. MIR. ANTHONY.


REV. MIR. ANTHONY.
"Men Go Tripping to the Polls Like
NigRers to a Circus"-People Re-
sponsibIe When Dishonest or In
competent Man Is Elected TO Office.
God VIII Hold Them When Trust
ed Fund Is Misused and n Mighty
Loss Falls on the widows and Or
phaas "Christian Citizenship
Was Minister'S subject-NOt Vox
Del, but vox DiaboIi.
take the question of an ordinary.
Suppose by some hocus-pocus, an in
competent or dishonest man should
be elected and the trusted fund should
be misused. Who would be response
BILE for this mighty loss to the wild
ows and orphans? You would be, in
the sight of God and honest men, for
1t would be you who had put him in"
Rev. Bascom Anthony so spoke dur,
ing his sermon on Christian Citizen
ship" at Trinity Methodist Church
last night. The question of the real
duties of a citizen was discussed in
plain words, and but one impression
prevailed at the conclusion of the SER
mon-that Mr.. Anthony has been keep
ing himself informed on political con,
ditions. The sermon was an interesting
one and the sacred duties of a citizen
as the ballot box were strongly put by
the minister.
Mr.. Anthony said that his theme is
xIr.sA
ferred to the Biblical doctrine of gov
eminent. He said that government
was ordained by God. and that the
form is left to the people. He spoke
of the consistency of the anarchists to
wipe out the law first and God after
wards Mr.. Anthony then followed
suggestion recently made by the Morn
ing News. He advised that the ma
lions of the world purchase a big ISL
and and deport all anarchists to that
spot, where they could fight them
selves to death like so many cats and
dogs and see how it worked.
"An civic duties we owe to God"
said Mr. Anthony, and he dwelt at
some length on that proposition. He
spoke of the individual responsibility,
and said that he wanted to impress
upon LHOSG Wllhlu lAiC SOhAiA Vi ais
voice the gravity of the situation. Il
don't think that it's 'vox populi, voX
Del but rather, 'vox diaboli,' said
Mr.. Anthony. as he began to warm up
to his subject.
Some of you are protesting against
a certain form of gambling, but you
can't touch it. Those who put in that
gang that licensed it are responsible.
God will hold you for it, too. It's
yours, that gambling game. You stood
by the fellows who Matched it."
Mr.. Anthony urged the necessity OF
citizens voting This is a duty you
owe to every man, woman and child,
and to your ancestors, who gave their
very life blood that you might enjoy
the very privilege that is being de-
bauched. What an outrage 1t is to
see men go tripping up to the polls like
so many niggers to a circus. 1t makes
me heartsick. They resemble pack of
hungry children on a picnic. God
holds every man of us responsible for
these things. If l could but make YOU
understand it and feel it. Go to the
polls with the sublime consciousness
of your duty to God and to man. You
are not fit to vote if you cast your bal
lot on the ground of likes or dislikes.
Before God and honest men, we should
consider what is best for society. We
go there as representatives of men,
women ana cnllQren.
Some are bought by a boss, some
by a master, and some just sell their
votes for money. Some of you sell
your votes for a job There amt a
bit of differences between such a man
and the one who gets $25 for his vote,
except that the price is larger in the
first case. I'll vote for you and you
keep me in my job, or get me one.
You boost me and I'll boost you.
vnta
voting for the women and children and
honest men. You are voting for a job
and money. There amt no difference
twixt such a man and the fellow who
gets the $25. They are chained to-
gether, and when the devil gets one
he'll get the other.
mo man who is II years of age has
a right to abstain from voting. 1t is
a sacred trust. You have no right to
say, buddy. that business won't let
you vote. You are personally respon-
sible. Ask God your duty and vote for
what is best and right and just. You
can't shirk this responsibility without
criminality. You owe it to your coun-
try, to your state, to your county, to
your city, and to those whom you will
leave behind.
'There are enough men who stamp
around and kick about improper Off
cials to change things, and if you
don't. God will hold you guilty. /
would just as soon attempt to shirk
my duty to God and honesty as to stay
away from the polls. If there amt
another man in the county, l will do
my duty and go to the polls as I have
done for fifteen or sixteen years. 1
will vote too, regardless of the crowd,
but for that which believe to be right.
/ implore you by the living God to
make it your duty as sacred as that
TO the wife of your bosom. Go away
from here tonight thinking of your
responsibilities"
Before pronouncing the benediction.
Mr.. Anthony prayed God to open the
eyes of the people to their wickedness
and cause an everlasting change for
the better.
FIGHTERS NOT WORST.