Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-12-02
AKRON DAILY DEMOCRAT MONDAY DECEMBER q 1901

tion. 1t has grown larger and more
malignant in nature. And, too, 1t
threatens to destroy our power anu
purpose and position. We have reau
God out of the Constitution. You de-
ny this. Denial does not denote proof.
I understand, too, the source from
whence you would prove false this as.
sertlon. You would point to the ef-
forts on the part of few spiritually
warped warriors of the cross to re
ligionize" our national secularism.
These would have the government pro-
claiming the inalienable rights of lib
erty unto all men, stoop to sectarian-
ism and violate the highest moral prin-
ciples Of our government. 1t Is not the
office Of this government to preach any
religion but to practice the religion Of
justice and ighteousness--under whose
broad bearing all men are equal and
equally responsible unto their God for
their actions. This attempt to stine
the higher spiritual purpose of our
constitution has resulted in stunting
the moral nay, the religious duty,
which every constituent of this fair
land owes to his God, his country and
himself. 1 refer to the religious duty
incumbent upon every loyal citizen to
accentuate his moral standard and
spiritual ideal, by means Of the bal
lot, and not by means of the bullet.
Our difference toward this sacred oh.
legation is our great national sin. We
cry out against the rotten religion or
politics-debasing, degrading, deform-
Ing and defaming. What do we do to
inject religion into politics?
Once In four years, when issues of
vast Importance to ourselves, to our i'm.
mediate material position and purpose
and power, arise, we allow ourselves
to be carted to the polls, to defend
ourselves against our clearifng IN
difference and against our egotism.
When starvation stares us in the face,
when personal calamity threatens US,
when personal grudge is to be aveng-
ed, then we hasten to vote against an
enemy, or, against our material antag-
onist; then, satisfied with our task ter
minated, We lie down to rest under the
shade trees of national lethargy, un-
til the dogs of war again arouse us
from our peaceful slumbers to take up
sword and musket in defense of our
home.
There Is too much of the don't-care-
how-shop-keeps sentiment about the
American people. Business and booty
bother us too much. We are so busy
that we have no time for public affairs.
Think of 1t! No time for public affairs!
Are not the officers of the public our
affairs! Are we only the slaves of in
dividual concern and conceit? We
have not yet learned the important les
son that, whenever the people of the
Republic have no time for the affairs
Of the commonwealth, the common
wealth ceases to be a republic; it be-
| nj ira mol IA,
property of bosses and their tools.
This accounts for our political ma
chimes, for the existence of political EN-
perors and political crooks or Crokers
We have no time, these political po,
tentates take the time, make the time
for time IS money and hence you know
why they are making money-make the
time and make the money; take the
time and take the money.
In the Talmud read about a mar
who was Throwing stones out of his
yard into the public highway, and
when asked what he was doing, said
he was trying to ease his promenade
When later he had lost his own pri
vate court yard and was forced to walk
with weary foot over the public high
way and as his toes tumbled against
the stones he learned the lesson tha
the public highway was much NOR,
his property than had been his private
court yard"
Now, what the Talmud said of throw
ing stones into the public highway
applies to us. We allow the publ,
affairs to rot We cry out against po
litical corruption; we cry out agains
political dogmatism; we cry out agains
political pestilence! Whose fault Il
1t that these exist? Let us he honest
1t Is our own fault. Our indifference
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