The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-14
AS AN OFFICEHOLDER
DUTY OF THE CHRISTIAN IN Of
FICE DISCUSSED FROM PULPIT.
CORRUPTION WAS DENOUNCED
WHILE THE EXERCISE OF RIGHT
OF SUFFRAGE is COMMENDED.

Third of Series of Sermons on
Christian Citizenship-Takes Occn-
sion to Revert to Corruption at
the POIIs-Wben Good Men Get Too
Nice 10 Vote the Country Is Going
to the Bad--BelieVes That Three
fourths of Votes at Recent EIec-
ton Were Unbought and in This
Sees a Sign of Good Cheer.
Rev. Bascom Anthony preached at
Trinity Methodist Church last night
the third of a series of sermons on
Christian citizenship. In previous ser
mons he had discussed the attitude and
duty of the Christian citizen as aIoter
and a candidate; last night he dis
cussed the Christian citizens duty as
an Office holder.
The text was from Titus, III, /: Put
them in mind to be subject to princi-
palities and powers, to obey magis-
trates, to be ready to every good
work"
Mr.. Anthony recalled to the minds
of his congregation the fact that on
previous occasions he had spoken on
other branches of his general subject.
He had shown that governments were
ordained of God and that the duty the
Christian citizen owed to his country
was a duty that was owing to God.
He desired to show that there was no
place for anarchy, for Godlessness or
lightness in the enforcement of law.
The Christian office holder, admins
tering in part the ordinances of a di-
vine institution. is performing in part
the ordinances of God.
"On previous occasions from this pull
pit" said Mr.. Anthony, Il have ex-
hausted the English language, or at
any rate / have exhausted my knowl-
edge of the English language, in ex-
pressing my horror, my unutterable
loathing and contempt. for the man
who sells his vote. I'll go one step
farther and say that 1 have the same
horror, the same contempt, for the man
who will sell his so-called influence.
He is even meaner, for he sells not only
his own vote, but whatever of infiu-
ence he has over the minds of his fell
low-men in the community.
And yet comparatively respectable
to going about and saying that they
don't buy votes at all-they just buy
influence. Just think of that! What
does influence mean? Why, simply
that the man who is bought has inf1u-
ence enough to get his own vote in the
ballot box when his determination is
reinforced by a bribe. He is worse
man, a worse citizen, than the man
who openly declares he sells his vote
and that only.
God Help the Briber.
"God help the man who can see no
harm in selling his influence-God help
the man who can see no harm IN puy-
ing it! Yet these latter are as com
mon as pig tracks in this country, and
especially in this neck of the woods
There is no place in heaven for either
of them. for there is no place in heaven
for a scoundrel When the deVl
comes to get the man who sells ms
vote, he will get the one who sells MS
influence on the same trip. They are
as much alike as two black-eyed peas.
Mr.. Anthony then turned to the DIS
cussion of his particular subject He
said he believed that, other things be-
ing equal, a Christian man would make
a better office holder than man not
a Christian. He explained that he did
not mean that there should ever De
or that he would ever favor a man
who was the candidate of church. He
meant simply, he said, that Chris
tian's chances in the matter OF ability
were equal and his chances for plain,
old fashioned honesty and fair-deallng
considerably greater.
II don't believe it adds to a mans
ability as a magistrate to be able to
stand around on the streets and tell
dirty stories / don't believe he admin
listers the laws with more discretion
because he goes about cursing; l don't
think his value to the community is
enhanced because of his ability to sit
down in bars and drink whisky. That S
what l mean. l believe the Christian is
likely to be the better man because
he has something outside of and be-
yond himself to keep him straight"
He understood. he said, that it was
hard for a clean and honest Christian
man to go down into the mire of poll
tics. 1t was libel on free institutions
that this had to be said.
The Christians Duty.
But it is the Christian citizens
duty. 1t is his duty to go down into
the mire, to get under the corrupt prac-
tices that obtain and to lift up our in
stituions and purify political con-
ditions.
II heard a man say the other day,
who has at least been mentioned by a
large number of citizens for the office
of ordinary of this county, that he
wouldn't think of making the race with
less than $4,000 and that he didn't
have this amount of money. Isn't that
a slander on this community? l mean
isn't it a slander that such a remark
could be made simply and without de-
sire to do more than acknowledge a
state of facts? l have heard IL said
often that what / have been preaching
from this pulpit was beautiful enough
in theory, but that 1t wouldn't work
in practice. Well, If that be true all
I've got to say is that you can start
out now and dig the grave of free in
stitutions in this country.
But it isn't true. l am glad to say
that at the election held three days
ago a majority of the candidates ran
6 clean and fair a race as any candi-
date ever ran in any election. l firmly
believe that 5000 of the 1000 votes poll
ed were clean and honest votes. That
speaks something for the advancement
of this community. Elections can be
purified and 1 believe the time will
come when the brain and backbone and
stamina of this city will rise up and
put an end to corruption and place men
in office on account of their fitness and
oleanness and without the use of 4
dollar. / am believer in the eternal
omnipotence Of the right. Right is
mighty and will prevail A fellow gets
mighty lonesome waiting for II some
times, but IL win surely come.
"A Christian in office will make his