The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-07-31

and dishonesty preside over the ballot
box, and often prevail in the counsels
of political bodies, and in city, state
and nation, does not in the least
absolve me from my responsibility az
citizen of the nation. What cannot
help am not responsible for. But
am responsible, most solemnly, as to
how my influence is cast, whether by
means of voice, or pen or ballot, or any
other mediating agent which joins me
with the people and nation and events
around me. There is no obligation to
God which ever conflicts with real duty
in the home, community or nation. II
you are robbing Caesar of his tribute,
you are going contrary to the Divine
will and losing blessed opportunity
of getting close to the world and win
ming some for Jesus Christ. The true
patriot does not rob Caesar of his trib-
ute.
Robbing God.--"Will a man rob
God?" asks the heartbroken prophet
as he views the wretchedness and dis
tress and poverty of the Jewish people,
which has come as direct fruitage Of
their selfishness and dfsobedience
Yea, verify, he will and he does. 1t is
too long story to tell here. Man be-
gan to do it away back in the garden
of Eden when he stole the fruit of the
forbidden tree, and he has been doing
it ever since. If we render not unto
God the things which are Gods, arc
we not robbing Him? All. what sad.
sad story it is! From the cradle to the
grave man continues to rob God. In
every relation of life, in every direc-
tion we see the tribute which belongs
to God being withheld. Again space
forbids us attempting to enumerate
the ways in which man may rob God.
We shall speak of but one. So-called
patriotism and devotion to country
may and does rob God Of a great deal
of the tribute that is due Him. The
man who puts country before he does
the God who marked out the boun-
daries of the continents, and estab-
lished the nations, and set rulers over
them. is robbing God and paying un-
lawful tribute unto Cesar. The man
who says: my country, right or
wrong" and who means that he is go
ing to sustain that country in its
wrong-doing because of false. con-
ception of what true patriotism is, may
stir up vast deal of enthusiasm at the
political gathering or patriotic mass
meeting and gain the reputation for
intense patriotism, but he is not moved
by the spirit which actuated the God
fearing patriots who, led by the Di-
vine purpose. established this nation
and ceased to pay unlawful tribute to
Caesar across the sea. Blind, un~
reasoning loyalty to nation, dictated
by intense partisanship, keeps po-
litical fires burning and sweeps the
country from end to end with strife
and fever of unrest. 1t pays, seem
ingly, magnificent tribute to Caesar,
but in the paying thereof God is
robbed and the nation must pay tho
penalty some day. The true patriot
does not rob God to pay Caesar tribute.
The true patriot. therefore, builds
for the future. and is not willing to
sacrifice principle or honesty for SEEM
ing present gain or advantage. If vic
tory or success must be won by means
of the questionable transaction and
sharp double-dealing he prefers de-
feat to the glamour of unlawful tri-
butte. Moses, the true patriot, with
the eye of faith fixed on the star of
promise shining away in the future,
"chose rather to suffer affliction with
the people of God than to enjoy the
pleasures of sin for a season. For
he had respect unto the recompense of
the reward" The true patriot endures
during the present in order that the
future may feel the impress of his life
and deeds. True patriotism is not
measured by the volume Of the shout.
or by the brilliancy of the torch-light
procession. The true patriot does
shout sometimes, he may carry the
lighted torch, he may wear the button
of his candidate, but that is not all, for
these are but the outward expression
Of inward principle and purpose which
aim to pay Cesar the tribute due
him and to. God the things which be-
long TO God.
On one of nay ramb1es the other day
nv eye caught the fight Of a feathery
songster as he skinned through the
fresh air and bright sunshine. With
a graceful curve he dipped towards the
fiower-decked field and then shot
up again until in the topmost
branches of the swaying tree he set
tied down and poured out his soul in
tuneful song. Over and over again he
trilIed the half-dozen melodious noteS
of his song, and each time of repetition
the song sounded as sweet and fresh
If not sweeter than before. 1t is
beautiful song, indeed, and rare, which
will stand continued repetition, and
never grow old. Like the song of the
bird that day, whose melodious notes
bore in upon my soul new thought
from God, our text is as fresh in its
application to the affairs of to-day as
it was when the words fell from the
Masters lips. As platform for the
true patriot to stand upon it has never
failed and the eternal principles set
forth have not yet nor ever will be