Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-07-04

Inc ldct Jnat evil may Ir1um pn-s the
fact that corruption exists in high
places, the fact that unrighteousness
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 as
citizen of the nation. What cannot
help I 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 Goodwin a man rob
God?" asks the heartbroken prophet
as he views the Indebtedness and dis
tress and poverty of the Jewish people,
which has come as direct fruitage OF
their selfishnesS and disobedience-
Yea, verify, he will and he does. 1t is
too long a 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, are
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-
ton 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 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 a 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 Qi-
vine purpose. established this nation
and ceased to pay unlawful tribute to
a Caesar across the sea. Blind, I'M
reasoning loyalty to nation, dictated
bv 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, a magnificent tribute to Cesar.
but in the paying thereof God is
robbed and the nation must pay the
penalty some day. The true patriot
does not rob God to pay Cesar tribute.
He sees that what Cesar may countas
| gain now will be strangely transferred
later to the debit side of the account,
and that the seeds sown in dishonest
disregard of the rights of God have
| brought forth the certain fruit OF ma
tional decay.
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 eve of faith fixed on the star of
promise shining away in the future,
| .schose rather to suffer affection with
| the people of God than to enjoy the
| pleasures of sin for 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-hght
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 paw Caesar the tribute due
| him and to God the things which be-
long to God.
On one of my rambles the other day
| nv eve caught the fight OF a feathery
sonester as he skinned through the
fresh air and bright sunshine With
a graceful curve he dipped towards the
fower-decked field and then shot
m 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
trilled the half-dozen melodious notes
Of his song and each time of repetition
the song sounded as sweet and fresh