The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-23
terest. or In that Of those to whom they
feel themselves under obligations for their

terest, or in that Of those to whom they
feel themselves under obligations for their
election.
In order to cure this condition of at
fairs, the moral element must do its
duty. This element is found IN all the
walks of life It is a strong and compe-
tent class, and is found among the Ia
boring, the working and professional
men, No man, by reason of wealth. has
a right to shirk jury duty. the duty OF
voting or holding Office. His own inter
ests may be protected without perform
ing these duties but those Of his poorer
and weaker neighbor may not be, and he
has no right to relegate to less favored
men the duties that residence in a city
give him to perform.
It is only too evident that only a portion
Of the electorate in our cities vote. The
absentees are not the professional poll
ticians-the corruptible and the debased.
The latter are on hand in full force
when men are to be selected for office,
sometimes herded together and without
manhood enough to assert their own dig
nifty as men, and simply the tools of some
professional. The absent element is made
up largely Of the moral element. These.
for various reasons, remain at home, and
when the election is over complain of the
character of the men selected. But who
elected such men to office? The people
who stayed at home on election day.
The man who did not perform his civic
duties.
The same thing is true in nominating
men as candidates. The interested ele-
ment~ selects the candidates. It pushes
theft interets. It keeps them before the
public, and on election day the people
have no one to vote for but the candi-
dates this element has nominated.
1t is rapidly becoming evident that all
of the better element in cities must come
forward and assert itself and perform its
duties. 1t must meet the obligations cti-
zenship imposes. There is moral force
enough atent in every city to retire into
oblivion every unworthy official and pre-
vent the selection of any others of that
class Men must vote and must discharge
Jury duty and take interest in the affairs
of government. 1t is little short of GRIM
inal not to do so.
Away with the thought that a man
contracts his sphere by giving himself
to Gods control; that
A TEMPERANCE he limits his powers
SERMON. by putting himself
under the mastership
of Jesus. Breaking away from constraint
and becoming a dissolute drunkard and q
vasabond is surely not to realize ones
selfhood It is the spirit Of God in the
life of a man that shows him what he
is fit for and empowers him to realize
that for which he was created. When one
| is filled with the Spirit, at once the human
life is raised to the divine power.
This age needs much to understand the
difference between natural and artificial
stimulantS. Emerson somewhere speaks
of becoming intoxicated by a quaf OF cool
snring water Browning represents young
David singing to the melancholy Saul of
! the natural exhiliration of a life of health
and duty.
"Oh, our manhood's prime vigor! No
spirit feels waste,
| Not a, muscle is stopped in Its playing,
nor snew Embraced.
! oh. the wild joys of living! the leap1ng
! from rock up to rock.
| The strong rending of boughs from the
| fir tree, the cool, silver shock
| OF q, plunge in the POOLS living water"
Religious Herald.
There is much needless anxiety on the
part OF cody parents lest they should
leave their children in
AHINT good financial condition.
TO PARENTS. Many parents cannot I'M
derstand why their chill
| dren grow up comparatively helpless. The
| reason is not far to seek. Inc 1ather
and mother started with little but health
and energy, and by battling with difficult
ties and overcoming, became leaders IN
! the world of business, society and church.
But their children have too often been fed
on the idea that things have been done
| for them already, ard there is not the
! need for persistent activity. They are
habby and weak because they have not
| been obliged to do enough to make them
strong. You parents who are saying:
want my boy to have It s5easierzt than
had,n,, beware! Strength comes from use
i There is no victory without conflict
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