The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-01
BRIBERY CONDEMNED
BY BIBLE TEACHINGS
The Reverend George Bates De-
clares Sin of st. Louis Is
Not Original.
TRIBUTE TO CIRCUIT ATTORNEY.
Declares Boodling Is One of the
Worst Crimes Because of Sub
tlety With Which 1t Cor
rupts All Concerned.

me Reverend George E. Bates preached
| at the congregational Church Of the Cove
s snII. oMapiewood; yesterday morning on the
Bribery" His text was Job w Fire
ian H.. Il. consume the tabernacles of bribery"
re said In part:
The idea that the Bible and religion have
re- to' IN, 10 say CEon matters which relate
10 the public welfare and to the duties of
fi 4. re Is very mistaken one. There
than tho Bible.
ana p ,I statements and standards come
Gnu an 20 out the word of God is true eternal
~. There is no source of counsel so sure
+ .t clear In the moral crises that arise in
- me CONQUER OF public affairs. l commend
i, 10 the politicians of St Louis who are
ehdeayoring to straiehten out the tangIes
~ Iheir consciences and characters at this
There they will find the right anproved
ana the wrong condemned with no uncer-
IalE sound. There the vindication of the
e eislt ana the triumph of the truth are
,orSet this when that indication and
! are not fully revealed. but there is
o mp" no iack OF evidence in confirmation of
critics shall be desolate and fire shall con-
sumo met the tabernacles of bribery
erv ne E, siole has much to say about brib-
precepts referring to it. The sons of SAM
h hei we are told walked not in his ways,
Verted aside and took brbes and
prophet, used the most approved modern
methods in sendeavoring to turn Nehemiah
h ism from IRON his purpose to rebuild Jerusa
and the soldiers to declare that his BODY
was stolen by the disciples. So the practice
IS an ancient. If not an honorable. one and
St. Louis cannot even lay claim to an orig
inality of vice. -
We have brand of this offense. how
either current or ancient history Men Of
high social standing. of good business repu-
safa have been exposed in acts of whole
porations and highly esteemed legislators
have been linked with common ward heel
ers and saloonkeepers in a carnival of pub
possible and that it should continue so long
Louis.
But while men hung their hands in hope
less tmpotency, truth and right and law
ana God were not defeated. There is a
thus. tn, far far and no farther in such matters
for every such emergency. and he found q
man for this. with a soul so courageous and
he could neither be intimidated, detected
his office.
I'm Joseph W. Folk the best mind OF this
city is tncarnated and energized and |
brought into action against the intquities |
that have so long, oppressed us. All honor |
ference. carping criticism and unworthy |
kept steadfastly on in his re- ]
entleSs prosecution OF the sources OF our 4,
,itys shame.
There are two reasons why bribery Is
)ne of the worst of crimes:
Because of the subtlety with which 1t
.orrupts the characters of all engaged in It.
We read in Ecclesiastes VIII IA gift de-
,troyeth the heart and in Exodus xiii, g.
The gift blindeth the wise and perverteth
he words of the righteous
Bribery breeds dishonesty, creates GRIM
mails. Stays self-respect and strangles con-
'cience. A bribe-taker loses all sense of
PERSONAL honor and of public responsible
ty. A bribe-giver is a public robber and an
assassin of civic virtue. The crime of brib-
~ Is a sin against God and manhood, as
veil as against the state.
Then. too, bribery strikes at the heart
4 our civil liberties. Our democratic insti-
utions exalt the integrity of the individual
fficial and citizen as no others do. What
yer corrupts this personal honor Is the foe
f our civil peace. Proverbs xxx. A: The
King by judgment establisheth the land.
ut he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
Bribery poisons everything 1t touches.
Destroy it. and honest men, and only such, |
ill seek public office and honest legislation
,ill result.
"There is one more thought to remember.
he transiency of sins success is made
lain to all men by the revelations Of the
asst months The fancied security Of crime
ecomes a live volcano. How true are the |
lords of Scripture again-Proverhs XIV, "A:
Whose boasteth himself of false gift Is
Ike clouds and wind without rain. Fire |
hall consume the tabernacles Of bribery.