The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-07
CIVIC RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Az tho annual convention OF tho FRO
.testant episcopal DioeSse q Pelsen% 'iai
which began at1Smyrnas,ao on, - nursoay
last Rishop Leighton Coleman took occa-
sion to denounce bribery and corrupt'ons
at elections. In the course OF his charge
to the clergy. he declared that no poliu-
cal party in tho State could claim iree-
dom from the guilt of political corruption
md liz branded the corruptionist as q
"hypocriticnl criminal" l1e SAID 'hau
bribery had become 30 common ana SO
brazen-faced that to ignore 1t on the part
of tho church was to- expose her to tho
charge of cowardices and tcollusion "A
man must be made to feel" said the
bishop. ..that what he would be afraid
and ashamed to do In his own socla4
relation he is to be equally ashamed to DO
in politics.
This Is akin to the famous saying OF the
,omented DR.. Hoge, of Richmond, that
"that which is morally wrong cannot DO
pIlitically right" That Is as sound as the
decalogue.
Tho bishop then went on to say that 1t
was the business OF the' church by her
emphatic condemnation Of such such cor
morautic members" to aid the actually
honest and determined men of either
party to eliminate these dangerous ana
dlsgraceful elements, and to make N
impossible for them to regain the mas
ferry. By this he did not moan to say
that the church should go into politics.
but he did mean that 1t was the outy OF
every Clergyman to preach civic righteous
ness. And so 1t Is.
ut Is said" he concluded. that we
must acknowledge that Delaware pre-
sents an inviting field for such exercise
Of Christian endeavors in her civic and
social life. say Christian endeavor, 1or
l am dealing with an actually snIul con
dItion which can only be remeaieu =, ny
The application OF religious principles mo
evils that aGlict her Will not disappear
Mt the bidding Of merely forensic lament
and condemnation. They are too far down
in the very vitality of our communities
To he eradcated save by resort 10
methods of sturdy and steady herolsm'
Such heroism Is demanded allke or the
glory OF God, the honor Of tho church
and the welfare of the State.
"WIth such incentives II IS only inc
mean man, the selfish man who can with
hold his contribution to the purifying ana
ennobling OF the age In which we live"
There is but ono cure for national evils
and that is tho righteousness of the peo-
ple. We cannot euro unrighteousness by
law. II we would rout out evil VIC must
90 down to the source. This government
As no stronger and no better than It's In
dividual citizens. Our national character
ia the sum tnal OF individual cllarnc-
ter. If the people are good the govern
ment will be good; II tho people are owl
the government will be corrupt, or course,
corrupt men will sometimes get into
office in spite of the vigilance of good
constituency. But this is the occasional
exception to prove the rule, II tho voters
are right and righteous they are almost
sure To elect right and righteous men to
represent them in government. but II
they find any representative who Is faith
less to his trust they will not be slow
TO run him out OF office, punish him as he
deserves, and hold UP his example as a
warning to others. Let us have civic
righteousness; let us have Righteousness
in the hearts of the voters, and we shall
have righteous laws and pure govern
nan.