The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-10-23
EPNC a4rn LEAGUE.
Topic For the week beginning Oct.
-. "c1vIc osxness'-Text,
Dcut. i, II; II sasn. xiii, 81
Ph. Il. 10.

"He that rulcth over men must be
Just, ruling in the fear of God"
Stable government can find no other
base than this. Whatever its form,
whether monarchy, aristocracy or
democracy, security and permanence
can be obtained only as those who
rule, discover and put in operation the
eternal principles of justice, truth and
righteousness. Napoleon Bonaparte
may declare that God is on the side of
the strongest battalions He may even
be confident that he has the strongest
and is inyincible. st. Helena will give
him time for reflection on the causes Of
Waterloo. He may even frame eight
or nine different theories to account for
his defeat Men may think it was tie
illeglbility Of his writing. causing lis
officers to mistake his orders, and, af.ar
all. the only sufficient explanation CT
his defeat lies in the fact that he relied
on tie genius and destiny of Napoleon
Ronaparte and had greater regard fer
him than for Almighty God That he
has yet discovered his error who can
declare? Others have recognized it,.
We need TO profit by it.
Well did Alexander Hamilton say.
"The love and fear of God are indeed
the keystone of the political arch" No
state can long stand which is rottea
within. This truth Is of more vital
siby than to most others at the pres
ent time. We are attempting govern
ment by the people as n whole. But
government is both a science and an
art built upon the science. Intelligence
and integrity are Indispensable requi-
sites in those who rule. Omit citlIa,
and that state or nation is doomed
Riches and strength may postpone its
fall for time. but its doom is sea cd.
its overthrow is inevitable.
To rule others one must be able to
rule himself The genius of an Alex
ander of Macedon may enable him to
conquer the known world. His intclli-
gence, trained by an Aristotle may be
equal to planning a new civilization
and laying foundations for a world en-
pire. His lack of integrity and self
control will cause his death at thirty
five and wreck his scheme with bis
death.
No more can republic last if it,
rulers are corrupt. If officers prove
unworthy they can be removed. Trey
will be removed if the people are moi
debauched. A Tweed may for awhile
hold great city in his power, but thai
power viii be broken unless the people
have lost all power by losing their in
tegrity. Cur only safety is in a high
and awe-ful sense of our responsibility
to God. He who finds no other basis
for Just government except the consent
of the governed has no assurance
against the mad fury of the mob. Re
move the reverence for God and the
recognition of His rulership In human
government. and all safeguards are
overthrown. Reason and right go down
before the blind fury of unrestrained
passion.
Let greed of power or money control
and graft" be tolerated and the land
shall reel under the shame of Mime
apolis. the shame of st. Louis, the
shame Of bossism and public Office used
for private gain. Then vice and crime
will be met by lynchings while mob
vengeance and anarchy hold carnival
Our safety lies wholly in rigid self
control under the laws of God in right
eousness Our duty is to be pure in
politics and demand purity in our Off
Gals in the administration of civic gov
eminent.