The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-03
Comments on Living Topics
BY ARCHIBALD JOHNSON.

II
| Fattery gilds the goose it tries to
k:.,
1t is a great blessing that our rich
men have so many and such quick
| defenders. But for these brave scribes
| the rights of the plutocratS would be
ruthlessly trampled upon by the
measly paupers.
The Baptists have had some ex-
perience with rich men in other
f, States. Mr.. Rockefeller is said to be-
| long to our crowd. If he were to take
a notion to move to North Carolina
we fear some of our people would take
to oil instead of water
TO the credit of the Pages, who own
the railroad from Asheboro to Aber-
deem, not a wheel is allowed to turn
on Sunday. Among the gentlemen
concerned in this railroad, our hon
ored Congressman from this district,
MI. Robert n. Page, is included. Such
men as these add greatly to the
strength and glory of the Common
wealth.
The University of North Carolina.
under the wise and sound policy of
President Venable, has grown greater
and stronger than ever. DR.. Venable
is one of the very best college preSi-
dents in the country, and the faculty
is a superb one. We are glad to know
that the time-honored institution is so
prosperous. and that it is so wisely
and sensibly managed. rt-
The trend of things in the political
as well as the religious world is to-
ward the centers of wealth and pow
or 10 q lAA
statement, but it is a true one. and
it BODIES no good to the world. Money
has popularized many things that
were once odious, and the eyes of the
public are dazZled by its false and
dangerous light Zeb. Vance said in
Fayetteville years ago: Fellow cfti-
Zens, let us remember that there are
some things in this world that are
better than money" We have left
this old doctrine and are fast coming
to believe that there is nothing else
quite so good. But the truth is ever
the same, and that is the eternal
truth. Not what man has. but what
he is, is the real question.
Every preacher ought to have his
political convictions. positive and clear
cut. The preacher who will vote for
a candidate just because he belongs
TO his church or denomination. and
for no other reason, is a poor Speci-
men of a citizen. He may not intend
it, but no matter how much he may
protest against it, he is a mixer Of
Church and State. In politics or III
anything else, a man ought to stand
by his convictions and not be blown
about like a broomstraW by every
breeze of sentiment that blows. But
the point we started out to make is,
that While preachers have the same
right as other citizens to stand loyalty
by the party that represents their prin-
ciples, they can not afford to take part
in political campaigns, much less to
run for public office.
If the next General Assemly is con-
WINGED that the people demand the en-
actment of better laws in this respect
they will not dare to disregard those
demands; but if we do not let our
voice be heard our lawmakers will
take it that we are satisfied with the.
law as it stands There should be no
temporiZing and no compromise of
this matter. The only ground for di-
Vorce is laid down in the Bible, and
to go beyond that is not an indication
of enlightenment but on the other
hand of a lowering of our moral life
not a mark of progress but a step
backwards towards barbarism We
have been amazed to ascertain that
North Carolina. with her record for
conservatism, has thrown down the
bars as low as any State in the Union,
North or South, and the record of di-
vorce suits for the most frivolous
causes is as shameful a chpater as
may be found in all our history 1t
lis nigh time that individuals and
bodies representing the moral senti-
! ment of this State should speak out
loud and clear. The home is the cen
ire of all our hope. This thrust at
our home life by our Legislature,
dragging into the mire the marriage
relation, was an unforgivable wrong
that can not be too quickly and COM
pletely remedied 1t has brought us
into disrepute among the States and
we hope that the fiiDpant and igno-
rant treatment of this great matter
that scandaliZed the last Legislature
NAV never be repeated. Let us elect
men who honor the marriage rela-
ton and who viii stand like South
Carolinians for the home and the
famil-'.
The Good Old Country Church.
u-aalx WAS OUT pleasure To