The Cairo bulletin., 1904-07-31

nm oriental liable as a text the preacher
makes some timely reflections on GER
tain evils that afflict our polite and
threaten the well being of government
ana people. The text rs Judges TX IA,
"Then said all the trees unto the BRAN
bic, Come. thsu, and reign over us"
This is the year Of great national
conventions. The Republican party
sent its representatives last June to
! Chicago to nominate their candidate
for the presidency oi Inc United States.
The Democratic party this month met
In st. Louis to nominate their candi-
date for the same Office The Prohibi-
ton party, The Populist party, the La
Dor party. all have had their conven-
tons and nominated their leaders.
Thus the first great political battle for
rational office In America Is not fought
over the ballot box at the November
polls, but In convention hall. There
the different political parties agree
among themselves on which of their
members shall be chosen as the stand
ard bearer of their party's principles.
lNo. as intelligent men and women, are
conyersant with the struggles which
the different political parties made in
late convention halls. 1t is not inap-
propriate, therefore, for US TO take rs
our serlnonic theme today the vision
which lothian had when all the trees
of the forest came together In conyen-
ton In the valley of Shechem. with the
blue dome of the heavens for n roof.
and selected the useless, destroying
bramble as their king
This famous parable or fable of
lothian was trsly realistic in more
ways than one. For n convention Of
trees it had a perfect topographic set
ting, On the southern side OF this ia
nous valley Is mighty Mount Gerizim.
On the northern side hoary headed
Mount Ebal lifts its scared and wrin-
killed. face. These two mountains as
sounding boards tossed the echoing
voices of the cheering delegates back
ward and forward Here the gurgling
waters of many fountains sounded
musical accompaniment to the muir
murings Of many voices trying to win
votes for their favorlte sons. Isaiah,
in prophecy. saw "all the trees of the
fields clap their haRds" lothian. in
vision. saw the trees. as convention
delegates. with moving hands, moving
feet, moving lips and sparkling eyes
Their rustic was 10 him &ticulate
speech. Their branches were out
stretched arms. Their names were
symbols TO him Of honor and truth or
of dishonor and disgrace.
Hardly had this great convention of
trees assembled in the valley of She
chem TO select a king than ii became
self evident that the great majority Of
the delegates were ready to be STAN
peded for one tree. Come" the ma
jority cried, come, let US make the
olive tree our king" To Jotham the
olive was the symbol of strength and
wealth and power as well as Of heal |
ing. But the olive tree would not be-
come king. 1t declined the scepter of
over the trees. Then this
great convention wanted to elect the |
fig tree king. The delegates next Of |
fered the nomination for rulership 10 |
the vine. whose rich blood had made |
the vineyards of Shechem famous. But |
the fig tree and the vine both refused |
the ssepter of the forest. even as VIII |
liam r. Sherman, when his friends |
10 nominate him for the presi- |
iency, replied: Il will not accept your
Differ. If | am spoken of in yonder con-
ventiou hall. tell my friends am not
n candidate. If am nominated, | Will |
not accept the nomination and will not
run. If am elected, | will not serve.
am q soldier. not Il statesman; war
rior, not Il politician"
The Had Elements Got Control.
But in this lothian parable. after the
olive and the fig and vine had all re-
fused the scepter. the worst elements
got control of the convention hall.
Then these bad elements said 10 each
)thcr: Let US nominate a king after
,ur own spirit Let Us make the curse
If the field our king. Hail. bramble,
King Bramblc. Hail. bramblc, our fu-
.ure ruler-' As the undesirable ele-
ncnt of the old Federallsts nearly STAN
1edcd congress In 1796 TO elect Aaror
Burr president of the United States. so
lie evil elements of Jotham's parable
the convention of trees IN
he valley oc Shcchcm aud elected the
worthless brauibic king.
Jotham's purpose in this parable was
% show n danger which menaced his
,wn country and has menaeed our
country all through its history There
lave been In the past. as there arc to-
lay. men who conspire to get control
II the political parties in order that
hey may nominate men utterly unfit
or the high Office Of the presidency Of
he United States. Thank tod. they
ave not succeeded yet. for the men
Who have been nominated by the vari-
'us parties are nSn Of high character
md sterling worth. But we need TO he
n our gnar,i against the conspirators.
who vii never cease their efforts e.
vim that great prize Let us identify
hem. that we may Sedulously guard
gainst their insidiOus attacks.