The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-02-28
Random Thoughts
of a
Busy Outsider

/ gAVluOu w thO holbhmCoICI anu VIC
are back again in the bleak February.
Hardly the February of the poet who
wrote of an afternoon IN this month
"The day is ending,
u The night descending,
! The marsh is frozen,
The river dead.
Tnro' clouds like ashes,
The red sun flashes
Ger village win-ows
That glimmer red"
But nevertheless a February of raw
winds and rough, frozen roads, cold
sunlight and pale, frosty skies a II st
which the wind-swept branches stan
out in all Cheir naked awkwardness.
1t is to be hoped that the L-uebird
| and robins have found some safe re-
treat from the nortnwester. Their
coming was little previous, which
goes to prove that the much-talked-o
bird instinct is aot always inlallible
Probably it was only d few that came
back, some young and inexperienced
birdlings who were sure,-jusL sure
that Ine time of migration was at
hand and that spring mad really come
way up north in Iowa. We can i'm
agine the older and wiser birds advis.
| ing against their coming. But youth
is sure-oh, so sure that its judgment
and experience are far more valuable
than that of any youth who ever be-
fore occupied a place on this nun.
dane stage. The birds came, and, be-
hold, the cold snap has caught them,
and the time of love singing and mat.
ing is deferred.
SO is our spring. When it comes,
it will surely be welcomed, for though
not bitter winter this year has been
cloudy, murky one.
O.
The Outsiders attention was at
tracted lately by a conversion encom.
passed by the Rev. Billy Sunday. It.
was that of Mr.. Len Small, ex-state
treasurer of Illinois and a practical
politician. Now, by conversion it
does not mean that Mr.. Small is go
ing to retire from politics. Nothing
of the kindS for the new convert ex
pressly says: 81 believe there is moth
ing opposed in politics and Christian
ity to any man of right views"
Such are the words the reporter
puts into his mouth and though one
might question the construction some
what, the meaning is obvious. Mr..
Small believes he can remain in poll
tics and yet be a Christian.
Mr.. Small, is right. There is moth
ing wrong per Sc in the business of
a politician, and the popular preju
dice against the calling is a mistake
one. A man may be member of any
political party, work for it's success
even make his living by so doing, ant
yet be the most consistent of Chris
tians. Abraham Lincoln was surel)
a most practical of politicians, ant
yet no one would dare deny that he
was likewise a good Christian. Leslie
NJ. Shaw is a member of the Method
list church in good standing, so far a,
the Outsider knows. William j. DRY
an is stauncn Presbyterian. Who
shall say that in either case, their re
ligion and their politics are opposed?
The Outsider has always believed
that politics and religion do go nan.
in hand, and that they are the only
two things really worth while in tn
world. For religion teaches us of our
duties to God, and politics-real poll
tics-is the science of our duties tc
our fellow man. Hence the popular
prejudice is a mistaken one. The
true politician, he who works for the
success of the principles in which he
firmly believes, may be a good Chris
tian, always providing that he works
in the right way.
On the other hand, the politician
VINO dares not tell the truth as he
sees it,-who violates the sanctity o
the ballot box,-or who buys votes
Is not politician-he is simply a ras
cal. There have been goodly mum
Der of such rascals, just is there are
a goodly number of Tascals in any
profession; hence the prejudice.
1t has always made the Outsider a
little tired to hear men talk of the
muddy pool of politics. If it is mud
dy, why don't these knockers throw
into it the weight of their own hon
esty and integrity and help clarity
the water? Did you ever know
pond made clear by the boys standing
off and throwing stones into. It?
1t would be great help to this
country IL all politicians were to b.
converted to practical Christianity.
In that case all graft in public Office
would cease, there would be no fur
Their footing of public domain and the
days of the professional would be
forever past.
There is one thing, however, which
the Christian politician would do vel
to forever avoid, and that is parading
his religion in words rather than ex
employing it in his life. You may be
just as good as grace and your nature
will allow, but the minute you parade
your devotion and call attention t.
your virtues we Yankeas raf,Isa IN he