The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1907-06-05
The Feature of the Mississippi Press Con
~vention Last Week at JacksOn..-An
Earnest Plea for the Highest
Standards in Politics.
A Forcible, Entertaining and Instructive
Presentation of the Subject of
Ethics in Politics.

mand the homage of his soul and the
unreserved approval of his sanctified
judgment.
From the depths of my soul, and In
behalf of American citizenship, do L
repudiate the doctrine of dis
tinguished politician, who said: the
Decalogue and the Golden Rule have
no place in a political campaign"
Over againstthat blasphemous declara-
ton, which is nothing less than a wan
ton affront to our honor, | rejoice to
place the eloquent words of the inn
mortal Washington in his farewell
address: "Public prosperity has no
foundation but morality and religion;
, and religion is the only security OF
morality"
In political as in personal conduct,
there is a right and wrong, and by
that divine and universal standard
men and measures must stand or fall.
1t is an eternal decree, from which
there is neither exemption nor eXcep-
ton. And no brilliancy of genius or
splendor of achievement or conspicu-
BUSINESS of position can save a man
lacking in moral integrity from the
merited and irrepealable cOndemna-
of history. There may be a tenn
porary e%xaltation of wrong and de-
ceit, borne upward by a wave OF
blind popular passion, but the fall is
as certain and merciless as the grind
ing mills of the gods. On the other
hand, right doing. burtressed by
principle, approved of God and
guarded bv the ceaseless vigils OF
truth and justice, will never be jostled
from its throne of light, but COM
mand the increasing admiration OF
(. the growing years. The genius OF
history can never be deceived. There
was never a man in our American
public life of more godlike genius or
varied accomplishments or irresistible
! at-tractiveness or superb qualities OF
; leadership than Aaron Burr, but for
lack of moral fiber he went down to
the uttermost humiliation and to an
eternal e%xecration. Germany has
never produced a more brilliant and
versatile genius than Goethe, poet.
author and political philosopher.
But it is said of him that he always
kept two friends busy, n weaving
laurels for his brow, the other clean
ing mud off his Clothes"
Washington, in his farewell adj
dress-that last will and testament o.
the Father of his country to the
people whom he loved better thar
f, life-uttered these wise words: 20
all the dispositions and habits which
lead to political prosperity, religion
and morality are indispensable sup
ports. In vain would that man CLAIM
the tribute Of patriotism who shOult
labor to subyert these great pillars o
human happiness. these foremos
props. of the duties of men and citi
zens. The mere politician, equal.
with the pious man, ought to respec
and cherish them. A volume cOult
not trace all their connections will
private and public felicity. Let i
simply he asked, where is the s~ecurit,
for property, for reputation, for life
if the sense of religious obligation
desert the oaths which are the instru
ments of investigation in courts o
justice? And let US with caution in
dulge the supposition that moralit.
can be maintained without religion
Whatever may be conceded to the in
luence of refined education on mind
of peculiar structure, reason and ex
perience both forbid us to expect tina
national morality can prevail in ex
~clusion of religious principles
But just hereI wish to state, wit
all possible clearness and emphasis,
distinction that must be made in
nation that ~jealously and properl
guards the separation Of
CHURCH AND STATE.
Sectarianism should never enter pol
tics, but religion everywhere and a
ways. The church should have n
political creed, but individual CHRIS
) tians should not be without one
clearly defined and conscientiousl
embraced. Every citizen q politician
and every politician q religious, Goo
, fearing man, would make this an idea