River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-08-20

craft and political science; in a wide
sense, embracing the science of gov
eminent and civil polity." Second,
'as political affairs in a party sense;
the administration of public affairs
or conduct of political matters SO as to
carry elections and secure public Of
fees; synonymous with party in
trigues, political wire pulling and
trickery."
The first definition gives us the
realm of the statesman, who studies
the science of government and applies
its principles to public affairs, seek
ing the good of the whole nation. The
second definition gives us the realm
of the petty politician, who studies the
art of getting into office and protiting
all he can at the public expense. The
statesman is patriot who would
serve his country. The petty politi-
clan is barnacle attached to the body
polite, who seeks to make his coun.
try serve him.
God in Politics.
Civil government is Gods appoint.
ment. "The powers that be are or.
dained of God" (Rom. 1919 These
powers that be" are not defined.
They may be monarchical or democrat.
ic, as the people may choose. Gods
ideal is the theocracy in which he is
king, but when Israel refused his ideal
and voted to have a king like the ma
lions about them God acceded to their
request. Human government is Gods
concession to the frailties of man.
When men are fitted for it, as they
will be during the millennium and in
heaven, the theocracy will be restored.
In the meantime God ordains that
certain persons shall by the will of the
people be placed in authority with
| power to maintain order by Furnishing
evil-doers. 1t is fitting that an
archists should hate the Bible, for it
has no sympathy with the fulmina-
tons against all government. Their
definition Of liberty as license for every
man to be law unto himself and do
as he pleases, unrestrained by civil au-
thority, has no sanction in the Word
of God. 'He (the ruler) is the minis
ter of God unto thee for good. But If
thou do that which is evil, be afraid"
| (Romans 1889 Preachers are not
the only ministers of God. The pres
ident the governor, the mayor, who
execute law, are just as much min
| listers Of God as are pastors and
evangelists. 1t goes without argu-
ing that every minister of God should
| be good man, and it is the duty of
ILL N<xI - 01D a&
men to Office.
Bad men are anxious for good men
not to vote, for then they can easily
elect their kind to office. DR.. Strong
says that the greatest menace to our
American institutions is the bad citi-
zenship of good men, by which he
means the refusal Of good men to
vote or take an active part in politics.
The Foundation.
The underlying principle of good
| politics is in Proverbs 1912: when
the righteous are in authority the peo-
pie rejoice, but when the wicked rule
the people sigh"
Bad rulers make bad people, while
| good rulers make good people.
fountain of health or disease. His in
fuence is light that gives life or
Upas shade that poisons. If the pres
ident, governor or mayor is known to
be q bad man, young men will initiate
their example. And yet there are
Christian men who contend that, be-
cause their citizenship is in heaven,
they have no citizenship on earth, and
have, therefore, nothing to do with the
election of men to Office. They leave
the city, state and nation, SO far as
they are concerned, to be ruled by
the devil and his minions, and we
verify believe are guilty Of great
sin of omission.
The use of citizenship Is suggested
by Acts 25:11: 81 appeal unto Caesar"
Paul was a Roman citizen. He had
been unjustly arrested and pcrse-
cuted. He sought safety by putting
himself under the protection of the
Roman eagle. Through the privilege
of his Roman citizenship he was per-
mitted to lay siege to the citadel of
paganism until he made breach in
its walls.
American citizenship means in the
world to-day about what Roman citi-
zenship meant in the time of Paul
It is the travellers protection and
pride. Under the stars and stripes
he is safe everywhere. 1t gives him
an open door into every pagan land.
To despise such a heritage is to be
an migrate indeed. To refuse to make
that citizenship mean what it ought
to mean by the election of righteous
men and the enactment of righteous
laws is to fail in the performance Of
a sacred duty.
The need of good citizenship is
found in Proverbs 14:34: Righteous
ness exalteth nation, but sin is a
reproach to any people"
Personal righteousness is the right
relation between the individual and
his God. Such righteousness is the
basis of civic and social righteousness
and can come only through Jesus
Christ our Lord. 'For he hath made
him to be sin for us who knew no
sin. that we might be made the right
eousness Of God in him." Paul wrote
the letter to The Romans to prove that
righteousness is primarily right rela-
ton, not right doing, and he besought
men to be reconciled to God Until
we get right we cannot do right. Jesus