The Washington bee., 1910-10-15
FALSE PROPHETS
THE LAST LESSON.
Preaching a Means of Earning Liv-
ing-Lying Politicians.

Editor The Bee:
Beware of false prophets" is one of
the last lessons taught His disciples
while the Lowly NaZarine was here
upon the earth.
And this reminds us of the fact
that there are false prophets IN the
political as well as in the religious
world. There are men who take 1t
upon themselves to preach as a means
Of making a living without facing the
hot sun to do it. The Lord Jesus
warns us to beware of such false
prophets; for many Of them would
come IN His name. There are men OF
this day and generation who would
deceive the very elect of heaven, Il
they could, for few glitterlng silver
dollars. There are men who occupy
the pulpit from Sabbath to Sabbath
as representatives of the bloOd-stained
banner of the Lord Jesus simply for
what they can get out of the busl-
ness. They pay but little attention
TO the words of our text, which was
thundered from the peaks of Mount
Sinai centuries ago: Beware of false
prophets, for many will come in My
name etc, etc.
AS there are false prophets in the
religious world, there are also false
prophets and so-called leaders in the
political world. There are those who
declare themselves to be in love with
the Negro race, and is therefore very
deeply interested in their future we'll
being. But deep down in their hearts
they have a feeling for the almighty
dollar, and will get it, too, at the ex-
pense of the Negro race, if the race be
not wise enough to check them ere It
be too late.
Man-wicked and deceitful man
has caused the abandonment OF many
a sweet and promising noble woman
by his lying and deceitful tongue OF
pretentious love to her. She accepts
his sweet talk and promises, only to
shed tears and regret 1t afterwards,
and IS left to battle with her future
life's journey as best she can, while
he, the miserable wretch, goes on and
fares sumptuOusly as though he had
made happy instead of having shat
tered the future hopes of the weaker
sex.
This brings us back TO the thought
of the political struggle through
which the COlOred race has gone thus
far Lying politicians and so-called
leaders of the race have played sue
cessiully the love game to the race
ever since the colOred people have
had the privilege of handling the bal
lot. And as soon as they get what they
want their love for their people
Il
for something else. The race, like the
poor deluded woman, IS left to go
over life's rugged road as best it can.
And the time has come for the col
ored voters, everywhere, to wake up
and be on the alert for these sweet
takers who appear to be so deeply
in love with the race. Let us enCOur-
age those who are for the right thing;
but d the rasCals who dare to use
the race as a stepping-stOne for their
personal gain. Away with those fell
lows-the palms of whose hands
never cease itching for dollars got
ten at the expense of their own peO-
pie.
You will pardon US for going a
step farther; but I am going to shut
my eyes right here and hew to the
line, let the chips strike or fall where
they mayl We sometimes think It IS
very unfortunate that there has
sprung up among us what is known as
the National independence League.
There are some as good men in this
league as can be found anywhere
outside of it; but the sole aim of
some Of the bosses" of that concern
is to gain cheap nOtOriety and to
6-BEE
start a bank account at the expense
of the race with which they claim to
be so greatly in love. 1t costs moth
ing to join the Republican party; it
costs nothing to be a Democrat, a
ProhibitiOnist, or an Independent. and
why. pray tell us, should a fee of one
dollar or more be charged to get
within speaking distance of the Ma
tional independence League? Where
does the money go? For what pur-
pose Is it used?
We have contended-and is of the
same opinion nOW-that ministers OF
the gospel should take part in politics.
But we never shall believe that they
should get down off the gospel horse
and hitch him aside and assume the
right of a boss on the job. For there
are some as big rascals in the pulpit
as can be found in the whiskey sa-
looms, sitting at the gambling table.
/ have called no name. So each one
of the preachers that reads this epis-
tie of mine may ask himself the ques-
ton: Lord, is it y"
I shall say more about the National
Independence League later on. We
shall applaud the leaders so long as
they make an earnest fight for the
good of the race; but if any of them
are in the business to start a bank
account at the expense of the op-
pressed millions of their race, I, for
one, in the language of General Grant,
-"Will move upon their works"
J. c. CUNNINGHAM.