The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-08
AGAINs1, rIlE uussEs.

I'm the name OF God. incn" That
is tho form in which tile last will and
testament of men begins, and it was
the way in which the Rev. Dr. Powell.
Of the Christian Church. began his clo-
ouent and moving address to n house
fun of serious minded men at the Bijou
Theatre yesterday afternoon. The
meeting was held under the auspices
OF the Y. NJ. c. A.. and the preachers
subject. rs announced In the daily
papers. was Christ and Caesar and
that is what It was, or. perhaps. II
would be more understandable III We
should say that II was a powerful plea
for service in citizenship.
Ono of the mistakes so many. not
to say most, men mako IS that there
Is no religion in politics. whereas there
is no higher religious duty tina, men
can perform than the duty OF good
citizenship. II touches tho life Of the
IN all their interests; 1t is the security
of the State. the defence OF our insti-
tutions. II IS /, duty that cannot lie
performed hy proxy. thnt can only TIC
discharged NY each voter for himself
anu in the fear OF God. IT is Il duty
that is awfully neglected, no, by tho
,nen who hold their right of suffrage
subject 10 the control of others, whcth-
er organized into what are called ma
chimes or that Sell their votes 10 tho
highest bidder. One OF the speakers
friends. a most excellent man Of the
tossed that lie had not exercised his
right to the ballot FOR thirty years
hut had permitted those who were
really not so much interested in tho
public welfare as he 10 direct tho po-
litical affairs OF his ncghborlood, he
cause he was Indifferent to his own
responsibility. and as II was with this
."horrible example, so is it with hun
dreds and thousands Of others all over
this country. with the result that po-
litlcal affairs have gone at loose ends
10 tho great distress Of the State and
who have obtained the mastery be-
cause the responsible people have not
concerned themselves with public af-
fairs. - @
la Dr. Powell Was very severe in his
denunciation Of those who fail to per-
form their obligations aa good citi-
zens. and challenged the men in his
audience TO meet their responsibility
like men. Every edge of the minister's
knife cut. and cutie tile bone Yet
there was nothing partisan or un-
seemly TO tho DAY and the occas SION in
his deliverancc. It was plea for the
dignity and power OF the suffrage. tha
greatest power In all the world. for
us Intelligent and responsible cxer-
else, for Independence In thought ana
action. FOR The voter as an individual
citizen. and ia0t In, the mass TO lie
herded in .dros.es like dumb driven
cattle;fo for the initiative in every mans
conscience and upon his own respon
sihility II was an argument agains,
the machine In general. not against
any particular machine: for The man
as The unit, and not for ihc combina
''N't' ~ "6s altogether worthy or the
great preacher who spoke. ana of the
cause for which he spoke--the respon.
sibility OF the citizen. f
One OF the most hopeful signs Of
The times is that men Of influence.
men richly gifted with the art or *
preston. arc speaking ali over the
country for the right OF individua,
Judgment, for the citizen for good
citizenship. and against the bosses All
II bosses. OF both high ana low degree.
end in this sign and III this sign onIv
can the people prevail As we under.
stand. Il is not this machine or tha,
machine The machine that exists or
the machine that would cxis, thc
bosses that are. ana not The bosses TIA,
would be: But the argument is again n
al machines and all bosses. bosses ;n
esse and bosses in posse. bosses ,hot
have oosseh their districts ana conn
les and communities, as well as boss. !
who have exercised their power In
larger territories The argument L.
Tor the emancipation Of tic people Of
ell parties and sections ana commnni-
ties from political slavery to any mas
h tiers whatsoever.
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