The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-14

(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
Politics is not only something we
read about in the days newspaper;
it has existed, and quite according to
type, from the earliest days of or
ganized society Our Sunday school
lesson is about a king who was a
politician when he should have been
a Statesman. The difference between
the two has been defined as "a states
man thinks of my country whereas
a politician thinks of my district
A politician is bent first on pleas
ing people: a statesman on serving
them. A land may be cursed with
politicians but it can be only blessed
with statesmen The former busles
himself while in office with his own
reelection and Self-intereSt, appro-
priatine government funds in ways
that will serve himself, even though
vast national interests are 1mperlled
A statesman will sacrifice his future
for a principle. Jeroboam was a
shrewed politician, who purchased
popularity at a price which has sent
his. name ringing down the ages with
a phrase of Opprobrium attached TO
it, He IS the king ~who made Israel
to sln.''
Suppose we first of all fix the place
of the lesson story. We all know Jeru-
salem, RehobOam's capital, which at
the time of the lesson was the cap
itaI only of Judah and Benjamin.
When the ten. northern tribes re-
volted from Solomonss son they elect
ed Jeroboam, a cOmmoner, but a man
of force who had been obliged to
flee from Solornon's suspicious eye to
Egypt where he had a fine training
in public affairs One of the north
ern prophets mad predicted that he
would be king of Israel
The seceders chose Shechem as
their capital, at the foot of Mt. &C.
rizim, and Mt. Ebal, where the law
had been read. Near Shechem was
Svchar where Jesus talked with the
Of A
rent interest is given to the locality
by the fact that here dwell all VINO re-
main of the ancient Samar1tanS-
a bout three hundred persons During
the present stress and suffering in
Palestine these Samaritans are beIng
maintained by an American, Mr.. f.
X. Warren of Michigan, president OF
the International Sunday School asso-
mixed people; it will be recalled;
wherefore the Jews have no deal
ings with the Samaritans."
Shechem we'll represents the north
ern kingdom, in that it was subject TO
the tides of trade and travel and war
which swept over this part of Israel.
our Lord was reared in this liberal,
cosmopolitan part of the land, IN
to ,1ch with many peoples. Inc sltua
lion of the seeding ten tribes MADE
for prosperity as well as for liberal
mind, >dness Their territory vas
,bout 5000 square miles, twice as
arge us Judea, and it was racher
and tn. an that to the south. Also it
ia E in a more advantageous position
'or trade. as well as for culture Jero-
Doan had a rare opportunity TO bu1ld
up a stron Kingdom
The TiesV That Bind Nation.
Fear and avarice are the twin de-
mons that Turk behind every office
holders chair, be he king or consta-
hIa From tn first, Jeroboam was
afraid that he mi ght lose his job and
his Kingdom. lie saw ghosts in every
patch of moonlight. His first great
fear was that the religious impulse,
which is stronges st of all mankind'S
sentiments. might: send his people
back to Jerusalem He knew the
bower of habit and devotion.
Z So he and the 9th er politicians put
their heads together and decided that
il would be a fine thing to have a
modified state relig ion, with con-
yenient national shr1n IS, and an easier
form of worship tina n rigid mono
theism He knew that people are sus-