The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-11-09
SUFFRAGE, A SACRED RIGHT
Address Delivered by Hon. j. B. Park at the Home Com
ing EXERCISES of Rocky Spring Presbyterian Church.
Oct. 80, 1921

De bad-it follows that we would
have bad government. If the will of
the people as whole is expressed by
a fusion Of the good and bad-which
Is more generally the result--the gov
ernment will necessarily follow the
fusion and be Indifferent.
This brings me then to a considera
ton OF the duties Of the professed
Christian toward the body polite.
Since our government depends upon
the expressed will Of the majority-it
necessarily follows that the principles
announced by Christ must be aprlied
to our politics-alid to our Dolitical
cholcc, as well as to the other affairs
or our liyes-if we ever expect to see
law and order enforced happi-
ness and contentment reign through
out the land in accordance with his
pronounced rules of life. For society
cannot attain it's great end.-except
upon the rules Of life which the Mas
ter promulgated
Hardly a day passes that we do not
~ t@>Souhto VI iitS tLhJ SlOldIlOnS OIL
law = murder, bloodshed, burglary,
arson, robbery and crimes Of every
conceivable character; crimes of the
vilest kind are apparently on the in
crease. The liquor laws are openly
and flagrantly violated. Never in my
experience have 1 known as many
white men brought before the courts
charged with crime.
Necessarily there must be some
remedy-some alleviation for this con.
dition, even if there is no absolute
cure.
1t seems to me that the remedy lies
with those Of us who profess the
Christian religion. The remedy con-
sists of more, perhaps, than the one
which / shall mention-but this one
ought to bring some alienation, at
least.
we church goers and church men,
'bers talk about conditions with, more
or less, adherence. Sometimes We
assemble in mass, as we did in my
town some days ago, and criticise,
condemn and resolute, We see that
things are not moving right, and we
want to correct them, and we assume
a spasmodic robe of righteousness ana
talk as I am doing now. We miserably
fail to apply that remedy which I'VE
nave In hand and can apply, We are
clothed with the right of suffrage tn-
der the Constitution and laws of tho
State The great majority OF our Of
flcers are elected directly by the peo-
ple-and those who are not directly
so elected, are appointed by elective
officers. Therefore, judicious use of
the Christians ballot would 60 long
ways toward bringing the relief which
we seek. We fail, think, to measure
the applicant for Office by the yard
stick Of the Master-and choose rather
upon some triffling political pro
nouncement which means nothing to
the general good of. mankind, and less
to the happiness and contentment of
our own immediate community.
The christian people of this COM
munity-that is-those who profess
the religion of Jesus Christ -outnum-
ber those who don't--the Same Is true
of your county and mine, and IL the
measures OF men Offering for your
suffrage were taken in accordance
with the rules OF life laid down by
the Master-results would be different.
We professed Christians are indeed
inclined to hold aloof from politics
and political discussions We want
to take just as little part in them as |
We consistently can. We rather look |
upon the operation OF the government
as a matter to be borne with. rather
than one in which we should take a |
most active bart-and when I'VE be-
come interested, we do so not with the |
purpose In view or impressing a rule
OF righteousness and of equity--but
rather that Of some speculative hobby
OF ourselves or some one else.
IL in this Christian land of ours
we want peace and order--and the
pursuit Of happiness, we have got to
lay aside trivial political differences.
and get together on the broad prin-
ciples OF men. For 1t makes no dif.
ference what men profess, If character
and real manhood are not present in
the makeup results will depend tup-
on environments and surroundings. AS
the wind blows, so that twig will be