THE SITUATION IN POLITICS.
THE outlook in the political field is far from pleasing. This country, through many of its leading men, is having much to say just now about "our manifest destiny" in the matter of territorial expansion. The flag of the United States has recently been raised over Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, Porto Rico, and Cuba. And great is the boasting in regard to the pure philanthropy that is prompting this new order of things in the American republic. But when we look for the pure and upright statesmen to send to this new territory as governors, where are they to be found? There are just as good men in the country to-day as there ever was, but they do not have the chance of occupying all the governmental positions. There is an abundance of evidence that shows that the worst forms of corruption exist in political circles. The efforts of the Pennsylvania Legislature in trying to elect a United States Senator are too well known to require more than a passing mention. A political "boss" who has become notorious because of the charges against him for embezzling State funds holds the reins and is determined to be re-elected as Senator of the United States. The Legislature of California is also trying to elect a United States Senator. But here, too, the Legislature is held in a "dead-lock" by a "boss" who is determined to be elected to a seat in that most honorable body of national legislators, and the odium of embezzling public funds rests upon his name also. And while they have not been so much talked of, there have been serious difficulties in several other States in their efforts to elect United States Senators, and this difficulty is occasioned by the corrupting influences of money and the trickery and frauds of unprincipled politicians. The influence that enables these "bosses" to hold things in their own hands is not superiority of mental and moral worth, but just money and patronage. The "boss" is pledged to work in the interest of some corporation, firm, or individual who furnishes him the money with which to work. And, whether he seeks to secure his own election or that of some one else, he has his money and official appointments with which to command votes. Some will vote his way provided the "boss" will secure them the appointment to some offices out of which they can each reap several thousand dollars a year in salaries and "boodle." And when the offices to which his dupes may be appointed fail to go around, then the "boss" falls back on money bribery. The person who has the vote is approached and it is carefully ascertained what is the least sum that can buy him. An investigation was made in the California Legislature and the charges of bribery were inquired into. It seems that numerous legislators were implicated in this degrading crime of receiving a bribe to vote for certain ones for United States Senator. As the investigation progressed, the impression was made on one's mind that the principal object that men have nowadays in getting into office is that they may be in the most favorable position to extort blackmail and bribes. This evil has filled the whole land. It is found in our city councils, it is in the state Legislatures, and since men are sent to the National Congress who use bribes so freely, it can not be that this highest assembly of the nation is free from corruption. Where will we look to find men in politics to-day who are honest enough and free enough from corruptions of bribery and political trickery to safely guide the affairs of the home government? And if the men can not be found who are sufficiently true to look after home matters, what will be done with the newly-acquired island colonies? Will not these colonies be mere footballs for corrupt politicians to knock about according to their liking and in the interest of more extended "boodle"? Certainly the political household of the entire country will have to be immediately reformed or such will be the case. Then when these "boodling" and bribe-seeking and bribe-giving politicians go to the semi-barbarous and heathen colonies of the United States to govern them, what impression will they make? Will it be that of uplifting and Christianizing civilization? It can not possibly be so. The poor heathen, instead of being helped, are made to serve the corrupt purposes of degraded politicians, and "the great civilizing work" stands only in the sham of empty but bombastic words. But, it is urged, only the best men will be sent to these stations. It is easier to say this than to get it accomplished. The few good men who are in politics may work ever so sincerely and earnestly to have the best of representatives sent to the island colonies, but they will have to confront the "money power" and the political "boss" at every turn they make. And the man who "stands in" with these corrupters of the world is the one who is more than likely to be sent. For the "invisible empire" of "the money power" must have its servile agents in all parts of the world, and the politician who is seeking a bribe is ever the ready instrument of wealth. To cleanse the political pool is an impossibility. There is not an instance in all history where such degraded corruption has become enthroned that it has retired except amid the scenes of invading armies from other lands and the bloody revolutions of internal strife. But the whole world is so corrupt to-day that no nation will be able to hold intact strong armies of invasion sufficiently long for it to overpower another great nation. And then if this could be done, the invading army would represent evils that would only make the social and political waters all the darker. So invading armies coming from less corrupt countries are out of the question in this work of cleansing and uplifting, and the only thing left is world-wide revolution. And to just such a revolution the whole world is driving with a mad rush. Every one who has eyes and will use them can see it. The Bible speaks of this awful revolutionary time that is just ahead of us as "a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time." But the Lord Jesus Christ, attended by all the legions of angels, will come in the midst of it and rescue all who are prepared to receive Him. That is the one and the only bright ray of hope before the world. T.