"You will Vote at our Spring Election, won't you."
By Joseph Clarke
THE above question is asked of me very frequently, now as the Spring election draws near, to which I answer as follows: A godly person is an ambassador for Christ—he is placed here to act for God. He prays, "Thy kingdom come," and well he knows that this petition if fully granted can only be consummated in the overturn of all earthly kingdoms. If this be a correct view of the matter, then it cannot be consistent for Christ's children to meddle with political affairs. But, says the objector, what fault do you find in our national government. First, I answer that this democratic government, legalizes swearing by idol gods. Some years ago a witness was brought forward in one of our courts to give evidence, and refusing to swear by Jehovah, (he being a heathen,) was permitted to swear by the river Ganges, his god. This case was afterwards tested in a higher court, and its legality was established as constitutional. We must infer from this that this democratic government knows in law no God in particular. Whatever god a person may choose, whether Baal or the Ganges, or any other heathen deity, is legalized. Is not this paganism? Second, This government legalizes Sabbath-breaking. It establishes mail contracts with special regard to the pagan Sunday, and at the same time ignores the Sabbath of the Lord. It does by State laws set up the pagan festival of Sunday as the true Sabbath, and at the same moment it does by its State laws cripple the freedom of the God-fearing Sabbath-keeper. Third, This government does sanction, and has from the first sanctioned, Slavery. Let him who doubts this examine the constitution giving to the slaveowner three-fifths of a vote for every one of his human chattels. Witness the Fugitive Slave Law, a damning feature of this our vaunted free government; and the foul stain extending to the very doors of the capitol. Fourth, The policy of this government has from the first been destructive of the true interests of the unfortunate Red Man. By violence and deceit, by plausible pretext and corrupt design, by artifice and fraud, and strength of hand, the poor child of the forest has been wasted and driven from station to station, from fort to fort, till despair has entered his poor heart, and he now drowns his sorrows in debauchery and drunkenness. What more need be said to condemn this government as antichristian, unworthy the fellowship of the elect. If I enter the lists as a voter, I do in fact endorse this government as worthy of fellowship. If my name is entered upon the poll-book I then become a part of the body-politic, and must suffer with the body-politic in all its penalties. Let me "come out and be separate," and "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness." I am glad that a people are arising to maintain and support the pure religion of Christ; a people who do not make void the law of God; a people who are striving for the purity of the decalogue through the blood of Christ. May heavenly wisdom deliver them from evil. At present a few of us meet on the Sabbath amid the scoffs of our contemporaries. Bro. Jesse Dorcas has visited us since we commenced Sabbath-keeping.199H. H. Baker, Ag't of the Am. Tract Society, has kindly sent us a package of tracts for distribution. Pray for us that our faith fail not, and that we may have the love of God abiding in us. We have no party to build up, nor sectarian views to uphold. We cordially invite Sabbath-keepers to come and do us good, as we are few and feeble. JOSEPH CLARKE.
Portage, Wood Co., Ohio.