christian science-第39节

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for　usefulness；　precious　usefulness；　great　and　distinguished　usefulness？
I　think　there　is。　　I　am　far　from　being　confident　that　it　can　fill　it；　but
I　will　indicate　that　unoccupied　fieldwithout　chargeand　if　it　can
conquer　it；　it　will　deserve　the　praise　and　gratitude　of　the　Christian
world；　and　will　get　it；　I　am　sure。

The　present　Christianity　makes　an　excellent　private　Christian；　but　its
endeavors　to　make　an　excellent　public　one　go　for　nothing；　substantially。

This　is　an　honest　nationin　private　life。　　The　American　Christian　is　a
straight　and　clean　and　honest　man；　and　in　his　private　commerce　with　his
fellows　can　be　trusted　to　stand　faithfully　by　the　principles　of　honor　and
honesty　imposed　upon　him　by　his　religion。　　But　the　moment　he　comes
forward　to　exercise　a　public　trust　he　can　be　confidently　counted　upon　to
betray　that　trust　in　nine　cases　out　of　ten；　if　〃party　loyalty〃　shall
require　it。

If　there　are　two　tickets　in　the　field　in　his　city；　one　composed　of　honest
men　and　the　other　of　notorious　blatherskites　and　criminals；　he　will　not
hesitate　to　lay　his　private　Christian　honor　aside　and　vote　for　the
blatherskites　if　his　〃party　honor〃　shall　exact　it。　　His　Christianity　is
of　no　use　to　him　and　has　no　influence　upon　him　when　he　is　acting　in　a
public　capacity。　　He　has　sound　and　sturdy　private　morals；　but　he　has　no
public　ones。　　In　the　last　great　municipal　election　in　New　York；　almost　a
complete　one…half　of　the　votes　representing　3；500；000　Christians　were
cast　for　a　ticket　that　had　hardly　a　man　on　it　whose　earned　and　proper
place　was　outside　of　a　jail。　　But　that　vote　was　present　at　church　next
Sunday　the　same　as　ever；　and　as　unconscious　of　its　perfidy　as　if　nothing
had　happened。

Our　Congresses　consist　of　Christians。　　In　their　private　life　they　are
true　to　every　obligation　of　honor；　yet　in　every　session　they　violate　them
all；　and　do　it　without　shame；　because　honor　to　party　is　above　honor　to
themselves。　　It　is　an　accepted　law　of　public　life　that　in　it　a　man　may
soil　his　honor　in　the　interest　of　party　expediency　must　do　it　when
party　expediency　requires　it。　　In　private　life　those　men　would　bitterly
resentand　justlyany　insinuation　that　it　would　not　be　safe　to　leave
unwatched　money　within　their　reach；　yet　you　could　not　wound　their
feelings　by　reminding　them　that　every　time　they　vote　ten　dollars　to　the
pension　appropriation　nine　of　it　is　stolen　money　and　they　the　marauders。
They　have　filched　the　money　to　take　care　of　the　party；　they　believe　it
was　right　to　do　it；　they　do　not　see　how　their　private　honor　is　affected；
therefore　their　consciences　are　clear　and　at　rest。　　By　vote　they　do
wrongful　things　every　day；　in　the　party　interest；　which　they　could　not　be
persuaded　to　do　in　private　life。　　In　the　interest　of　party　expediency
they　give　solemn　pledges；　they　make　solemn　compacts；　in　the　interest　of
party　expediency　they　repudiate　them　without　a　blush。　　They　would　not
dream　of　committing　these　strange　crimes　in　private　life。

Now　then；　can　Christian　Science　introduce　the　Congressional　Blush？　　There
are　Christian　Private　Morals；　but　there　are　no　Christian　Public　Morals；
at　the　polls；　or　in　Congress　or　anywhere　else　except　here　and　there　and
scattered　around　like　lost　comets　in　the　solar　system。　　Can　Christian
Science　persuade　the　nation　and　Congress　to　throw　away　their　public
morals　and　use　none　but　their　private　ones　henceforth　in　all　their
activities；　both　public　and　private？

I　do　not　think　so；　but　no　matter　about　me：　there　is　the　fielda　grand
one；　a　splendid　one；　a　sublime　one；　and　absolutely　unoccupied。　　Has
Christian　Science　confidence　enough　in　itself　to　undertake　to　enter　in
and　try　to　possess　it？

Make　the　effort；　Christian　Science；　it　is　a　most　noble　cause；　and　it
might　succeed。　　It　could　succeed。　　Then　we　should　have　a　new　literature；
with　romances　entitled；　How　To　Be　an　Honest　Congressman　Though　a
Christian；　How　To　Be　a　Creditable　Citizen　Though　a　Christian。







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