Life — February 14, 1889 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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“While there's Life there’s Hope.” VOL, XIII. FEBRUARY 14, 1889. No, 320. 28 West TWENTY-THIRD STREET, NEW YorK. Published every Thursday, $5.00 a year in advance, postage free. Single copies, 10 cents. Back numbers can be had by applying to this office. Vol. I, bound, $15.00; Vol, Il-, bound, $10.00; Vols Illy IV. V., Vi., VIl., Vir, IX, and X1T., bound, or in flat numbers, at regular rates. Rejected contributions will be destroyed unless accompanied by a stamped and directed envelope. Subscribers wishing address changed will greatly facilitate matters by sending old address as well as new. NE of the wise, or otherwise, purposes for which public moneys are appropriated in this State, is to pay a minister of the Gospel to open the daily sessions of the Senate and Assembly at Albany with prayer, with the in- tention of putting the members of these august bodies into a proper frame of mind to legislate conscientiously for the best interests of the people, according to the oaths duly sworn by these members. Whether or not an adequate re- turn is received from this outlay is not a matter of conjecture, since it is scarcely conceivable that either branch of the Legislature—in which the honest members may generally be counted upon the fingers of one hand—could be any worse if the Divine blessing were not daily invoked upon them. * * * HE fact is that this State is governed by a lot of ras- cals and ignoramuses. It is a serious fact, too. Nev- ertheless, these two circumstances—the daily invocation to the Throne of Grace and the moral status of the Legis- lature—were instrumental last week in bringing about con- ditions calculated to enhance the gayety of nations. It chanced on this occasion that the Rev. Dr. S. V. Leech, of Albany, a former chaplain of the Senate, who may there- fore be supposed to have had ample opportunity to inform himself concerning the personnel of that body from year to year, offered the morning prayer, and that in the course of his petition he asked: “Protect this country from the invasion of ignorant emigrants, committed to superstitions, and po- litical gamblers who control to evil purposes the great cities of this State.” * x * ~ VERY reputable citizen of this State, could he have heard Dr. Leech’s prayer, would have cried “ Amen” to this clause, since most of us would like protection, divine or otherwise, “from the invasion of ignorant emigrants, committed to superstitions, and the political gamblers who control to evil purposes the great cities of this State.” The honest men in the Legislature would sign the reverend gentleman's petition as well. Not so the tricksters and thieves who are bought and sold in the lobby! If the con- dition of affairs Dr. Leech had in view existed, there would be an end of their rascalities, and a stop put to the plunder of the treasury. However, it is essential to the part these rascals play that they should be hypocrites; and, therefore, they themselves almost invariably add their voices to the clamor for redress of public wrongs when a thief is scented, and preserve a decorous and sanctimonious de- meanor when rascality in the abstract is lashed. * * * ND herein lies the humor of the situation: Dr. Leech’s words sunk so deep into the sensitive souls of a few of our two-penny statesmen that one of them forgot his part, rose in a rage and endeavored to induce the others to take action that should prevent the clergyman’s again pray- ing before them. No one ever fitted a cap to his head with greater alacrity, and one or two of his comrades insisted upon being allowed to wear it as well. If Dr. Leech had set a trap to catch these rascals and make them avow them- selves such, he could not have gone about it better. As it is, he has made them put themselves on record as in favor of the invasion of ignorant emigrants committed to superstition, and of political gamblers who control to evil purposes the great cities of this State. * * * N OW, if the State is to get any return for its outlay in paying for prayers in the Legislature, it is obvious that Dr. Leech, or some similarly disposed clergyman, is the man for the place. If a vigorous and fearless chaplain arose every morning in the Senate and Assembly and exposed the rascals in those bodies to their Creator, it might in time produce a wholesome effect. If it would induce the rascals to get up and avow themselves, the wages of the clergyman would be well earned, indeed. * * * E fear, however, that our Legislatures, as they are at present constituted, are past praying for, and if reputable citizens really desire to bring about a change for the better, they must go about it otherwise than by contrib- uting to a fund for public prayers. Those of them who take the Bible for their guide will remember that the Chris- tian is advised to work as well as pray. And there is plenty of work for the Christian, and for the reputable citizen who does not profess Christianity, in politics. Let them go to the primaries, use their influence there, and get good men into high places. Then we may dismiss the chaplains and feel confident that public business will be properly trans- - acted without them. comicbooks.com