p. 80 | Political by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 20, 1872

Political.

By Editor

We said a few words last week on the subject of politics. What we referred to as especially to be avoided is the partisan spirit to which so many will give themselves up, and which will lead to such extravagance and recklessness in word and action. Success for their side is their undeviating purpose, though it can only be gained by deceptions and perversions of the worst kind. This is what has given politics the reputation of being so filthy a pool, and why so many, outside of any religious considerations, refuse to wallow therein.

If a person wishes, when the time comes, to go and deposit his vote he can quietly do so, and then go about his business, without plunging into the spirit, and heat, and strife, of the canvass.

But on which side shall I vote, if I vote at all? On this point we still say what we have ever said, and what has been and is our position as a body: While there are a greater or less number of men in all parties who are unprincipled and corrupt, there are sound principles in opposition to which we could not consistently move. Our position on the subject of slavery, as it has existed, a curse in itself and a curse to the country, forbids that we should affiliate in politics with that party which has supported it in the past, and who would again restore it if they had the power.