p. 9 | THIS IS NOT THE DOOR by C. M. S.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 15, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 20.

THIS IS NOT THE DOOR.

By C. M. S.

As an illustration of the manner in which the politicians are gaining control of public utilities and binding men to their service, we quote the following from the Springfield Republican of April 5:—

“Edwin Burritt Smith, of Chicago, makes the point in an article in the April Atlantic that politicians in the large cities are beginning to use the semi-public corporations much as they have been accustomed to use the patronage of the city government. ‘As the merit system gains ground,’ in the State and municipality, he writes, ‘the bosses’ are more and more allowed to name the employees of the public service corporations.’ A Chicago newspaper, having asked Mr. Smith for illustrations of this practice, he is reported as saying: ‘It is well known that Alderman John Powers, for example, has placed many men on the West Side street-railway pay-rolls—men whom he would formerly have put in city service. In New York, a short time ago, I was told that it was almost impossible for a man to get on the surface or elevated roads unless he had political backing.’

‘The explanation of such proceedings manifestly is that the corporations are afraid that the politicians will blackmail them by adverse legislation if they do not open their pay-rolls to the politicians’ henchmen. How far the new spoils system has gone in its development it would be interesting to know.”

Thus the system of “boss rule” in politics, that sad commentary on present-day civilization, has become imbued with the doctrine of expansion, and is making its wicked, baleful influence felt outside of ordinary municipal affairs. As tho it were not enough that public offices, public trusts, could be used, and were being used, to carry out a system of virtual blackmail, the unfair and unrighteous system has entered a new field of activity to carry out its wicked, degrading work there.

In view of all that professional politics has done and is doing and is planning to do in such enterprises, how dishonoring to our Lord and Master to hold and proclaim that He is to come and set up His kingdom “thru the gateway of politics.” He who is looking for such a coming of Christ is looking in vain, and when the opening heavens reveal Him in His glory, such will not be able to “look up and lift up” their heads, and to declare, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isa. 25:9. No; politics is not the door of salvation, or of the Saviour’s entry into His kingdom. It is not the hinge on which the door turns. Neither is it the latch which fastens the door. The door of salvation, which was opened by the Lord Himself, is open still, and His coming has nothing in common with the gateway of politics, or with the keepers of that gate. He is coming soon; but He is coming thru the gateway of heaven—coming to save His own, and to destroy utterly all the paraphernalia of unrighteousness, including the “gateway of politics.”

C. M. S.