South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-08-04
On last Sabbath morning. Rev.

On last Sabbath morning, Rev
Henry Cooper, of the Presbyterian
Church of this place, preached
from the Gath verse of the 9th
chapter of Mathew:
"When Plate saw that he could prevail
nothing, hut that rather a tumult was made
he took water, and washed his hands be-
fore the multitude, saying, d am innocent
of the blood of this Just person; see We to
it,"
The speaker painted IN his peca-
lIarly VIVID manner, the character
OF PLATE, rs sitting in Judgement
on Christ. As Governor and Judge
it WAS the duty of Plate TO pass
judgment in accordance with the
laws. If CHRIST was a violator Of
the laws, and clearly proven SC by
the testimony, it was Pilates duty
20 render judgment accordingly;
but, If on the other hand, Christ
was innocent Of all ATTRACTIONS OF
the laws, 1t was Pilates duty, no:
only to recognize and project the
rights of innocence, but also to pre-
serve the supremacy of law and or
der, and to acquit HIM. The trial
was had, the evidence against Christ
had been duly examined, and Pr
late found nothing wroEg sln him.
found him in fact a lust person."
He signIied as much to the rabbie
that was crying for Christ's blood
time and again, but finally gave
him up to be cruciicd, and then
attempted TO wash his hands of the
responsibility of yielding up the
laws to be trampIed under foot by
the rabble. The speaker thought
there had been recent evidences
in this country of a disposition on
the part of magistrates TO yield
up the laws to be put under the
feet of mObs, and he rlghily thought
that this fast-growIng tendency was
Threatening to our liberties as a
free people. Our magistrates should
be taught by those who place them
in power that they Are not to be
influenced by aught else than the
laws and the rights and duties Of
citizens under the laws. He cyl
IDENTIFY thought, too, that the politi~
cal parties controlling localities
where the disposition of magistrates
TO yield to mob influences has been
evident, should not be allowed to
wash their hands of the RESPONSE
bility OF the blood shed and the
peace and quiet disturbed.
While we agree with Mr. COop~
er in all that he said, yet We cannot
help carrying tho application ofthc
principle a little further than be
did. PLATE, III listening to the
rabble, and surrendering the law
TO the demands of the rabble, was
actuated by the same motives that
actuated Mayor Hall and Superin-
tendent of Police Keiso IN issuing
their order for the Orangemen not
- parade in New York City, and
also by the motives that actua.ed
the Republican State Convention
or OhiO in nominating Jacob Muel-
Ter, of Cleveland, for Lieutenant
Governor OF OHIO They al! sur
rendered principle in the hope OF
continuing in popularity and in
power. PLATE thought If be did
not hearken unto the priests and
.he rabbIe and give Christ up 20 be
crucifed. his power and influence
would be lost IN the land. Mayor
Hall and kelso thought if they did
not truckie to the mob spirits OF
New York City that they would
lose their votes at the next election,
The Republicans of Ohio, in Con-
vention assembled, thought if they
did not make concessions TO the
lager beer and liberal German ele>
ment of OhIo by nominating a Ger
man liberal for an important Office.
that they would lose the lager beer
and free Sunday votes OF Ohio.