The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-12-13
THANKSGIVING SOUP.

The Reverend Doctor Locke Of the 1st
NJ. E. church Of Canton, preached the
Uuion Thanksgiving sermon in the Bap.
tist church on the Goth ult., and it tseems,
favored his hearers with dish of pOlit-
ical soup. We never complain Of such
sop, in fact rather like 1t, and only regret
we could not hear it, but must be content
with reading Of portion of the dis
course as given in last weeks Repository.
The difficulty is with clergymen, as
with many others who discourse poll
tics, they seem never to recognize that
the object in forming our government
was to establish justice. insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common de-
fense, promote the general welfare, and
secure the blessings Of liberty" All these
can only be obtained through Justice
and justice being the end, the means
must be in accordance. Violence and
fraud are not roads that lead to the tenn
pie of justice; and when money chang
ere" take possession of the temple, Jus.
tice takes flight
Mr., Locke argues that it is error to sup
pose the wages of labor have fallen off in
fact. Labor is not deprecated, nor is
the laborer growing any poorer" as, says
the Doctor, the reduced wages will pur-
chase full as much of the neCessaries oi
life. This may be true, but silent mills
and factories all over the country, and
others not running full time, account
for the idle thousands and poverty and
suffering. Productive and useful labor
sustain society and government; and any
system Of public policy, through war and
evil laws, that build up public debt and
bondholding and favored class, impose
increased burdens upon labor. These
degrade into a vile servitude the Amer
ican workingman." And that is just what
is the matter.
But the reverend gentleman has nc
faith in the Southern policy Of President
Hayes. He prefers Carpet-bag military
rule, and says "when the patrimony
made ours by the conflict of the past
Made ours " Who is "ours?" Are
"ours" the carpet.baggers, the thieves
the returning board rascals, &c2 "Patri
mony" Whose "patrimony2" Wa
the war for conquest and plumber, fol
"patrimony?" We used to be told th'
war was for the purpose Of restoring th'
Union. The Crittenden resolution tina
passed Congress in July, 1851, almos
unanimously, at least every Republican
member voting for it so declared.
Doctor Locke is specially severe upoI
the Hayes Administration as to its civi
service reform. He severely says, II an
not sure that know what is meant BY
civil service reform" We take pleasure
in informing our reverend friend that
probably means now, just what it mean
when Grant & Co., played the same tun,
on their harp of a thousand strings. Tit
fact is, the deceptive tune is understood
it has ceased to charm and the Repub
liCan leaders are "forsaken by the peo
ple." The Democracy, the party oftruth
justice and the Constitution, will, in du,
time, take complete possession of ou
government, and begin the work of civi
service reform in earnest. The party o
hate and violence and force is alread!
condemned by the people, and voteC
out; the party of justice and good will
are the chosen of the Lord, and in du,
time shall enter into possession. "Right
eousness exalteth a nation, hut sin is
reproach to any people,"