The Portland daily press., 1878-03-15
From a Letter by Rev w. W. Thorpe of pes
MOines
That Iowa Chanlain.

am politically staunch Republican, have
been identified with that party from my youth,
and showed my yalty to 1t and the govern
ment oy service iu the late "anplessantness."
Perhaps stronger term would call out anoth-
er resolution, for ministers have no rights of
opinion that our wise legislators are bound to
respect From the Inauguration Of the present
administration have been saddened with Mr..
Hayes's pusrile and ruinous policy of concilia-
tion, and as have watched the unfolding Of
affairs in the South, this feeling has grown deep
er and deeper from week to week. am nos
complimented by being told by him that il was
no ''credit to me that drew the swori'ia de-
fense of the govefnment," for if it was not a
credit it must have been crime. Perhaps
had these things in mind when 1 offered the
following prayer for him in the House on We'd
nesday morning:
"And now, o Lord, we pray for our rulers, as
Thou hast taught us to do in Thy holy Word May
Thy blessing rest. we humbly beseech Thee on INV
servant, the president Of The United States Be-
pleased to cure him of the insanity of the feel ngs
which has showp itself in uniue sympathy for a
section OF the country, and enable him to it be
his duty to heed the sentiment of all the people.
May his will be swept into Thy will in Thy plan of
saving the lost"
This is the substance of the prayer that was
some Of bis colleagues 1t is query whether
they ould not be better pleased to dispense
entirely with the services of the clergy in the
House and out of it-until they come so die.
While defer to no man in my respect for
those in authority, and especially for Mr.
Hayes as private citizen and Christian gestle-
man, am at the same time aggrieved by his
administration and condemn his policy of con-
ciliaton, aud shall maintain the right to express
my views with regard 10 it, both to mao aud
God. The prayer was an honest and sincere
expression of my convictions and desires TO
God and not to the Legislature or any me mhsrs
in behalf of President Hayes, and L care nosh-
ing at all for the favor or disfavor of Hon.
Alexander Bleidung and his colleagues ip loA
crusade, and regard myself responsible to 0sA
only for the spirit that directs my aidrs-s 10
fore dis rhrone OF grace. IL would be cell fes
the House to appoint Mr.. Bleidung . coUant-
tee of one to draft form OF prayer nssss~ in
religion and politics TO be forever used By phe
ch3plslus who are to succeed the pastor DSw
officiating in that capacity.
The resolution contained another upesssiop
manly reference to the Remuneration d ~
State TO the pastors who speDd their valu shls
time in serving the Legislature. With .sssk
to that have only to say that the sum thas ls-
ures to 10 each of the sixteen or eigh,een 30
tors of this city is very small considssssiSa
when placed in the scale over against the
sneers and abuse and denunciaiiOn that hsvs
been dealt out to us during the present session
of the Legislature by certain egotists, both in
the House and Senate. have pocketed scores
OF them for Christ's sake, and now L will take
no more of them, for my own sake. The
Savior said: "f man smite," etc. | have
been smttsn on both cheeks, and now shall
take my own course, which is to decline re-
spectfully to serve in the Legislature dur ing
the present Assembly"