The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-29
Congregational church, John L. Crosby of the
Third Congregational. and others, and the

Congregational church, John L. Crosby of the
Third Congregational and others, and the
meeting closed by singing America as doxolo-
gy.
The Christmas service at Central Congrega-
tionalist church this evening was very largely
attended, every seat in the commodious church
being filled. After preliminary services Rev.
George w. Field, d. D., the pastor, delivered
a very earnest and powerful address on the
great trouble so agitating the people OF the
of Herod stying the government then rested
on the pr ;iple of authority, but now the
fundament i principle of government IS Tree
dom. Government is sacred in the sight OF
God, and the men who assume its duties should
regard them sacred. The vote is a sacred
right, and men who strike at the vote of citi-
zen strike at the foundation of government
and liberty. By the action OF the Governor
and Council the sovereignty of seven men has
been substituted for the sovereignty of the peo-
pie. If such action followed elsewhere the re-
suit would overthrow the government. The
reversal OF the verdict of the people at the bal
lot box has been done for the advantage of
certain individuals in defiance OF the principles
of government, and 1t was one OF the most
dangerous acts perpetrated since the govern
mert was formed. DR.. Field said If he could
treat the matter from purely personal fee lings
he should be inclined to pass over it as quietly
as possible as one OF the Executive Council
was a member of his church, who had been
many pleasant hours, and who had cheered his
strongest loyal utterances during the rebellion.
But he could not approve or account for the
present action of the Councillor and he cannot
explain it himself. He wished it were other
wish but there it stands against him. He
hoped the Governor, weak and obstinate as he
has been flor weak meu are almost always OBJ
stinate) would feel constrained under the
pressure of public sentiment and petitions of
the people to submit the questions to the
Supreme Court, with whose decision the peo-
Die would be satisfied. If the Governor per-
sists in his lamentable course he had confidence
there would be men in the great Democratic
party as in the days of the rebellion who
would stand out and prevent the contamination
of the crime. He believed especially that the
young men of that party would refuse to follow
the reckless lead of the older politicians who
had no future to lose. He believed that men
would be found who would refuse to soil their
hands with what the Governor and Council
had stolen from the people. Those Democrats
will hereafter be the strongest men with the
fact that Mr. Gould would not leave his repu-
tation as q lawyer in the hands of those who
shows yourselves 50 incapable OF taking care
of their ow. regulations. He thought TINS
conspiracy the last struggle of the rebellion,
and that if this peril was averted we should
finally defeat the persistent efforts which hav
been made to overturn the results of the war.
He firmly believed that God would guide us
out of this trouble and vindicate the right OF
PEG pie to self government.
The meeting closed by the singing OF "God
save our native land, )" to the tune of "Ameri-
ca" by the entire congregation.