The Portland daily press., 1879-12-29

Rev. James McWhinnie, of Free street Bap-
fist church, preached a powerful sermon yes
terday.' The text was taken from Daniel 5,
81: Thou art a 'yted in the balance and found
,canting. In applying the words to our nation
al history the speaker said
To us as nation God has given a peculiar
plan and work. The greatness of our future is
unfolding to the nations. The government of
our present astonishes them. But our future,
our greatness, our very existence depend on
our political purity, on the maintenance of that
Righteousness which eXalteth a nation. In
government like ours that purity and righteous
ness has its source, and must have its guar
dams, among the people. If they are indiffer-
ent or false to these they will soon find them
selves under the ruins of their government OIL
under the heel of despot. OF this the history
of the world furnishes us many an example.
The citizens of State, therefore, are response
Bile for its character and if free government
goes down it is because the people themselves
are wanting.
AS citizens we must be conscientious about
our votes, voting not from caprice or as blind
partisans, but as men under divine authority,
responsible for the public good. But we are
bound to be as conscientious after the election
as before, and to see that our voting effects its
end. We are to see that the rulers chosen to
carry out the public will are true to the peo-
pies interests and if they are false to their
trusts, to the duties imposed upon them, we
the people, are to denounce them fearleSSly.
This is no treason, but loyalty to Sod and man.
If the rulers usurp authority not given to-
them, if they, under color OF whatever techni-
calities, assault the rights Ut the people it be-
comes our sacred duty to exhaust every right
means to hinder their crime. Submit indif-
ferently to such an assault and you establish a
precedent which sooner or later will bring its
harvest of anarchy. What is done to-day be-
comes authority tomorrow. We have just had
an election on the question of fulfilling our
promises to those who lent us money to put
down the rebellion. The question of public
honesty was at stake, and every honest man
supposed that the election settled it. But that
decision has been set ASIDE by the Governor
and his Council. Suppose their decision is al
lowed to stand, through the Indifference of thu
people to insist upon their will as expressed IN
the election. What is to hinder usurpng
government from defrauding the will of the
people on other vital questions? Soon we may
have up the question of dividing the school
money with sectarian schools. What boots it
II the people decide against it?
The government has the precedent,it yW al
acdys find the technicdtitieS. ct can easily
make them, we see, if it needs them,) it has
the power to defeat the will of the people and
will do it to gain its ends 1t needs no prophets
eye to see thatwe shall soon have party leaders
crying up Mormonism as religious institution
and polygamy as right of conscience for the
sake of the Mormon vote. Surprising that be-
comes party question. give the usurping
rulers the precedent of invalidating an election
and how soon they would defy the will OF the
people on this question. Thus public security
and morality are endangered by such prece-
dent.
ram not speaking as a partisan. You will
bear me witness that from this place I have
freely denounced the sins of the National
government. But speak as a minister of a
gospel of honesty and righteousness, and in the
name of that gospel do denounce tue crime
against honesty and righteousness which our
State is now witnessing. Shame on the man
who on the paltry excuse that he has certif-
cate in his pocket, takes his seat in a legsla-
ture as an officer to which the people has not
sent him.
My friends you need to go out OF the State
to know how much you are thought of. In
others States we have always looked upon
Maine as leader in the New England phalanx
of liberty, temperance and political integrity.
I saw few weeks ago in Providence huge
placard bearing the words, "Inanlacutate
Maine" Meant as a sheer, they described the
old time reputation of the State. call upon
YOU all as Christian citizens Of whatever name
to rise above all partisanship and insist that at
whatever cost our elections shall be fair, and
their decisions shall be inviolate. Let us be
indignant at dishonesty everywhere in our
own party as well as elsewhere. Then our
indignation will have no selfish faint and the
craftiest politician will recognize in the voice
of the people the voice of God.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Rev. Mr. Lathe of Plymouth church
preached from Luke ii, IA: GLORY to God in
the highest and on earth peace good will to-
wards men," In the course of his sermon Mr..
Lathe said: 'Has not Christ rather divided
men and caused never ceasng conflict? And
did not he himself say that he came not to
send peace but sword? Herein Christ recog-
nized fact which we all believe. If the rights
OF the citizens of this State arc invaded by the
Governor, no man desires peace at the ex-
pense of righteousness. Every one confesses
that the stirring up Of passions and the con-
fiict OF tongues is bad, but every one knows
that there is something even worse than that
submission to evil rule. Moreover, every
one who advocates resistance to rulers noa0
does so for the sake of peace in the future.
1t is conflict to-day that there may be a we'll
grounded peace tomorrow. Now Chrlsts
kingdom is at once kingdom of war and OF
peace. To purchase delusive peace at the
cost of righteousness to allow sin to rule for
the sake of avoiding conflict, is no part OF the
mission of Christ"
SECOND PARISH.
At the Second Parish, Rev. Mr.. Dickerson,
in his prayer, deprecated the sad state of polit-
ical affairs and trusted that wise counsels
would prevail.
A Guilty. Conscience Needs no Accuser.