Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-28

their opponents that he'd been used 30 ~
tcu'eiy 9insi them. Yet II this was done,
u was elear That there could be no hope
oi ever accomplishing the reform. and
nenee IL vas that many good men bad
ntile hope oi ever seeing IL accomplished.
WIS a sindont at Union Seminary when the
deetn OF President Garfeld occurred. The
Eey. Dr. Dabney wls called upon 10 make an
Address 70 The students of the two inststu-
tions af that plece. and. among other ones
tons, was led 10 speak Of this question.
wei remember bow powerfully be point
ed os.t the vInIfy Of the hope that party
enrencbed In power would voluntarily
surrender 20 great an advantage as The pa.-
t'sau use OF the ciyii service. and how
grapbicaily he described the character of
such President ~ could carry ont this re-
form !! new party came into power-the
hberaIiiy, the moderation, the broad pa
trioiism that would enable Tin TO
iorego, nov that he was in power,
an advantage that lad been used
against him; the 6nnness and resoln,e SELF
command that would enable him 10 resist
the clainors OF his party thirsting for po-
Iltleai revenge aud eager for the spells Of
office. Whether that j. the character Of
Governor Cleveland this Is not the place to
hiFNl-rs bltF hHDn Affdl NnfU IflOIHi
was wanted in the city OF Buffalo Mr.. Cleye-
land wSs ealled upon by the best men OF
both parties 10 carry il out. That he 80
executed this Office that before his term
had expired. when reform was wanted in
the state Of New York, Mayor Cleveland
was called upon by the best men OF both
parties 10 carry il ont. Thlt he 90 executed
this office that before his term had expired,
when reform was wanted IN the national
Government, Governor Cleveland was
again called upon by ;be best men
OF both parties 10 carry IL out.
Yet all this might De true. and man might
still fail to resist the party pressure upon
the wider arena Of the nation. But where
Providence has been most kind to us was
in the circumstances Of his election. For
IL must be evident "a every mind that this
j. not. strictly speaking. party victory /;
that Governor Cleveland could not have
been elected by Democratic votes that the
men who carried the day are men who de-
mand nothing for themselves and every
thing for country, and that their supreme
demand j. for the reform OF the civil ser
vice. IL anything was needed TO strengthen
the hands Of the President-elect this will
meet the necessity; II anything could
check the partisan zeal oi more selfish poll
ticiaBs and say 10 the ollice-soeker. ">tand
aside" this can. The very narrownesS OF
the majority is blessing, in that II i o
warning that politicians dare not neglect.
and will extOIt even from the unwilling an
acqliesence in the demands OF those who
place good government above selfish ends
and per. onal ambition; and 20. with some
good laws already passed and put into par
iiai execution, we have every reason -
hope that this vital reform will he accom-
plished through q combination Oi cOndi-
tions too remarkable for man % have an
iicipated ald too complex Tor man 20 ha,e
brough; about.
These are some of the blessings for
which, think. we may all join in thanks
giving to-day. DO not wish 10 make the
impression that everything i rOse-colOrcd.
\ change OF Administration is not a hIr.
bingcr of the millennium. There are sOme
dark .pots on the hOrizOn-sOme dnccr-
signal. ahead. II makes us trembIe to
think that the mi,couDting Of 600 votes IN
4 State where over q million votes are east
might defeat The will Of the whole nation
Of their choice for President. The
rorrupiibility Of large masses in orr
great cities j. anything but an eu-
courac,inQ sign. There are giant evils in
thi, country that we have scarcely begun
to grauple with. Bat to-day i not the time
10 speak Of these things. We will never
he free from evils and from dangers Until
the gospel OF Christ reisns in every bcar'.
But God has given H. much, and to-day lei
us be thankful for It. Above all. let us be
thankful that lle rcignS, and that we see
His hand shaping our destinics. Who tha
prOrhesied IUcht the result Of this election.
can plume himself on his political slgaciry.
when hc secs how many unforeseen inilu-
cnces came near reversing il, and how many
seemingly trining influences We're neceS
sary 10 bring itabOut. Looking back upon
il now we may attribute the result - lhi-
or that circumstance, or 10 combination
OF many such circumstances. lut the one
supreme les. .on of It all i that God reigu-,
aud the one supreme explanation 0I the re-
suit Is thai Gods time had come f0r bring
ing II 10 pass.
Services i'm the Episcopal Churches.
AZ venerable Il. 5ohn', church the
THANKSGIVING services were conducted by
the rector. Rev. Lewis William Burton,
who preached from Matthew XXii.. u 4:
"Render. therefore. unto Ce,1r the things
which are C:tsar's. and unto God the things
that are Gods" and concluding. said :
First, yOd owe il 10 your country 10 be Il
law-ibidng. dutv-fulliiling citizen. And
the idea j. not satisfied by a simple dispo>i-
ton TO keep the peace and preserve order.
You NAV no, wash yOur hands in innO-
cency" oi any mgodly deed that stains
our national honor 30 long u. in
proud hu, critical >eclus!On. you have
withheld Your voice. your example, Your
enencrgies. Your vote, from eXerting their
proper influence over the destiny Oi the
republic. And tins obligation j. especially
incumbent upon the citizens Of this and
every other nation in which "CTsar = Is
practically and ultimately the sovereign
people themselves. A citizen OF the United
states owes !; 10 himself in sense beyond
that which j. true Of the subject OF any
monarchy. or empire. or aut1cracy, 10
..rcnder unto Cesar the things that are
Casar'>.' for he is thereby rendering unto
himself the thing, that are hi, own. He l.
asserting hi native rights; he j. guard
M The enjoyment .oi his.maiienabie priyi-
leges.
Then away with that spirit which ab-
! lin, from barring q dutilul share IN the
burden, OF the nation and Commonwealth
because. iOrsOoth, the state OF politics j.
not exactly 10 ones mind. ii bad men are
in power. il there i maleieasance in Office 4,
II there j. corruption in the body poilic
il the majesty OF law il threatended. II
good order Is .ubverted, II mutiny or pi-
Tacy, il the rocks Of greed or the shoals OF
ignorance, II the worms Of dishonesty or
the barnaccs Of the lobby, threaten the
"Ship oi state" YOU yourself are resp0n-
,iblc from that moment when. as the say
ing goes. YOU "retired from politics." and
continues up 10 that time. when with all
your might you try to rcbuke vice and i'm
bccility and 10 supplant them b. truth and
Righteousness. by knOwedge and LOYALTY.
second. You will best render this clti-
zcnship 10 your country by aiming above
all 10 render your manhood to God. II
there is corruption al the capitals Of the
states and the nation. il Is the natural re-
suit OF a low standard OF business and 50 'ial
honor throughout the country. IL there Is
imbccIlty in the guardians OF the public
veal, il il because IN the average private
citizen there j. weakness in character
and an ebbing away Of stamina ani
spirit. But worse than all other possible
causes Of political evil. is general neglect
and open, hlgrInt contempt Of God ana
Hi> religion. Ifthe premises we baye sought
TO establish are true, namely, that God has
retained the supreme rlIlershIp OF the world
in His own hands, and has only delegated
to chosen men an agency in His govern
ment, then beware OF ignoring God in the
nation. much more OF engaging in cru
Il. ~