Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-02
POPULAR evils.
.. The Earth is Filled With Violence
Through Them"

convictions. and, much 10 his credit, il never
afraid 10 express them, and IN the most for
cible terms.
he chose for bis text Genesis VI, l3-"FOr
the earth il filled with violence through
them" ! here are those who deny the Bible
record Of the fall; those who deny the Scrip
tnral theory OF inborn dsprayity, but how,
on any rational grounds, can they account
for the state OF things IN the textE Instead
Of becoming better and batter. men became
worse and worse by heredit; the thistle
grows thistles, etc. There are those who
affirm sin is a mere negative force, but the
histories of the world, of ages and of indi-
viduals prove sin 10 be most positive
force. Look at the organized wrong III the
world TO day; at the ruin and riot Of the run
traffic. Look at tn sin IN our own city; at
the vice, wickedneSs, immortality, profanity
aud laxlty of law. ''In coming home from
Europe" said the Doctor, "ws encountered
hours, aud, in spite of the efforts
of the massive engine, our vessel
hardly held its own" Thus
3 it to-day in our efforts against the great
increasing waves of sin. Civilization, art
and science have failed, and nothing but the
gospel OF Jesus Christ will save a man who
has entered this maelstrom. There is
spirit of carelesSness abroad. In Russia II
tlkes on the form of Nihilism; in France,
Communism; in Germany Socialism; and IN
Iceland, England and america 1t shows
itself among jynamiters, etc. Nothing, III
fact, is safe, while revolvers and knives are
so easily procured and dynamite SO cheap
and plenty. (Here DIR. Graves spoke at some
length condemning the recent work OF dyna-
miters in London, and concerning the dis
coveries made in he city hall of Chicago.)
Every sovereign in Europe is In danger: every
man is liable TO be spotted. Our own presi-
dents are shot down by miserable assassins
and cranks. The age seems peculiarly fitted
to breed this class Of men. They have their
grievances; scheming men and politicians
incite them onward. The late war aided
much in training such men; as did the specu-
latious and monopolies growing out of 1T.
The question of capital and labor has in ii
trying to destroy their harmony. These
factors are mutually dependent, so that if
you cut the sinews of either you hopelessly
MAIN the other. 1t is the hard fistedness OF
the one who holds the lions share, and the
striking ont of the other that is
on money dsbauch. There is a common
round on which labor and capital can CLASP
htnds, and that is marked out in Matt. Vii,
l.: Whatsoever We would that men should
DO to you, do ye even so to them."
Doctor Graves said lie was not one who
believed the world was growing worse, but
deplored the fact that the opportunities for
seeing and hearing evil were so great. The
columns of the daily press TEEN with accounts
of vice and crime, while little space Ia given
to moral, sound and wholesome reading.
Mighty Quickening forces are also at work
and God is bringing good out of evil.
The triumph of the wicked is short.
Evil will kill evil. The devil cut
his own throat when he crucifed
Christ; it was a great diabolcal blunder.
These facts have i'll them the inspiration of
hope: and truth, right and hope are on the
winning side. There is great need of
q1ickening of conscience Mt the present
time, of Individual and hence public con-
science. As people We have lowered the
standards of conscience. Our liquor law is
a good law. Moral staminy is lacking to
enforce it. and the public conscience needs
to be quickened to make it effective. Our
nation made great mistake, to my mind,
when they suffered the arch rebels to go
free; made it possible for them to hold seats
in Congress, etc. / believe had round
blker's dozen. of these Southern leaders, who
were allowed to stand upon the
floors of Congress, been tried, con-
victed and hung for treason, treason
would have been made odious. The
death penalty is not relic of barbarisni. II
has the sanction of reason, justice and the
gospel. The sacredness of human life God
would guard. Murder is blow struck at
God himself, and Gods punishment for it is
the life of the murderer. The unwillingness
on the part of justice to refuse to convict
men of murder is one of the alarming fea-
lures of the times. IL ia feature of the
present jury system, that has outlived its
time. The jury system has brought to the
front n lot of professional jurors and law
yers, whom money can bribe, and whose
sense of moral right and wrong ia almost
entirely obliterated. We are soon to be ruled
over by n man who has abused the pardoning
mower: turned criminals loose to prey upon
the people. Every man among us should
unite to elevate justice. l would have mur-
der in the first degree punished by death;
have the jury box set aside for bench #
competent judges. Morality rests upon re-
ligion. The part christianity aud churches
l. To act IL to be the lighthouse to guide
llfe's mariners into a safe harbor. IL the
light goes out what of the marinersG Let
IA try. a. beat we IN in times like these, to
lift up virtue and justice and 10 the right