The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-01
A SEVERE CRITICISM.
On the Wabash Rev. MIR. McCalioch's Anarch.
istic Views Meet with Disfavor.

On the w aDasn rev. Mr.. NAcCuu0ch's AnarCh-
istic Views Meet with Disfavor.
Terre Haute Express.
Last Sunday, the Rev. Oscar McCulloch an
Indianapolis preacher of the progressive" sort
remarked from his pulpit that he believed that
the trial of the Chicago Anarchists had not been
fairly conducted, and that their conviction was
wholly unwarranted; he felt moved to state, pub
licly, that he believed they entitled to a
new trial. and he hoped it would be accorded
them. This opinion will, no doubt, be forward
ed, and the verdict set aside in conformity with
the views of the little Indianapolis preacher
Seriously, the Rev. McCulloch is professional
phianthropist. The professional philanthro-
pist differs radically from the scriptural doer of
good deeds, whose aims are performed in
secret. 1t is estimated that he mas his
eye on seat in Congress, and
that his ostentatious attitudinizing and
speechifying are all influenced by this worldly
ambition The Chicago Anarchists, after sew
eral years savage agitation, in which their in
cendiary views were made known at public
meetings and through the columns of venom
GUS socialist press, deliberately planned the last
demonstration which eliminated In a riot and
the sacrifice of human life. Mr.. McCulloch has
no sympathy for the seven men who are rotting
IN their graves to-day, nor for their impover-
ished famiies-their cruelty wronged widows
and their helpless children. The men in cues
ton were criminals-unquestion proofs of
their guilt were produced They were arrested,
indeed, and tried, in strict accordance with the
law, like other men charged with murder, before
q jury OF their peers, with every advantage of
learned counsel and an indulgent court The
verdict was rendered after careful hearing of
the evidence, and to make or imply charges of
unfairness, or of injustice, is mischievous and
dangerous procedure The law may be imper-
feet like all other fallible human institutions,
but even its imperfeetions procure degree Of
justice, of protection to life and property incom
parably beyond the state of lawlessness which
the Anarchists are laboring to ordain. Any re
sponsible person, whether through the medium
of the public prints, from the pulpit or the ros-
trum, or in private life who attempts to weaken
puplic confidence in the prescribed methods of
legal procedure commits an offense against
society nearly equal to that of the An
archst whose cause he Sentimentally espouses
Without law, no form of government. and no
manner of reputable, established domestic life is
possible. 1t is dangerous vaporing, like that of
McCulloch's, which is responsible for the VIC
lence of men who take authority into their own
hands, aud which has given Indiana most IN
savory reputation. 1t will also do much to en-
courage the allies Of the condemned men to
avenge their supposed wrongs in deeds more
bloody and formidable than those for which they
have been righteousy condemned to die Mr..
McCulloch will perhaps get good deal of gratu-
itous advertising through the bold utterances of
a dangerous opinion. 1t is quite probable that
this is what he anticipated and what he chiefly
desires. But his congregation are a weakly. in
dulgent people If they do not prohibit the
preaching of that sort of new and revised gospel,
inform him that his services are no longer
needed.