New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-26
Kisses FOR DIR. PAXTON.
AN EXCITING DEBATE IN THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY,
THE QUESTION OF ORGANIC UNION REFERRED
TO SPECIAL COMMITTEE-CORREr
sPoNDENcE ON THE SUBJECT.
TsY TELEGRAPH Tc THE TRIBUNE. ]

TBY TELEGRAPu TRIBUNE
Philadelphia May 25-@ God curse the day the negro
ever saw this country This the sentence OF
one OF the speakers to-day in the General Assembly
during the debate the question Of organic union
with the Southern Presbyterian Church Kisses came
from all parts Of the crowded hall at what seemed
to be the utterance of sentiment calculated to pro
duce a Rebel yell And yet 1t not spoken by a
man who followed LC-gstreet at Gettysburg, but by
one who fought the rebels face TO face IN those terrible
July days Of 1868.
The speaker, not member of the Southern Presby-
terry to-day but the pastor OF NewYork Presbyterian
church, bravely breasted the waves of Kisses that
swept through tho room despite all efforts to repress
them.
The visitors in the galleries have no right to hiss
sentiment they do not nke,' said a member OF the
assembly.
The Kissing came from the members Of this body"
rejolned member from another part Of the room
1T Is not fair to stgmatze visitors in This way
at is a shame to hiss a speaker shouted third
member.
All this time while the blows of the Moderators
gavel fell again and again, Or. John r. Paxton, OF
New-York, who had pronounced the fatefu sentence
stood calmly waiting for chance to finish his speech
When he resumed these his pacifying words
"If am in the Gospel there is no lepcr In any
hospital to whom will not 60 II can aid him. There
is no Hottentot with prognathous jaw over whose
black brow am not ready to sprinkle the sweet
waters of the Gospel. But, my friends, the apple IS
not ripe for the plhcking to-day Let not discuss
this Southern problem now, II do the race ques
ton will come into this house and love feast OF
Yesterday will be farce in the eyes OF friends
who were our guests then For heavens sake, don't
let us wrangle to-day
DE-. PAXTON EXPLAINS.
After Judge Strong and President McCook had
spoken, Dr. Paxton gained the floor on question Oh
privilege and said that John Wanamaker, his friend
who is also his host, had suggested that he ought 10
Explain to those who Kissed him what he
meant by saying: aGod blight tho day the
negro first saw this land" lie meant to denounce
the fathers in Massachusetts, who 10 Africa and
stole the negro away from HIS home and sold him here
into slavery the of which has cost this Nation
so much loyal blood and untold suffering and misery
This dsavowa Of any feeling against the coored race
was applauded loudly. 4 prophet Of the odcn time
complained that the people in his day cried peace
peace when there was peace. The truthful his
torian of the Centennial General Assembly will be
forced TO record that human nature to-day resembles
in marked degree that described Peace, love, har-
mony fraterna relations and organic union have been
spoken in private conversation. shouted from the plat
form above the deafening applause which tho slightest
reference 70 the subject always calls forth and printed
in the largest type in tho leading religious Journals
until even the birds the public parks TO have
caught tho strain and they 10 sing the Doxoogy
every morning. But in spite OF this brotherly love
toward tho South, with which the air Is charged
and surcharged, there IS sad lack Of
concord among the Northern brethren themselves
in regard 10 this vital question Of uniting the two
branches Of the Presbyterian Church
ORGANIC UNION A LONG WAY OFF.
Judging from the speeches to-day in Horticultural
Hall by representatives from every part Of the North
by clergymen and laymcn, whites and blacks, the
supply of peace and love here Will have to be largely
Increased before that measure Of harmony and fraer
nal relations necessary TO produce organic union VIII
be secured horticultural Hall crowded this after
noon to its utmost capacity Hundreds were COM
PEELED to stand during the entire session,
while other hundreds were turned away from
the DOORS The debate on tho southern
question was expected, and Notwithstanding the flow
ers which were tossed after the departing guests on
their return TO Baltimore this morning, the intensity
of feeling which broke out more than once during
the afternoon despite the fact that everybody cried
for peace and asserted that whatever Others might
saw as for him give him organic union now or later'
whatever personal feeling Is sacrificed, Will doubtless
make the flowers fade when the visitors OF yesterday
learn what was said to-day. Not that anything was
said AGAINST the Southern brethren. On the contrary
only ulcasant words heard for them, but they Will
doubtless hesitate about sinking their autonomy IN
body where Kisses are given and explanatlons-~sie
necessary In what is intended TO be calm discussion
ofr.aciples By men not accused Of having hot blood
In their veins.
A GREAT CROWD N THE HALL
The report Of the Committee Conference with
a Ike committee of the Southern Assembly had been
made the order Of the day for o'clock. Long be
fore that time, however, the large hall had audi
ence that would have delighted the heart Of any
theatrical manager The sign standing room only
had given way to one reading no r0Om," and this
in turn was succeeded by order TO close the door
against all corners, members of the Assembly and
reporters excepted. The platform was filed also
Governor Beaver, DR.. Cuylcr, S. F. Cold and Other
prominent men occupying seats there. Colonel FL
uott F. Shepard Of The Mall and Express" had oc-
cuuled the seat Of honor in the forenoon. The re
mort was read by the Rev. DR.. Smith, OF Baltimore
whose pleasing voice penerates TO the further end
of the long room. The resolution Of the Southern
Assembly read:
Resolved, That committee Of four ministers and
four ruling elders, together with the Moderator be
appointed to meet with similar committee Of me
General Assembly Of the Presbyterian Church
I'm the United states OF America. such committee
shall be appointed for the sole purpose Of nquirnc
into and ascertainng the facts the point above
mentioned and as to the position thar the Assembly
propose maintain 10 colored Churches, eccesast-
ch boards and any other subjects now regarded a.
OBSTACLE ia tie way OF united effort the propagation
OF the gospel, and report these facts to the next
General Assembly for such action as they may
warrant.
The Northern Assembly had in turn adopted this
resolution:
Resolved That a committee Of four ministers and
four ruling elders, with the Moderator OF this Assembly
added thereto eX-OdiclO chairman, be appointed Dy
the present Moderator Of this Assembly 10 confer VIII
a like committee appointed by the General Assembly
the sbyterian Church in the United states, con
corning the whole subject OF organic union cooper
tive unOn and every other relation between the TWO
assemblies; and that said committee be directed 90
report the result Of the joint conference to me
Assembly at its next meeting Ia May, 1855, for us
approval its disapprOyaL
INDEPENDENCE OF THE COLORED PEOPLE
T1,o ruuffta and sod
questions, but finally narrowed the issue down to
four points and practically to one-the colored ques
ton. IN the correspondence between the two com
mttees the Southern men wrote
The relation Of the colored people in the South to
the Church or their incorporation into It presents
questions Of the most serious Importance, and all
efforts for united action IN this work must be very
largely controlled By The principles which shall under
Lie acIInn and the nnlLcr Ln ahnulnl