The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-29

seemed imminent. The prospect was that
New York would throttle New York, and
New Orleans would grip New Orleans, and
Boston, Boston, and Savannah, Savannah,
and Washington, Washington. Some said
Mr.. Tildcn was elected; others said Mr.
Hayes was elected; and how near we came
TO universal massacre some OF us que sse d,
but God only knew. ascrbe our escape
not to the honesty and righteousness OF in
furialed politicians, but | ascrbe II to tho
upper forces OF the text Chariots OF mer-
cy rolled in, and though the wheels were
not heard, and the flash was not seen, yet
all through the mountains OF the North
and the South and the East and the West,
though the hools did not clatter, the cav
airy OF God galloped by. tell you God
Is tho friend OF this nation. In the awful
excitement at the massacre OF Lincoln,
when there was a prospect that greater
slaughter would open upon this nation,
God hushod the tempest In the awful
excitement ut the time OF Gariield's assas-
sinaton, tiod put his foot ON the neck OF
the cyclone.
To prove that God is on the side of this
nation, argue from the last eight or nine
great national haryesls, and from the
national health OF the last quarter century,
epidemics very exceptional. and from the
great revivals OF religion, and from the
spreading OF the Church OF God, and from
the continent blossoming with asylums
and rciormatory institutions, and from the
Edenization which promises that this
whole land is 10 be paradise whore God
shall walk In the cool OF the day.
Ii IN other sermons | showed you what
was the evil that threatened TO upset and
| demosh American institutions, | an en-
cOuraged more than can tell You ~ see
| the regiments wheeling down the sky, and
my jeremiads turn into doxologics, and
| that which was the Good Friday OF the
nations cruciixion becomes the Easter
morn OF its resurrection. OF course God
works through human instrumontali-
ties. aud this national betterment
Is 10 come among other things
through scrutinized ballot box. by
the law OF registration II Is almost impossi-
bic now 10 have Illegal voting. There was
q time--you and remember II very well
when drovcs OF vagabonds wandered up
and down ON election day, and from poll
TO poll, and voted here and voted there,
and voted everywhere, and there was no
challenge; or, ii there were, II amounted
10 nothing, because nothing could 10 sud-
denly be proven upon the vagabOnds.
Now, in every well organized neighbour
hood, every voter Is watched with sever.
est scrutiny. | must tell the registrar my
name, aud how old lam, aud how long
have resided in the State, and how long |
have resided In the ward or township, and
II misreprcsent, ility witnesses will rise
and shut me out from the ballot-box. Il
not that great adyance2 And then no.
ticc the law that prohibits man voting II
he has bet on the election. A step further
needs TO bo taken, aud that man forbidden
vote who has offered or taken bride,
whether IL be in tho shape OF u free drink,
or cash paid down, the suspicious cases
Obliged TO put their hand on the Bible
and swear their vote In, II they vote Mt all.
SO, through the sacred chest Of our Ma.
tons suffrage, redemption will come.
God also will save this nation through
an aroused moral sentiment There has
never been 30 much discussion Of morals
and immorals. Men, whether or not they
acknowledge what IL right. have 10 thini,
what IL right. We have men who have
had their hands in tho public treasury the
most Of their lifetime, stealing all they
could lay their hands on, discoursing elo
, quontly about dishonesty in public ser
| wants, and men With two OF three iamihei
| OF their own, preaching oloquenuy abOu
the beauty Of the seventh commandment
The question OF sobricty aud drunkenness
is thrust IN the face Of this nation rs ncyc
before, and 10 take part In our politca
contests. The question Of national sobri
city u going 90 be respectfully and dofurcn
italy heard mt the bar OF every Logisla
turo aud every House OF Representatives
and every United States Senate, aud IN
omnipoicnl voice will ring down the sky
aud across this land aud back again, saying
10 these rising tides OF drunkenness which
threaten 10 whclm home aud church an,
nation "Thus far shalt thou come, bu
no further, and here shall thy PROUD
waves be stayed
have not In my mind shadow O
disbursement ~ large as the shadow O
hOuscily's wing. My faith Is In th
upper forces. the upper armies OF IA,
text God Is not dead. The chariots az
not unwhcclcd. II you would pray NOR
aud wnsh your eyes Ia the cool, hrigh
water fresh from the well Of Christian ~
form, u would bo said OF you, as oi thi
one OF the text Tho Lord opened ia
eyes Of the young man; and lac saw; and
} behold, the mountain was full OF horse
, aud chariots OF hW round about Elisha.
When tho army OF Antigonus went int
battle his soldiers were very much liz
! Outraged, and they rushed up 10 the Gen
} cril aud said TO him. "Don't you see VI
have a few forces aud they have 10 man
morcg and the soldiers were ailrighied d
the smallnogs OF their number and th
greatness of the enemy, Anligonus, the
commander, Strengthened himself up an
said, with indignation aud vohemcnc,
} GLOW many do you reckon me 10 boz
I Aud whom We zee the vast armies arrayc
) against the cause Of sohricty Il may som,
, times bo very discourhging, but ask 20
, In making up your estimate Of the fore,
OF righteousness 1 ask you how many 4
] YOU reckon the lord Tod Almighty 10 b,
: lie IL our commander. Tho Lord Of Hos
. Is bis name. have the best authority {,
saving that the chariols OF God ara 1000
4, and the mountains are full oi thcm.
p You will take without my saying u th
4 my only faith b in Christianity and In u
4 upper forces suggested In the text u
. Ideal parties come and 60, aud they m.
b be right aud they may be wrong, hut g.,
= lives and think be- has ordained IA
8 Nation for n career Of prosperity that .
Q dcmngogism will he able to halt | expo
i to live 10 800 q political party which "
h have a platform Of two planks-ihc A,
n Commandments and the Sermon ON q
II Mount Whom that party h formed Il "
sweep across this land like tornado, ! "
j. going to sny, but when | think u is not
- be- devastation but rcsuscitsiion, | chan
"A the figure and sny, such party a. that "
y sweep across this land like spice gales lro
}. heaven.
I