The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1890-12-17
ON DEAD ISSUES.
REV. MIR. DIXON PREAt HES
ON TIE DEAD ISSUES.
The Farmers Alliance Praised
For Aiding to Bury the
"Bl00dy Shirt"

ofsermons yesterday morning at
Association Hall, on the sub
ject: What is Religion" Las,
Sunday Mr.. Dixon's talk vast
as he termed it, an introduction
to the sermons to follow. Prior
to the regular discourse, he gave
the usual review of current
events, taking for the theme:
"Sectionalism and the Farmers
Alliance"
CAT last the bloody chasm has
been bridged," he said. The
war has really ended, and all
chickering's must soon cease,
The farmers of the West and
North have Joined hands with
the farmers of the South, SOL
EMMY covenanting together to
forget the bitterness of the past
and throw off the curse of ira
ditional sectionalism. The
Christian manhood of America
owes to the farmers a debt Of
gratitude for undertaking this
divine work. General sherman
has said that war is hell 1t
is, and we have had enough Of
it. Every effort to revive the
bitterness of the late War is in
spired only by the devil. The
curse of the Nation for the last
two decades has been the de-
termined efforts of a certain
class of demagogues to trade in
the memories of the dead.
"When the soldiers laid down
their arms and returned to their
homes and loved ones. these
ghouls began their ghost dance
over the fields made rich with
the blood OF heroes. While the
war was in progress these meu
were not in it. When the fight
ing ceased they whetted their
jawbones and began, and they
have been at it faithfully ever
since. They have driven the
sections further and further
apart by SANDER and misrepre-
sentation. They have wearied
the ears of heaven and earth
with their din. They have fam
ned the dying embers Of hatred
into flame again and again,
that in the confiagrations which
followed they might rob and
steal. They have made progress
impossible, because they have
made issues of memories. ac:I
marshalled the hosts otShe liv-
ing TO fight the hopes Of the
dead. They are neither brute
nor human, they are ghouls.
The farmers have declared that
they are going to hang the ring
leaders Of this gang and put an
end to their business. I'm this
God-given task they should
have the prayers and earnest
cooperation Of the Christian
manhood Of North and South
mississippi rises from the
lethargy Of traditiOnalism. turns
her face toward the rising sun
Of a new day. drops tear over
the grave Of jefferson Davis.
formally repudiates in her new
Constitution the doctrine of
secession, and extends her hand
% the struggling farmers oil
Kansas. Slavery is now only a |
memory for the aged. |
This younger generation oil
men are sick and tired Of listen |
ing to harangues about the
memories and issues Of a great !
past by Observation-Disclosures |
ues who contributed nothing 10
that past, except an additional
name % the census roll. which |
cannot be found on the army
muster. They are tired of iii
sort Of thing. They feel that
It u a crime to rob thu livjurI
q the highest possibilities nf !
life, though il be- in the SarrrIl
name Of the loved AMI dead
This generation Of men willI
join hands with the hornv.haud. /
ed farmers in their determine. |
ton 10 rid a suffering nation Of
this pest. We arr confronted
to-day with gravc-t problems
ever submitted IL the human
race for solution. II NAV Ir
that the destiny of the world
hangs upon the solution Amer.
lca will give 10 these problem.
We feel even now the rtrtb|
trembling beneath the shock Of
the first battles Of worldwide
social struggle. Can the clash.
inginterests Of conf tingcIass...
be reconciled, and our ciyiliza-
ton saved from catastropho.''
IN the sermon that followed
Mr.. Dixon drew the conclusion
that religion was not a death "a -
die, but Il life to live. Last
evening be- preached on the sub.
lect, "A View NJ the Second .
Coming # Christ. " "