Connecticut western news., 1893-11-09
CHRISTIAN CITIZENS.
REV. DR. TALMAGE ATTACKS THE
 EVIL OF PARTlSANSHlP.

Distortions of the Truth-Nothing but Christianity Can Remedy the Flood of lndecency-Bal1ot Box Perils-A Scath- ing Sermon by the Tabernacle Pastor.
 BROOKLYN, Nov. 5.-In his sermon this forenoon Rev. Dr. Talmage touched on a topic which is just now uppermost, while the agitation in political circles is raging in all parts of the land. The ser mon is pertinent and useful and is based on the text, Acts xix, 82: Some there fore cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was confused, and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they drew Alexan- der ont of the multitude, the Jews put ting him forward. And Alexander beck oned with the hand, and would have made his defense unto the people. But when they knew that he was Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians."
 Ephesus waa upside down. It was about the silver question. A manufac- turer of silver boxes for holding heathen images had called his laborers together to discuss she behavior of one Paul, who had been in public places assaulting image worship, and consequently very much damaging that particular busi- ness There was great excitement in the city. People stood in knots along the streets, violently gesticulating and call ing each other hard names. Some of the people favored the policy of the silver smith; other people favored the policy of Paul. There were great moral questions involved, but these did not bother them at all.
 The only question about which they seemed to be interested was concerning the wages and the salaried positions. The silversmith and his compeers had put up factories at great expense for the making of these silver boxes, and now, If this new policy is to be inaugurated, the business will go down, the laborers will be thrown out of employment and the whole city will suffer. Well, what is to be done? "CaIl convention" says some one, for in all ages a convention has been panacea for public evils. The convention is called, and as they want the largest room in the city they take the theater.
 Having there assembled, they all want to get the floor, and they all want to talk at once. You know what excitement that always makes in convention, where great many people want to talk at once. Some cried one thing, some cried another. Some wanted to denounce,. some wanted to resolve. After awhile a prominent man gets the floor, and he begins to speak, but they very soon hiss him down, and then the confusion rises into worse uproar. and they begin to shout. all of them together, and they keep on until they are red in face and hoaree in the throat. for two long hours crying out: "Great is Diana of the Ephesiansi Great is Diana of the Ephe- siansr'
 The whole scene reminds me of the ex- citement we have almost every autumn at the elections. While that goddess Diana has lost her worshipers and her temples have gone into the dust, our American people want to set up god in place of her. and they want ns all to bow down before it, and that god is political party. Considering our superior civiliza- tion, have to declare to you that the Ephesian idolatry was less offensive in the sight of God than is this all absorb ing American partisanship.
 While there are honest men, true men, Christian men, who stand in both po- litical parties, and who come into the autumnal elections resolving to serve their city or their state or the nation in the best possible way, I have noticed also that with many it is mere contest between the ins and the outs-those who are trying to stay in and keep the outs out, and those who are trying to get in and thrust the ins out. And one party cries, Great is Diana of the Ephesiansr' and the other party cries, Great is Di- ana of the Ephesiansl" neither of them honest enough to say. "Great is my pocketbookI
 PUBLIC AFFAIRS DISCUSSED.
 Once or twice year it is my custom to talk to the people about public affairs from what call Christian standpoint, and this morning have chosen for that duty. hope to say practical word. History tells us of sermon once preached amid the highlands of Scot land-a sermon two hours long-on the sin of luxury, where there were not more than three pairs of shoes in the audience, and during our last war q good man went into hospital distributing tracts and gave tract on 1.-The Sin of Danc- ing" to man both of whose legs had been amputatedl But hope this morn ing to present an appropriate and adapt ed word, as next Tuesday at the ballot box great affairs are to be settled.
 The Rev. Dr. Emmons in the early history of our country in Massachusetts preached about the election of Thomas Jefferson to the presidency. The Rev. Dr. Mayhew of Boston in the early days of our republic preached about the repeal of the stamp act. There are times when ministers of Christ must look off upon public affairs and discuss them. We need go back to no example. Every man is. before God. responsible for his owI duty.
 If the Norwegian boasts of his home of rocks, and the Siberian is pleased with his land of perpetual snow; if the Roman thought that the muddy Tibel was the favored river in the sight oi heaven. and if the Laplander shivers out his eulogy of his native cline, and if the Chinese have pity for anybody born out side of the "Flowery Kingdom" shal not we, born under these fair skies and standing day by day amid these glori ous civil and religious liberties, be pub lie spirited? I propose to tell the people very plainly what consider to be theil Christian duty at the ballot box.
 First. set yourself against all politica falsehood. The most monstrous liei essr told in this country are during tht elections. stop at the door of Demo cratic meeting and listen and hear tha the Republicans are liars. stop at tn door of a Republican meeting and lister and hear that the Democrats are scoun drels. Our public men microscopized and the truth distorted. Who believe tenth part of what he reads or hears Ii