Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-07
THE COXEY MOVEMENT
DISCUSSED IN PULPITS IN THIS CITY
YESTERDAY.
Rev. Afford Tells Of the Kind Of Men Needed
for the Tims-Rsy. Buckley on
tie Sans Theme

At the Third Presbyterian Church
last evening the pastor, Rev. c. M. Al
ford, in his sermon upon The Kind Of
Men We Need for the Times" dwelt at
some length upon the Coxey Common
veal movement and the lessons 1t
teaches. He selected his textfrom Jer.
9:3-"But they are not valiant for the
truth on the earth" His discourse, in
substance, is given below:
Jeremiah is called the weeping
prophet, who lived in the days OF lsraeFs
downfall. We Americans with our
bright surroundings, do not under
stand him. We think he is melancholy,
bilious, heart sick, and We feel like rec
ommending horseback exercise, more
genial society or recreation. We be-
lieve in a sunshiny religion and con-
denim poor jeremiah without giving
him a hearing. We contrast Jeremiah
with other great men Of the past, and
praise them at his expense. Jeremiah
lived when his own great nation was
nearing its final overthrow. Being a
prophet, he knew it all, and 1t Is I'm
possible for true patriot to stand
on the brink OF his nations
ruin and rejoice. 1t was his lot to stand
and see the solitary lighthouse, which
for centuries had glowed on Mt Zion
in the vast sea Of ancient heathenism,
overthrown and its light extinguished.
He was TO be a witness OF the most
shameful of all earthly tragedies. ex'
cept that OF Calvary, namely, the fall of
the Jewish Kingdom and the destruc-
ton of Solomon's temple. No wonder
be was called the weeping prophet. he
speaks in my text about the peoples
carelessuess aud unfaithfulnesS in pub
lie honor aud trust. How applicable is
this 10 our times.
1t is a notorious fact that Satan.
through evil men, is trying to over
throw truth and righteousness. For
instance, God has established a Sab
bath, and from the beginning OF time
until now the Sab bath day has been
recognized, but there is a strong effort
over the world to do away with II.
Newspapers, railroads, mills, factories
and saloons are united 10 overthrow it.
These forces are fighting against God
and In the end will fail. IL they should
succeed the result would be-no rest
FOR the laboring man, more crime and
Gods wrath.
There is a general rebellion against
law. A united effort to overthrow law.
The result is more lynching, mobs, riots
and anarchy. Mems minds are unset
tied in regard to the truth, and that has
produced discomfort and unrest every
where. Unrest in the store, in the fac
tory, In the mill, on the farm, and per-
haps more unrest In Congress than any
where else. AS 8 result OF this unrest
and discomfort, we have labor troubles,
strikes, riots and instructions.
The spectacle of thousands OF men
organized into the army OF the Common
veal OF Christ, marching from various
points of the compass TO Washington Is
an evidence of general discomfort. Our
Representatives spend the nations
money and time in flibusterlng aud
QuarreIing over party measures while
heaven and earth is filed with the cries
OF the people. These men, who ara
taking this novel way Of expressing
their discomfort and disgust OF our OFF,
cials, are many of them honest laborers,
but they are misguided men and their
crusades will end in disaster 10 them
selves, although it may lead the govern
ment TO see that the interests Of the
nation should come first and party in
terests second.
Simply to not oppose the truth will
not clear us from guilt in Gods sight;
we must be valiant for the truth. The
world is full OF non-committal men,
men who would not oppose law, but
nave not the courage to enforce it, We
are living In an age when men permit
order. law and duty TO fall into neglect.
Statute books are full OF good laws, but
officials ars afraid to enforce them. 1t
is not more law, but more enforcement
of law we need. The Commonweal idea
is that Congress has had too many I'M
needed petitions on paper; they are now
getting a petition in boots. There are
too many laws on paper; what
we need is law in boots, and
a strong, courageous, heart-beating
Wihuiu NuG hlGu III OCpeS' We ACON ~
more apologies, but men, men with
back bone and the courage OF their con-
vctions. We need more men after the
stamp Of Nehemiah. who will say TO
law violators, as ne said TO the Sabbath
violators at Jerusalem: why lodge Ye
about the wall? II ye do so again, |
will lay hands on you" We, the Amer
lean people are responsible tor thu kind
Of men who represent us. VIII we send
TO Congress and the Legislature a Titan
or Pygmy? Will we send a pure,
noble type of manhood, or an impure
of the Breckinridge order? Will we
send men who are brave and will work
for the interests OF the people, or men
who are afraid OF their shadows and can
be bought up like slaves?
The kind of men we need for the
times is brave, noble, pure men, men
who have the courage OF their convic-
vlctons and will be valiant for the
truth.
Rev. Bicklsy's Discourse.
A large congregation assembled at