The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-06-18

in hyperbole. Senator Johnsons meta.
phor Of the headless man talking
through his hat was hyperbolical.
trust that am not bringing no grave
charge against the senator from my
own city when l venture as much as
that. l did not mean literally that
senators were led out by the horns
knocked in the head skinned and sold
at five cents a pound. did not suppose
that any hearer or any reader would SC
interpret the words. On further thought
l should have rejected the expression
as meaningless, for while at the sham
bles, a man always owns the boss, in
the other place, or rather in other legis-
latures I have been told the boss some
times owns the man. l merely meant
to use a very strong expression for
what seemed to me like amazingly
suspicious phenomena.
Now, gentlemen, have honestly and
without passion told you the exact pur-
pose and the exact animus OF my adj
dress on the I'd of June. made it
without a trace of personal feeling
against any member of the Connecticut
senate. Indeed, / do not know that
ever met one of your number until to-
day. But there is another matter which
has direct bearing upon this question,
THE LEGISLATURE AND PUBLIC
OPINION.
I spoke the other evening, as I have
told you, with the hope of rousing pub
lie sentiment in my own church and in
my own city. My overloaded mail
shows me that to some degree I have
helped to rouse 1t throughout the state.
I did not suppose that an earnest ex-
preston in plain language would be
unwelcome to the senate, l should not
suppose that any man who is at rest
in the consciousness of his own integ-
rity would be disturbed by the "irre-
sponsible utterances of a crank preach
err, who is beneath the notice of legis-
lator." The honorable senator who
proposed the amendment is reported to
have said that he favored 1t because
one element OF the state had urged 1t
and the other element had made no OBJ
lection Hence, 1 supposed that any eX-
preston which represented large bodies
of citizens would be welcome. Possibly
the language was too strong. Yet that
too. becomes a matter of opinion.
notice that the religious press of the
state Issued right here in Hartford
quoting the very strongest expressions
of my address, adds: Our readers will
agree with Mr.. Mason's plain, temperate
and true statement Of the case" Why,
1t almost seems as if in those words
you could detect in the the part Of the
press kind of deep, unsatis-
fed yearning for something that is
really forcible.
II you think the language too strong
remember the CALLING provocation
which the Christian people of Connec-
tieut suffered In finding themselves
committed in the eyes of the world to
a law which is revolving to every Chris
tan sense; and remember their help
as they look around them and
try vainly to discover some better eX-
olanation than mine of this astounding
legislation.
Gentlemen this is the time to say for
he Christian people of this state that
among those who are thoughtful there
S a rising tide Of apprehension which |
S fast becoming alarm.
There is a growing impression that |
he elements which have the right of |
way in this state are not the elements |
which love it best and which would !
ay down life for its honor. 1t is not |
within my province even to mention |
~ name before this committee the
measures which have been enacted by |
his legislature and which are setting /
he face Of Connecticut toward the |
,ast. But the people are thinking Of |
hem.
There are some who fear that patriot
SIN is dying in Connecticut.
HE PULPIT AND PUBLIC OPINION.
think we have been patient. / think
we have been silent long enough. And
when the Connecticut senate deliberate
Y passed bill to legalize gambling, I
made up my mind-with elaboration
nd Determination made up my mind
hat a bill to wreck the morals of the
tate should never become a law with
ut one word OF protest from the Chris
ian pulpit of Connecticut With the
roposition to enter upon the business
f selling indulgences in crime we open
new chapter in the history Of Con-
ecticut; and there is one pulpit down in
lew Haven which proposes to be heard
ntil it is officially silenced by the legis-
lture.
The question which you have opened
one of far reaching Importance, as
may determine to some degree the
ghts of the Christian pulpit in the
Iscussion Of all questions Of public
lorals In the new era Of Christian
tizenship which Is dawning, / con-
Give it to be the pulpit's province, yea
uty, to be alert, discriminating, just
nd fearless on the questions Of it's
wn time.
confess have not yet been able to
nderstand why other citizens may
,eak with the utmost freedom and why
lie ministry must be silent. Does the
Ict strike you as in any way suggest
e? Why can the press of the state
AXE the gravest charges Of corruption
,ery day in the year without fear of ;
Duke? Why can Legislators on these
Try floors make the gravest charges
yainst members. whose daily life they s
low, and receive no attention and no
Duke? And why is it that when one !
preacher in what he knows (
be the line of duty, goaded to it by !
hat he concelves to be an act of in |
IL. u, -, T.