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

necticut, the whole artillery of the state
should be turned upon him? Why
should he be hauled as a criminal tt
the bar Of justice where sit men whose
associates on these floors. right under
the dome Of the capitol, make charges
that are more direct, more specific, more
blighting and closely personal in theiI
! application?
THE PULPIT YOUR FRIEND IF YOU
ARE RIGHT.
Gentlemen 1 wish to assure you that
in the discharge of your solemn duty
you have no friend SO true as the Chris
tian pulpit of the state. You will re-
member that you as a committee are
appointed not to investigate me, but
to investigate official corruption. You
are clothed with such authority, your
duties are so plainly defined, and such
wide scope is afforded you, while on
the other hand you know so well where
witnesses willing or unwilling are to be
found, that the whole question Of legis-
lative corruption must now be probed
to the bottom. OF course newspaper
editors, lawyers, eX-governors, college
professors, lobbyists, ministers and citi-
zens generally who have expressed opin-
ions or who have concealed them must
be called. Summon them, gentlemen,
summon them, put them under oath
and never let go until you have reached
the last shred Of their information. If
there is any lack Of witnesses / shall
be glad to supply you with many valu-
able names. And just as soon as the
Connecticut legislature shows the sin
~ DO its ,N1n
share deep into the whole mass of avail
able evidence, the Christian pulpit will
humbly acknowledge it's mistaken judg-
ment of any man whom 1t has wronged.
Gentlemen I feel more deeply upon
this matter just because am a Chris
tian minister. AS I see it you are d.
recting the currents of the future. You
as we'll as we are In some measure re-
sponsible for the youth of to-day and
so far the honor, the integrity and the
chastity Of Connecticut tomorrow.
The church and the state, separate
though they ought to be united in the
fervent desire for the better state and
a better church. Perhaps you do not
see the tragedy Of life as we do, and
doubtless you do not hear them, but
beg you, gentlemen, to use your wild
est influence in the legislature Of Con-
necticut toward saving and not toward
blasting the lives Of Connecticut boys.
feel more deeply upon this matter
secondly because at present live in a
city where we have seen the ruinous
effects Of gambling in one of its most
fatal forms and to an appalling degree.
From all parts of the country young
men by the thousand gather in New
Haven, far removed from the restraints
of home. In no city of the state sup
pose are the Christian pastors burdened
with a sense of responsibility as they
are burdened In New Haven. We know
that we owe something not merely to
our own church or city or state. but to
every state in the union.
I feel more deeply upon this matter
in the third place because 1 happened
to be a citizen Of the state of New York
when the Ives pool bill became law
know something of the great waves
Of Christian protest which rolled across
the state and beat against the capitol
at Albany. Vast petitions were pre-
scented; the best men In the state APP
peared at Albany and pleaded with the
sodden legislature lest the name Of the
Empire state should be stained by the
passage of bill which made gambling
at the race tracks legal for certain days
In the year, And despite all this tie
shame of New York was consummated
In the passage of the Ives pool bill by |
the Legislature of 1886.
do not want to see the same thing
IN New England, least OF all do want |
to see 1t in the good old state of Con-
lecticut which You and / love. Her |
record has been very proud one. AS |
said the other night she has stood |
near the front as regards industry, in |
ellectual attainment, scientific achieve |
nent, inventive SKILL patriotism and |
morals. In the last years of the Nine |
zenith century God forbid that any one |
should be ready to put a stigma on |
Ter noble name. Most of all when our
lister commemorative from Maine to |
California are moving townard the sun
ght let us see to 1t that the face Of Con-
lecticut shall not be turned toward the
darkness. It is because of my love |
or our commonwealth that you have
allied me here to answer the grave
Had 1 loved my state and
Ter sons less / should not have spoken
rom my pulpit anu you anu l. WOulu
lever have met. have not courted your
avor, have not tried to say a polite
hing here, but have spoken out of
he deep convictions Of righteous
ause.
Gentlemen 1t has given me pain to
ay what l have been forced to say
nd to suffer the aspersion of my mo
ives which are pure; and nothing could
re more distasteful to me than to be
nade conspicuous as / have been. But
hold what ! regard as a high com
Mission and a preachers duty as
Understand 1t, is to thrust the gospel
( Jesus Christ just as deep as possible
alto all the life Of his time.
have suffered and must continue
} suffer for this most unexpected agi-
alton. But If this agitation shall have
one anything toward awakening the
tizens of Connecticut to the profound |
nd far reaching significance of moral
sues in public life shall be content.
1t should have done anything toward
scuring the magnificent vote on the
DOL bill In the house, 1t would not have
cen wholly vain. And If it shall have
one anything toward defending the
ulpit against assaults which are made
pom its freedom, / shall be happy