The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-02
CHARGE OF REPUTATION
OFFSET BY THE HINTS OF CON-
SPIRACY AND WAR ON WORK
INGAIEN.
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE RIGHT.
He Has an Entire Confidence in the
judgment of the Majority of
the Voters.

other ante-election sermon to an inter-
ested congregation at the Plymouth
congregational church, Summit avenue
and Wabasha street, last evening. The
text OF the discourse was chosen from
Acts l., "a, And they prayed and said:
Thou, Lord which knowest the hearts
Of ell men, show whether of these two
Thou hast chosen
In his Introductory remarks, Mr. Mil
lard stated that 1t had always been
his custom to deliver a sermon dealing
with political campaigns on the eve
Of an election, and that in view of the
vast interest Of the people generally in
the outcome Of the present issues, he
considered it opportune to treat Of the
campaign briefly from other than the
secular side. Before taking UP his
| theme. however. Mr.. Willard referred
to his utterances Of the previous Sun
day concerning the marching Of the
ministers Of the city, as ministers of
the gospel, in the sound money parade,
! and said that he had had the feeling
and excitement attendant upon the
campaign called more forcibly to mind
on account Of a letter which he had
received criticising what he had said.
The writer had inferred that Mr.. Mil
lard said that the conduct of those
ministers would tend to the condoning
of offenses in high places and create
bitterness among the classes. This, the
speaker said, was a mistaken inference
from what he did say, as it was far
from his intention to say what even
recognized Or favored a division Of the
American people into classes. On the
contrary, it was his desire that such
divisions should never take place.
Reverting to his text, DR.. Willard
said, in part: 1.-THE people Of this coun-
try have wise and beneficent priVi-
lege Of discussing the questions which
concern their general welfare. and no
matter how serious these questions
may be, they are still the concern Of the
people. When they have been fully
gone into, then comes the expression
of opinion by means Of the ballot l am
glad that we are near the end of the
discussion which has so stirred the
people since the opening Of the present
campaign. The emotional and eXcita-
bic sides Of mems natures have been
| clearly shown during the past few
months, so intense has been the inter
est in the issues at stake, and 1t will
be relief to have the strain removed.
It is proper that we should discuss
to consider some Of the fundamental
principles of our government.
1.-THE fundamental principles Of our
government recognize God, and hope
that all Of us are prepared to offer UP
the prayer Of the text. The landing
of the Pilgrims marks God In olir gov
ernmert, as does our safe passage
through the war Of the Revolution, and
the late civil war Our national hymn
sings Of God. This being true. that
God in His providence founded this
glorious nation, is it not eminently
proper that He should be recognized In
the administration of its government?
There is divine side to this campaign,
therefore let us recognize God; let us
seek His will. Let us imbibe the spirit
which He has enabled us to understand
SO that, as citizens, we shall be work
ing that divine will. This condemns
bribery, the selling and buying of votes
and all forms of political misdoings,
in fact 1t condemns all things which
are wicked and threaten the perpetuity
OF our government"
AS an exhortation, the speaker be-
sought that the political battle be
fought fairly. Party plans" said he
ARE unfair, as are Misrepresentation
and the impugning Of motives which
come with every election. A man re-
Gently said to me, ANY one who votes
for the free coinage Of silver is either
knave or a fool What an unfair as
sertion was that! In this campaign the
Republicans have had much to say
about the morality Of the currency is
sue. They have made great capital out
OF arguments in this connection and
have caught many votes, but there is
little in such talk as viewed from the
standpoint Of genuine morality. An
honest dollar Is all right, but when il
is said there are no honest men Oil
both sides of the money issue 1t is not
right. When these men who have
made a study Of the currency long be-
fore this campaign was begun and
years ago decided that free coinage Of
silver was the solution of the problem
are termed dishonest in advocating
what they believe to be right, 1 say 1t
is libel on human nature. The talk
of reputation Is not moral ques-
ton in that all Of the honest men are
in the Republican party.
"On the other hand, the party which
Is opposing the Republicans talks Of
conspiracy and the substituting Of the
public press. Much argument for sill
yer has been based on such claims,
which are more than ridiculous. They
ere as improbable as the conditions
urged by the other side. 1t is the
mernet cant to assert that all Of the
Republican leaders have combined
against the workingn1an. These two
Instances Of unfairness apply not only
to this campaign, but to those political
struggles of the past as well. Let us
fight fairly, openly, manfully, that the
progress Of civilization may be marked
with less of eXaggeration and misrep-
resentstion.
Bear in mind that our government
rests upon the foundation Of patriot
ism. We should love our country bet
ter than any other. Next in Importance
comes the constitution, the very bull
wark OF liberty, and when the time
comes, If it ever does, that it must be
changed even in the slightest detail,
the change should be made with the
greatest care and legally. Fraternity
Is also one Of the principles Of our
government 1t Is essentially necessary
to a people such as we are, and con-
slant effort should be exerted to pre-
vent the division Of the people into
classes. Unless fraternity prevails, the
march Of progress will stop. Therefore,
on the eve Of this election, 1t behooves
us to be thoughtful. May much con-
sideration lead us to seek the guidance
in the American people The people
never err; the voice Of the people. as
was said by Wendell Phillips, is the
voice of God. Whichever way the cleo
ton goes, 1t will be right. The I'M
mediate result may not be success Ell
Their way, but In the end, whichever
way the people choose, that way will
ultimately be right. I do not believe
in croakings, nor do believe that the
country is going to ruin. Let us make
the text this evening our prayer and
all will be well. Let us say with one
voice Thou Lord which knowest the