The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-01
THE VOICE OF THE CHURCHES.

In no previous presidential campaign, ex-
the government was at stake in the re-
election Of Abraham Lincoln, have the min
listers of all denominations shown as much
interest as in the present one. They are
nearly unanimous in favor of sound money.
The moral and patriotic phase of the ques-
ton appeals TO them very strongly, and a
large majority of them have declared
terms. Among. the representative men of
different churches who have thus spoken
are Archbishop Ireland and Bishop Chat
ard, of the Catholic Church; Bishops Will
liams, Worthington, Seymour and Whipple,
Of the Episcopalian Church; several of the
Methodist bishops and most of the promi-
nent preachers of the Presbyterian and
other churches. Archbishop Ireland. in a
very strong presentation Of the case, said:
The days of the civil war excepted, at no
time did so great peril threaten the coun-
try as that which Is involved in the politi-
cal campaign of to-day. The question of
free and unlimited coinage of silver is put
In the foreground. This question has its
Importance, but Ii is of a minor Importance
in presence of other questions which are
brought into issue. may, of
course. be mistaken. But L have come to
look upon the present agitation as the
great test of universal suffrage and popu-
lar sovereignty. Can the people defend
public honor and the institutions of the
country at the polls. as they have done on
the field of battle?
Bishop Chatard of this Catholic diocese
declared the statement of Archbishop Ire
land most opportune," and expressed his
added:
1 am heartily with him in his condemna-
ton of the proposed interference with the
Supreme Court and the freedom of action
of the President In protecting the rights
of the United States government. Especi-
ally do 1 join with him in depioring the
arraying of class against class, and the
resulting bad and dangerous sentiment that
may have the saddest consequences. 1t
seems TO me to be the duty of every good
citizen to set his face against such state
OF things, and use whatever influence he
has to counterfeit II.
Bishop Williams, of the Protestant Epis-
copal Diocese Of Michigan. said:
The Episcopal Church was most largely
represented among the signatures of the
Declaration of Independence and the franz
ers of the Constitution of the United
States. She has never encouraged her clergy
to be personal partisans. yet 1 would be a
dumb guardian of my people should L hesi-
tate to say that any member of the Epis-
copal Church who supports the Chicago
platform will do so in the teeth of the
moral teaching of his church. / have never
been a party man and do not declare for
any personal preference in this election.
but 1 do declare for patriotism, mutual
charity and confidence between the rich
and poor. anti-sectionalism and honest
money.
Bishop Whipple. of Minnesota. in a state
ment published a few days ago, expressed
the opinion that the present is a greater
peril than has confronted the country since
1861. He said:
When I reflect On what has really made
It possible for this demonstration under the
lead of Bryan to be made. i realize fully
what the awful import of those forces is.
1t does not mean law and order--it means
the opposite. 1t does not mean national
honor and faith-it means the reverse. 1t
means the desperate peril of all that would
put republican democracy in danger, and
of the very agencies which have DESTROYED
all republics in the past.
Bishop Whipple amp tiled this idea ut con-
siderable length, and with great force.
other representative men of different
churches have spoken to the same effect,
while no minister of any note OF any de-
nomination has spoken for Bryan. The
opinions of these men of trained intellects
and consciences should carry weight.