The Portland daily press., 1896-10-26
THE PRESENT POLITICAL CRISIS.
What the Lessons for the Church, From
This Cause, Are.

The following is resume Of the ser
mon of the Rev. Mr.. Bean at the West
Congregational church upon, "The Les
sons for the church from the present
political crisis"
Mr.. Bean first spoke of his own inter
est in social and political subjects and
of the origin and Significance of "oiti-
zens' Sunday" as observed by this
He emphasized the fact that
the sermon of the morning was not
Dictated by any partisan spirit as the
speaker had no utilization with any OF
the parties, of the nsed of keeping the
church life free from all influences
which would prevent persons Of all po-
litical faiths from meeting on common
ground of worship and service. Con-
tinuing he said, "But we are citizens
as well as Christians, and no man serves
or worships God acceptably who does not
also endeavor to discharge his duties to
his fellowman, his state and nation.
And. il he be reasonable. he will not Oh
Jeot to having those duties pointed out.
provided it be done, not in the spirit of
craftsmanship, but that of common citi-
zenship." He then passed rapidly over
the history of the past decade. sketching
the industrial, social and political dis
content which had eliminated In the
campaign Of this year. But the danger
always Ia that under such circumstances,
one party having been repudiated, and
the second having utterly failed to meet
the exigency, there should be sprung
upon the country soma impraoticable
or dangerous programme of proposed ac-
tion, and thus crisis be precipitated.
Such has been the case in our county at
the present time. Virtually, the party
which adopted the Chicago platform is
new party in our history. So far as
it has affinities they are much stronger
toward the Pnpulist party than the Dem
ocratic party Of the past or the new Ma
tional Democratic party. But If this
were simply question of parties it
would find no place in this pulpit It is
because the crisis reveals some perils
which can only be effectually and per-
manently removed by the agency of the
church that the subjects finds treatment
here. have lived long enough to know
that the poor cannot be benefited by the
ruin of the rich. Tho inequalities of
wealth SO far as they are caused by fav-
oritism to Glasses and the placing of un-
just burdens upon the poor must be
righted. but 1t must be by legisla tion
that is remedial not that which Is revo-
lutionary. Because believe that an in
come tax. if 1t can be equitably levied
and collected, is one Of the fairest and
most righteous of taxes, 1t does not fol-
low that am to join in dsnunoiation Of
the Supreme court of my country when
it declares a certain form of it uncon-
stitutional, or that am to seek 20 revo-
lutionize IL in its composition.
The proposal to practically do away
with the results Of generation OF
effort in behalf of cikil lservice reform
marks crisis in our affairs. What has
the overturn of an administration to do
with the clerk who sorts our letters.
Or why should we demand that he give
up his position just as he hos bec0 me the
efficient servant Of the public because
some one else wants turn at the public
orb. ANY business firm that should
manage It's affairs In that way would
soon go into bankruptcy, and nation
that does deserves to.
4 Continuing his address the speaker
4 pointed out at length the peril which
arises from the appeal to class hatred.
He expressed his sympathy with the
Pullman strikers 10 their original action
of stopping work, but pointed out to al
that was a very different thing from jus.
tifying the doings OF the Chicago moi
and passing condemnation on the Presi
dent. IL there not crisis in national
affairs when the representatives of nearly
one-haf our people enunc1ate the doc
trine that the President sit idly by an6
witness the defiance Of Federal law and
the destruction of Federal property.
But they did not really mean It, the
thing was done In hot blood, Eut W.
don't propose to endorse 1T in GOLD blood
1t marks a crisis in our affairs wher
the same convention propose to make d
cents worth Of silver of the value OF 10
cents by Act of Congress. ] think thu
, majority of those who so voted bol1ev'
, Congress can do it. 1scannot believe thai
they were rasoals. / once heard can
didate of the Populist party for seat II
Congress, inform the people IN public
! address that the United States govern
. ment should stamp any metal or pape
with any mark of value and that b!
virtue of this stamp, its face value be
l camecits real value. When that come
to be recognized doctrine l am going t
move for an act which will allow al
0 ministers to carry their manuscripts ser
. mons TO Washington and have eacl
sheet stamped for the value of one hun
bred dollars, said sheets to be full lega
tanier for all debts public and private
This would solve the vexed problem o
1 II - rkS Int
a sermon production. The speaker dwell
: at length ON the question of ERE
Coinage" pointing out the moral issu
involved in the proposed legislation.
Now what has the church to do wit
] all this. Much every way. Th
Q Chicago platform is a danger signal fly
9 ing in the heart of our great country
t If we are wise we will heed Its signal. bu
we will not adopt 1T as a banner unde
: which to march to war. The salvatio
of the country rests in the America
church, the American school and tn