The sun., 1896-10-05
MORAL ASPECT OF THE CAMPAIGN.
The Rev. Or. Enton's ArrniGnment OF the
Chicago Platform.

SnicagO PLATFORM.
The Rev. DIR. Charles II. Eaton talked of "the
moral aspect Of the campaign in his morning
sermon at the Church of the Divine Paternity,
Fifth avenue and Forty fifth street. yesterday.
The American republic he said. had never faced
a more formidable issue than that presented in
tho present campaign. twas believed by many
that the present crisis was even more serious
than that of 1861. as then no irdeible disgrace
to popular Government such as is involved in
the threatened reputation OF just debts. was
involved. The questions at issue in the cam
paign great moral ones and it was
proper that they should be discussed in
the pulpit. Politicians might impute mo-
tives 10 their opponents and call names.
but the clergy should not. They should
fearlessly consider questions of ethics. however.
Two such questions were now presented First.
promises. and second. how shall social order and
the foundations OF the American rcpu blic be
platform to give a value OF 10 to to what was
really OF the value of 81 to /. was. DIR. Eaton
ssaid, In the language of ethics. simply theft:
Free coinage would wipe out about one. half Of
every existing promise to pay. Tho Govern
ment stamp on a 53-cent dollar would be o
falsification OF weights. An individual who
tempered with weights and measures was
called sneak thief; FOR the Government to do
SO would render it hiShwhyman. The pur-
chasing power Of wages would be cut in half
the preacher claimed but worse than that
would be the Destruction of the standards OF
private and public morality.
81 do not believe" said the speaker, that the
feeling which prompts these supporters OF n po-
litical atsurdity and public crime results from
any intention or desire to DO private thieves and
public roubers. The times are hard: there Is
much discomfort. They are ready TO try almost
any experiment toward Improvement. 1t 10
ienornntly believed that the greatest republic
of America Is great enough TO stand alone in
financial policy which is against the laws Of
nature under the circumstances. Commercial
honor is essen;ial to commercial prosperity.
History denies the possibility of carving out
the Chicago platform plan. TO Introduce free
silver coinage would be TO repeat the disastrous
attempt made during the Revoluton-to make
paper legal tender by fiat OF Congress-"
DR.. Eaton next denounced the portions of tho
Chicago platform relating to the Supreme
Court. 1t was essential, he said. to preserve Tho
constitutional provisions which conserve law
and order. The attack upon the power OF tho
Supreme Court" he said. and the Executive
ofIthis nation to preserve law and order when
n State Governor has failed TO do 80, is signiti-
cant OF social revolution that is terrify.
ing. Its success would be to make the
hnal Court OF Appeal for the preserva-
tion of national liberty and honor depend
upon the popular caprice OF elections occurring
ht snort intervals ms compared with the present
NE tenure OF office. Democracy discontented
with its present achievements has become the
port these men do not realize what they are do
ing, but / believe that an overwhelming ma.
Jority or the people will on Nov. 3 and alwayo
stand for national as wcll as individual hon est5s
democracy will prove that liberty and civiliza-
tion can exist together and strengthen each
other. The people can be trusted to be the beet
conseryers OF law and order"