The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-29


truth touching the issues of the day, ana
n they clearly saw the path leading TO
national prosperity and honor theywouid
eheerfully walk thereon. The overwh helm
ing muliitudos of our people are sincere,
iaw-sbiding, liberty-loving.
4. IL 10 evident and not by any one
denied that tLe'e has tesn for some time
widespread distress and con sequent dis
content. especially in agricultural ard
manufacturing communities. Their
grievances ere not Imaginary. Which
ever PARTY snccseds I'm the approaching
election ought TO do something substan-
tiai for the permanent relief OF this vast
and useful and indispensable portion of
our population. II must also be con-
ceded:
b. That possibly, with.few exceptions,
the leaders Of the various PARTIES are sin-
cero In their convictions anC contention
that the success OF their respective can
didates aud platforms would result in
greater blessings to our whole land than
would the success Of the candidates and
platform of any other party.
Doubtless there are some politicians so
heartlessly settish that they care little or
nothing for the welfare Of others. But
cannot believe that human nature is so
totally depraved that there are many
such In proportion TO the number VINO
are willing that their feilowmen may
have fair chance to share with them in
the goods Of the earth. Certain il In, as
Mr.. Kidd so forcibly shows in his Social
Evolution, that "Never in human his
tory have the minds OF men been moved
with nobler or more generous ideas toward
each other, and the whole tendency Of
our civilization has been, and continues
to be, to develop this disposition" Tie
sltruIstic feeling which recognizes the
rights and yearns for the well being OF
Others Is surely saturating our entire
social II fe. Never has there been another
generation in which il could be so
truthfully said that "all classes or society
have become sensitive In high degree
to the sight of suffering or wrong OF
any kind y Never WAS the wealth of the
wealthy poured out SO lavishly In be-
benevolent, philanthropic and humani-
tartan benefactions as during recent
years. And get we cannot close our
ewes TO the unquestioned fact thst some
combinations of capital have grown OPP
presive and threaten the perversion OF
the governments legitimate functions.
In seeking for truth nothing Is lost by
making any rational concession.
III. From a Christiap.point of view II
In evident that some things must be de-
precated by fair-miDded men OF all par
ties.
1. False accusations against honorable
candidates must be condemned. Both
nominees OF the two leading parties
have had damaging charges brought
against them which have been proven
groundless. Surely no lasting benefit
can result from such unfairness.
2. Wholesale. indiscriminate charges
against one party as being made up OF
Anarchists and traitors to the flag aud
against the other as aiming to enrich a
I few by the impovcrshment OF the many,
should be discountenanced.
3. All efforts to arouse sectional ami
mosities and to array, in bitter strife,
class against class, the laborer against
the ca capitalist, the rich and those in mod
crate circumstances in opposition to one
another must be condemned as like
unto sowing dragons teeth in our social
realm,
a. Vituperation, ugly epithets, hard
names. cannot be endorsed, for they Oh
scuro the vision and obstruct honest in-
vesiigation.
8. Ali intimidation OF voters. all sale
or pure hase Of votes, all plain corruption
Of the fresmsn's high prerogrative to ex-
press mis- best convictions at the POLLS
must be frowned upon by all who prizs
homer and fair play.
9. Iawlessness must be condemned un-
sparingly, whether practiced by avowed
Anarchists or by powerful moneyed
corporations, sucn as the whiskey trust
ana other vast combinations. This
spirit of utter disregard for law has In ii
more of peril and ruin than any other
spirit that ondangers our government.
And permit me to assure you that il
is capable oi more deadly damage in
the bigh places OF the land than among
the low. The foregoing are few OF the
evils manifested in the campaign that
cannot be approved by good men.
III. On the other hand there is a
great cause for congrstuiation and reloic-
ing.
]. On account of the high personal
character of all the presidential cRndi-
dates, in SO far 80 they are known To ua.
Nearly all, II not quite all of them. IRE
not only moral men, but pre- ess q
Christians, connected with some one OF he
great denominations. What splendid
tribute it is to the principal candidates,
that the most searching efforts OF crime
hunters have been able to find nothing
criminal or even strictly immoral against
these men. How delighted we should be
that tbav earh haya rupn apd ano,