The Monitor-register., 1896-09-25

The Moral and Religious Aspects of
the Present Presidential Campaign.
The moral and religious aspects of the
present Presidential campaign we're re
viewed in a sermon at the Baptist Church
last Sunday evening by the acting pastor,
Rev. John t. Craig. The church was
crowded, and the deepest interest mani
tested by the large audience present.
Mr.. Craig selected as his text Malachi l.,
IL: "For from the rising of the sur even
unto the going down of the same my
name shall be great among the Gentiles,''
etc. The speaker, after a touching refer
epce to his native country, dwelt upon his
early and long naturalization as a citizen
of the United States, and the duty of our
foreign population who worthily and in
diligently come to this country to make
it their home, to, as soon as possible.
declare their Intentions.
The text was a fact of civilization.
Our oldest and greatest civilization came
from the East, and finds its highest and
hest development here in the West.
Equally SO was it with our religion. All
that is best for man and most clarifying
to God comes from the East, through oar
Saviour, who, in His humanity, is an
hSldJlC. OTl6Ubdl Ill LIS UiEbus DuJ JUL
dental and universal in bis life for the
world and ultimate government of the
| world. And here, where the sun sets in
our great Republic, this religion has the
largest developn eat and the most trium.
phaut results.
The relation of the moral teaching of
the la and the religious or grace teach
ing of the Cross has never been more
-, a., - ,r;t1 o-l - A,arcn l..
political questions than to day-if we
make two exceptions. viz: that of the
Revolution of 1776 and the Rebellion of
1861 What we a to meet this fall
with our ballots is as vital to our coun
try's pres eat and future welfare as that
our fathe RS and brothers met with their
bullets in the four years Civil War.
This is a question of PATRIOTISM, and
not partisanship. Patriotism is not to be
defined and accepted by us as "the last
refuge of a s%coundrel," as the bigoted
| old Tory, DR.. johnson. who sold himself
for a pension of 1880. endeavored to
SANDER the fathers of our Republic by
calling it. No! patriotism is thu first
principle of an honest. God fearing man
who, placing his country above his party,
is Jealous of its honesty at home and it's
honor abroad, and will defend it from
foe, hidden or visible, who will under
mine its credit or put any stain upon its
financial integrity.
The uprising we see to day by the
breaking up of a great n historic party,
the disiDtegration In fact, and severance
of party ties, is unprecedented in our
political history since 1860. What does
it mean? Simply this; that a settlement
of this silver question must now be
made. We cannot afford to trifle with
this matter. Oar true and abiding rela-
tions with each other and the great ma
lions of the world hang upon our decision.
Shall VT seek alliance with the East,
as China and the South American cont
nent, or continue to keep our standing
with the great Western nations of
Europe? Shall We retain as the foupda-
tion of our credit the gold basis on which
| it at present rests ?-the only foundation
the highest in civilization and most
aggressive, enlightened and prosperous
nations of the world is guided by; or,
casting aside the 5000 900. 900 Of gold we
nave in circulation by driving it out of
the country or into every hidden nook
and corner, where it will cease to circu,
late, we take the billion left and so mul-
tiply and cheaper it that, by a fraudulent
and disgraceful meanness that will make
US a "hissing and by-word among the
nations of the eartb," we offer our credi-
tor So cents for the 100 he loape1 us?
Shame upon us ever to think of such a
thing; ever to suggest such a thing; ever
to connive at the doing of such a thing
And yet l venture to say that if the
election had taken place a week after the
nomination of Mr.. Bryan in Chicago he
would have come so near if not actually
into the Presidential chair that the deadly
sectionalism of the South and West
against the East and North would have
been the trs G edy of the day.
But, thank God! we bad time to appeal
'from Philip drunk to Philip sober" and
this second sober thought is heard in the
news from Vermont. with its 40. 600, and
Maine, with her so, 600 msjorlties, that
the rising of the sun" in such glory in
the East will go down in the West with a
splendor and triumph that will forever
bury this heresy of free silver beyond
redemption and resurrection
Mr.. Craig dwelt on the value and pur-
chasing power of the dollar, the injury
to the farmer in prices and the mechanic
in wages, and, as he said: cit seems in
credible that the latter class can be sup
posed to sympathize with a party who
cheaIen the money by lessening its pur
chasiI G value after the toll and care, the
self-deuial and anxiety, the economy and
struggle they have to make the largest
wages or the best prices our present cur
rency gives them, meet their humble
necessities in living and saving. Where
is the money a working man can lay away
for a rainy day on the wages he is now
receiving? What would it be with the
silver dollar, worth So cents-to put your
trust in God for the OTTER At? We do
not mock God with such travesty. If
there is any crucifixion to take place We
prefer TO be crucifed On a cross of gold
than on one of silver. The best of money
is none too good for this Republic. The
best, as the consensus OF the greatest
nations of the world agree to, is gold, as
the only indestruotible, stable and inter
changesble metal, that alike has equal
value, be it coin, bullion, ring or bangle,
plate or
The Supreme Court, as inviolable,
ultimate, impartial aud incompatible,
is to be je slously safeguarded against
every tendency to lower its independence
or dim by a breath its purity.
The tariff was dwelt upon with
great earnestness, and the preseat cOndi
tons we are in compared with that OF
the Harrison administration. MI. Craig
showed the frightful condition of our
mills and mill workers, the thousands
out of employment, and the actual pow
erty of hundreds of homes and which
nothing but a revival of business by
restored financial confidence can ever
emove.
The Federal rights of the people by
United States protection of the mails and
travel was dwelt upon and touching ref.
erence was made to the delays of travel
by the great strike in Illinois, affected
some who were has ening home to sick
ness and death. The speaker declared
that 40 man who is a true American and
a patriot can do otherwise than vote for
Mckinley and Hobart.
The speaker was listened to with clos.
est attention for over an hour, and general
satisfaction expressed With the vie W
laid down. Patriotic music was sung by
an excellent choir, and flowers and flags
decked the church.
THE News FROM Two COUNTIES.