The Newtown bee., 1896-10-16


 rector I stated it as my determined pur. pose that no politics should ever be preached by me from this place.
 l believe I have never violated that determination. do not intend to do SC to-day. There are times, however, when great public questions are agitating the minds of the people, involving so plain. ly great moral principles, that they jus. tify the proper treatment of them in the pulpit.
 l. It tis evident to any thoughtful ob- server that the people of this nation are now passing through critical period of their history.
 The claims of two great parties are put forth with theories of government and administration which are diametri- | cally opposed to each other.
 On the onehand there is the claim that continuation of the present order of things means the certain oppression of the weak, the imposition of heavy bur- dens upon the unfortunate, and the tri umph of might over right.
 On the other hand there is the charge that any contemplated change in exist ing standards would bring ruin and de, vastation in it's wake, and increase in manifold degree the present suffering.
 These opposing theories, with their corresponding warnings and their claims, constitute grave crisis in the political world.
 But this i8 not all. If this were all. there would be no justification for a ser. mon in this place upon this subject.
 THERE IS A GRAVE MORAL CRISIS upon us-upon the people of this land Many of the bishops of our church recognize this, and our own bishor among them has authorized that special prayer which we have used in tbi. service.
 They would not have done this did they not also believe that there is a great moral issue upon us.
 Though possessing firm opinions per sonaIly, I have no desire to urge those opinions upon any one else in this place but without being partisan, I would plead for conscientious moral convio tions.
 While we are all willing to concede sincerity to those who differ from us ir political opinion, we must all be carefu, to discern, in the midst of animated dis. cussions and of opposing arguments. those unchanging moral principles which alone are of Divine sanction.
 "Righteousness exaIteth a nation. but sin is reproach to any people,"
 II. It seems evident that of late mems moral perception has become much be, logged in regard to public affairs.
 Their vision, which appears clear enough in regard to their own private affairs, seems blurred when public mat ters pass before it.
 They do not seem to be discerning the differences in questions and facts which are morally important.
 When men declare their willingness to vote for theory which they believe to be ruinous to their country, they are doing exactly what a man does in his more private relations who says he honestly believes one thing and de- liberately does the opposite thing; and the only name for this is self gtultifca- tion.
 Whatever the motive may be which prompts men to such action, whether it is the desire for some political reward, or the blind devotion to party, or the association with friends, still the act is the evidence of a perversion of con- science and the blinding of the moral perception.
 l plead for the same cIearnesg of vision in public matters as is shown in private affairs.
 III. There are ln my mind to- day not only the pres ent political conditions, but those symptoms of disease in the body polite which have been more or less character, istic of our public life during the past few years. We have listened some time now to the plea that private honor can not and ought not to be carried into poIiti- cal life; that honesty is well enough for individuals in their private capacity, but has no place in public office. This is the plea boldly made in the 1 land of which GEORGE WASHINGTON AND ABRAHAM 1
 LINCOLN. nave been presidents! Beware of it citizens of free land
 Where is the execution of law Ditbort Where is liberty. withont