The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-08
POSITION or A RELIGIOUS CON
TEMPORARY.

TEMPORARY.
IL is remarked that la this camplign
the ministry of many denominations is
show ing n disposition TO have an active
participation in "politics," aud while
this is more general than usual. the NJ in
istry is SO nearly unanimously sot
against repudiation and national dishon-
or that there is little argument between
them and we do not hear, 80 strongly as
might be expected, protest against po-
liticai activity in the pulpit. Indeed,
that the pulpit thus enters politics in the
way IL has assumed to do in this cam
paign furnishes another indication that
the sentiment OF the public is as nearly
as may be strong and united against the
silver heresy and the revolutionary
propaganda OF the BRYANIrEs In war
times it was felt that this sort of pulpit
activity was not only permissible, but
was demanded And much the same feel
ing appears to prevail among the people
today.
Our religious contemporaries, too, for
the most part, are editorially strong In
behalf OF what, under ordinary cir
cumstancss would be Republican politi-
cal platform, but which is today the side
OF national honor, the security OF ma
tional institutions and the protection OF
the money of the people from robbery by
law. We have before now taken occasion
10 quote some OF these contemporaries
and the most heated political "organ"
does not advocate more strongly the prin-
ciples which the candidacy of WILLIAM
MCKINLEY represents than do they. The
esteemed Congrega,ionalist is one OF the
most earnest Of the religious contem-
poraries in its protest against the plans
OF reputation, of anarchy, Of national
dishonor, proposed by the unspeakabie
Chicago platform and we have pleasure
in noting the statement OF that ex-
ceIlent paper in response to
objections raised by one of
its readers at the position 1t has seen fit TO
take its speaking out in meeting on the
central issue OF the campaign. Disclaim-
an, 10 ha tfvau
OF the believers in deprecated dollar,
or to stir the fires sectional, ii still pro-
claims, and maintains It's right to pro-
claim, the evils of the proposition and
Its convection that the deliberate unset
tlement OF long esta blished standards and
definitions of value in the supposed inter
eat of class could hardly fail to result in
national dishonesty ana dishonor.
And so II proceeds, anew, in the face of
the broadside OF objections, calmly, sin.
cerely and honestly TO endeavor to in-
strpct It's raiers on the ethics and the
hard facts Of the money question. The
esta blist ment of the silver standard in
accordance with the Popocrat platform it
declares with the straig Of
conviction, "would mean TO the working
men OF the country, who are the chief
creditors always, a loss which would be
instantly and severely felt." And it pro-
ceeds to elucinato and to explsin away
the delusive generalizations Of the silver
conspirators.
Indeed, tlis is a quarrel in which the
religious pres. and the pulpit should
have concern, 10 there is ever tiine
when they should go abroad from the
creed and the Scriptures for a sermon.
The su bject Is one OF morals and OF
Justice. Every resource for reaching the
people to instruct and inform and 20
clear the political atmosphere of sophistry
should be available to the cause Of ratfio-
tism, OF good faith. OF sound money--,o
all tho Issues involved In the struggle
with the outspoken repudistors. Good
citizens will applaud the uncompromis-
ing stand so generally taken by the relig-
ious press as evidence that In times OF
real danger 20 the Republic their
great influence may not in vain be
looked 10 for support. For, broadly
speaking. tners are not, today, two
sides 10 the silver issue not for
right thinking men, not for patriots, not
for honest men. Never before has the
illumination OF what appeared to be a
great question OF national concern dis
integrated it's parts and reduced II to
single raw issue OF right and wrong, of
justice ana injustice, of honesty and