The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-11-10


 interests to conserve. government on a large scale, and with complex and conflicting interests, Is still In the minds of many people an open question.
 This principle has been tested in the recent presidential contest. Many per sons were apprehensive of results. They feared the Influence of the campaign in weakening the confidence of the peo- pie in the theory of self government. The attitude of some was that of an alarmist, They predicted the gravest consequences to civil law, social order and commercial values if certain prin- ciples triumphed. There were no doubt reasons for serious apprehension, and for gloomy predictions. The greatest danger, however did not lie in the di- rection of commercial values and of so- clal agitations, These dangers could be met and would be met and out of the struggle the nation would come in safety, though bearing the marks of great tribulation and trial Tine real danger was that self government was impertlled. Can the people be trusted? Is it longer safe to commit to the com mon people of this country the deci- sion of questions that involve the integ- rity and the perpetuity of the very nation itself? Who are the common people? Where do they reside? What interests have they that do not at the same time concern the we'll being of all? An appeal to some of the common people on the assumption that the rest of the common people are their sworn enemies, if success in securing tenn porary victory, is in reality dagger thrust at the heart of self government. No free people can longer continue free that can be swayed to the support of political measures by an appeal to passion and prejudice. It is to the glory of the American people that such an appeal has been successful. The home, the school, the church, the train inf, of the people in the actual exper- fence of lf-government have thus far been instrumental in developing a type of manhood capable of resenting such an appeal as irrational, unpatriotic and un-American. We have greater reason than ever for believing that confidence reposed in an enlightened, free people will not be betrayed. The American people can be trusted to perpetuate the government of a free people in free land
 Fidelity o~this principle will carry with it loyalty to other ideals that have been cherished from the very be- ginning of our colonial ltfe
 It is well for us to remember that whatever righteous purposes the AL mighty cherfshes in regard to any peo- pie, and however thoroughly he has en- trusted the working of these purposes to the people themselves He reserves unto Himself, and will most certainly exercise the right, of renouncing and rejecting people that is unloyal to the higher ideals, and will transfer these trusts to a more worthy people and to more worthy leaders
 This is the lesson of the parable "He will miserably destroy those mis- erable men and will let out the vine yard unto other husbandmen, which shall render them their fruits in their season.
 This was the judgment of our Lord upon Israel: "The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you and shall be given to nation bringing forth the fruits thereof
 A people will consume the fruit of Gods vineyard for selfish purposes; that will reject the Son of God as He comes to gather the expected fruit of | the vineyard, and that will conspire to steal the inheritance and to convert it's very substance to their unholy uses, trI.o1 ,+,f& ,I,y I1 lett | vine judgment. The Kingdom will be | taken away from them and will be giv- en to people bringing forth the fruits | thereof.
 We need not attempt to delude our | selves with the assurance that such q l judgment can never be visited upon the | American people. Boast not of exemp- 1 tion because of the past. The faith of | the fathers was indeed sublime. This | fidelity to God and to humanity insured | continued favor. Their achievements in behalf of sound learning, social or der, civil and religious liberty have in | spired the nation with a well founded | hope. But the virtues of past genera | tions cannot be accepted as an atone nent for the vices of the present and of l future generations Abandonment of the divine ideals on the part of the na- | tion will work an inevitable rejection on the part Jehovah. This will not fol- | low by reason of any arbitrary decress, 1 but by reason of an inevitable, law of | the moral universe. There are unright- 1 eous forces at work in our own fair | land, and upon our much prized and | greatly honored institutions that unless | arrested and destroyed by the com l bined forces of righteousness within | and without the church of God will l work the destruction of the institu- 1 tions and the divine rejection of the nation. These forces cannot be met and overcome and the judgment avert 1 ed if we foster the spirit of personal | vituperation, sectional animosity and | partisan passion.
 Let us as Americans straightway de- i vote ourselves to the upbuilding of l America, to the peace, honor and glory l of our common country. Party dis sensions should no lcnger divide or rack the public mind, nor the zeal or l temper of either side deter any citizen from patriotic devotion to the good of all" These. generous and patriotic words of the president-elect are indi- cative of an abiding confidence in the 1 integrity of the American people and