The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-24
Religion In the Campaign.

1t Is a circumstance of noteworthy in
terest that the religious press of the
country, although ordinarily silent in
matters Of purely partisan discussion,
has In this campaign taken high and
strong ground for the election Of Nc
Kinley and Hobart, and the preserva-
tion unsullied of the nations financial
honor. We know of no conspicuous ex-
ception to this statement among the re-
ligious journals of Protestant afiilia-
tions and few of our Catholic contemp-
oraries openly advocate the free coin
age of silver.
The Independent in a recent issue tells
why it has declared for sound money,
and incidentally disposes of the plea
that the clergy should keep still about
live moral issues. eff religion" it says,
means going to church and kneeling
down before God and saying, Our Fa-
ther,' and nothing more, then religion
may have nothing to do with the is
sues of the coming presidential cam
paign. But if whatever things are hon.
est, pure, and of good report are part
of religion, then this campaign Is not
without it's religious side. Three years
ago the Independent signed a lease
promising to pay $4,000 a year, more
or less, for the rent of the premises 1t
occupies. That gave the owner of the
building fair income from the amount
of money which had been invested in
it. That $4,000 which we promised to
pay was the money Of the country,
which has been kept equal with gold
ever since the resumption of specie pay
ments. 1t was perfectly understood that
those dollars would be dollars equal to
gold, as the government had kept them
equal to gold. The $4,000, more or less,
we paid last year and the year before,
was of the value of 10000 gold dollars In
London or Berlin or Paris, as we'll as
in New York. The proprietor Of the
building could take the money to Europe
and exchange it for 1000 English
pounds. or 10000 German marks, or Co.
900 French francs.
Nov the Democrat and Populst
platforms propose that we shall pay
that rent next year not in 200 in New
York, such as are worth f2 900 in Lon
don, 10000 marks In Berlin. and $4,000
francs in Paris, but in silver dollars,
which shall not be kept up to the value
of gold, and which the owner Of this
building can exchange for but little
more than 1000 in London, 10000 marks
in Berlin, and $4,000 francs in Paris.
What they propose that we shall pay is
about $1,000 value in gold, but they pur-
pose calling it $4,000 in silver. They
ask us to vote that we may be allowed
to rob the owner of our premises to the
extent Of say. $4,000 a year.
Now as we understand it, they are
asking us to steal; and stealing we con-
slider irreligious, and we do not pro-
pose to do it. We shall do our best to
have our rent continue payable in gold
dollars; worth $4,000 anywhere in the
world, worth the same in London, Ber-
lin and Paris, as it was when we made
our contract three years ago; and we
decline the temptation to pay sum
of money which would be worth in the
markets Of the world only $500. We
are told that there is no religion in this.
1t Is part of our religion"
If there were more of this religion of
honesty in everyday business affairs
there would be less of the present So
cialistic and agrarian agitation for the
spoliation of the rich.
MIR. Bryan calls this thinking cam
paign." That is what it is and that is
why Mr.. Bryan will sustain defeat The