The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-04-11
SATURDAY, APRIL IL.
EDITORIAL.


ports' churches began to ar
rive on Monday with more than usual
promptness. Those we print this week
are only the beginning of large num-
upon to lay before our readers. but in
closely abbreviated form. We desire to
make record of all the services held on
Easter in our Western churches, espec-
tally those where the Communion was
observed and members taken into the
church. Our correspondents will please
send in these reports without delay
noting the church additions and the
Communion observance parti ;ularly
The other incidents, such as fine music,
flowers, and the large congregations will
be taken for granted.
500
NEVER probably in
Easter in Chicago the history of Chi
cago-certainly not in the last decade
was the Easter services in the city
churches attended by such throngs of
people. Every church observing the
great day by special services was at
tended by immense congregations. The
Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches
have no longer any exclusive charge OF
such an observance. They never had any
exclusive right to the occasion. but in
the past it was considerably pre- empted
in their favor. Now all denominations
are more or less represented in the great
festival and Easter services are held as
regularly as Christmas celebrations.
Undoubtedly the accessories of the &C.
casion-the special music and the floral
decorations = attract the multitude.
But who can measure the good that
may be wrought by bringing these null
titudes under the influence in that sa-
cred hour, of the Easter Joy and the glad
hope which finds expression in the
chants of triumph that denote the VIC
tory of our Lord over the grave and the
tomb?
500
THE House of Repre-
The Uuban Resolu- sentatives on Monday
lions adopted the Confer
ence report on the Cuban resolutions by
the impressive majority of 244 to q.
This disposes of the agitation in behalf
Of the patriots of the struggling island
for the present. The resolutions are as
follows:
"REsoLvED, by the senate 1.-THE House
of Representatives concurring), That in
the opinion of Congress condition of
public war exists between the govern
ment of Spain and the government pro-
claimed, and for some time maintained,
by force of arms by the people of Cuba;
and that the United States of America
should maintain strict neutrality be-
tween the contending powers, according
to each all the rights of belligerents in
the ports and territory of the United
States.
"REsoLvED. That the friendly offices of
the United States shall be offered by the
President to the Spanish government for
the recognition of the independence of
Cuba"
These resolutions will meet with the
general approval of the country. The
struggling Cuban patriots who are wag-
ing war for the independence of the
island, and have thus far commended sue
cessfully with their Spanish oppressors.
are entitled to the recognition of belli-
gerency. The sympathy of the people
of this country has been with the Gu
bans from the beginning of their des.
perate struggle. The resolutions of Con.
gress voice that sympathy in the declara-
tion according them belligerent rights
and in the suggestion that the friendly
offices Of the President be rendered to
the Spanish government for the recog-
milton of their independence. 1t is OPP
tional with the President to make this
remains to be seen. Spain will not
relish this declaration of the Ameri-
can Congress, but it will be widely
recognized among all parties in this
country, and by great majority OF the
people, as just and temperate express
sion of sympathy for people suffering
from powerful despotism. 1t is sug.
nificant that not single vote. Republi-
can or Democrat. was cast against Cuba
by any Western representative. The
heart of TIE great West is with the
struggling patriots of the Gem of the
Antilles"
500
We have frequently had to dissent
quite explicitly from some of the remarks
and deductions of DIR. George F. Pente-
cost, now of London, but formerly quite
prominent in this country. We think
he is entirely sound in his diagnosis of
the religious situation in England and