The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-02
PREACHED TO CLUBS
The Rev. Mr.. Allen Talks
to Republican Or
CARNATIONS.
TEXT FROM THE CONSTITUTION
Anniversary Of Luther's Refor ma
housewives in other
Churches.
TEXT FROM THE CONSTITUTION

preached a political sermon. Delegations
were present from the Minkakwa Club,
the Greenville Republican League Club,
the Mckinley and Hobart Club, the U. S.
Grant Club and almost every political
organization in Greenville. After the sing
ing Of america Pastor Allen said
Il have called you together with but a
single purpose. / would not dare reveal
that purpose without assurance of a de-
sire to help you. AT a time so important
as this it is no small matter to ngage the
attention of men. In a place so sacred as
this God forbid that selfish or partisan
spirit rule US, but may He decree that for
this brief time high and holy aspirations
abound. I have chosen as the starting
point of my address a text. 1t is not from
the Bible. But it gets its light from Gods
word and it sheds that light upon this
nations word-the Constitution. That
text is the closing clause of the closing
paragraph of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence-And for the support of this
Declaration with a firm reliance upon the
protection of the Divine Providence we
mutually to each other pledge our lives.
our fortunes and our sacred honor
This clause was of use on the 18th day
Of January, TIT. to inspire Richard Stock
ton and John Witherspoon and Francis
H%opkinson n John Hart and Abraham
Clark Of New Jersey to join their coli
leagues from the twelve remaining States
In signing their names to the document
which declares us forever a free people.
1T was of use from 81 to IS to enkindle
loves enbers into a mighty flame of pa
triotic devotion. I mean that 1t shall be
of use this night to develop in you that
same care for safety of the nation that
was manifest in them who in Washing
TONS day and Lincoln's day willingly gave
their lives while defending the nations
glory. My single purpose tonight is to
win your support in forever declaring
against the spirit of self-preferment. To-
day our country is threatened with dis
aster. Who but knows that dark clouds
envelope US, that giants of despair are
abroad in the midst Of US, that spectres
of discomfort ave laid their clammy
hands upon us? With all this and iniquity
like troops Of wild horses galloping every
where, who would not look TO God for
country's sake and pray as Washington
prayed-If we be wrong, save us not
this day!
Edmund Burke says that it Is not
enough that a statesman means well;
duty demands what is right should not
only be made known, but be made prev
alent; that what is evil should not only
be detected but be defeated. Dead instru-
ments do not make a government. 1t is
the spirit that pervades and WHITES an
empire which infuses that obedience with
out which your army would be a base
rabble and your navy nothing but rotten
timber. Tonight W. are not a happy
people. The bloodhounds5 bay in the
Southern marsh has been supplanted by
tho VOLTS bark in the streets of our cities,
East, West, North and South. The wolf
is in sleeps clothing, but his Identity is
known by his failure to bleat. The lave
is free. The self-preferment of secession
has long been dead, but has not ITS spirit
once more risen? Does it not operate with
universal instead of sectional freedom?
and will it not be subversive of national
life more widely han ever before if again
and for all time it is not put down? Shall
the nation be free? Or shall He who thus
far has been our defense proceed against
us and enthral US in the transgressor's
yoke?
ut is true a political issue awaits the
conclusions of the nations men. We are
told that the measure of exchange called
! money is the all absorbing consideration.
But why should terror Turk in every path
that leads away from the National Treas
ury? Why hould hatred sit in sullen
state upon the countenance of one man
and be met by a more hideous hatred in
the countenance of a fellow countryman?
Because say they who profess to know,
knowledge is had that each is intent upon
duping the other
II lave been already confronted with
the charge of bold endeavor tonight to
enlist your sympathies on but one side
of this political contest. / would rather
lay down my right hand than from this
high ground take issue of countrymen
save as / Inn now. The problem OF capt.
| tai and labor would yield to solution If
| spirit instead OF animal forces treated it.
| Our land is not alone the baffled victim
through effort to solve it. For thousands
| of years trouble has been visited Upon
| the peoples of earth through the failure
| of employers and employees to stand upon
l nnr1uf0n QrAl1nd The lahnr nl1azrinr1 10
| in need of ~brotherly love, that is all.
| There is not a department of concern,
national or local, but can become the
| palladium of peace If the actors therein
! insist upon mutual rather than selfish
interest. This is the age of opinion. This
is the land of freedom. This is the people
of the grandest heritage. But this is not
the day of millenial joy, nor will that
/ day be FASTENED until minds and hearts
are in battle array and charge upon the
| hosts of evil. When the Industrial well
fare of the land is at the mercy of un-
compromising dissension, every hour lost
to the good is two hours gained by the
bad.
1t is not solving the problem of social,
Industrial or financial distress to anchor
faith in contesting forces. No mans
opinion is incapable of error. Human
Judgment is fallible. Parties are freak
Ish. Politics are ~changeable, and their
trainers more So In the name of triune
God let US plead for sM strength to see onr
ferences. On the coming Tuesday millions
Of men are tosay. I want my way Some
must be defeated. Both sides of the con-
fict are claiming that they are right.
Back of all our troubles is the same
enemy that goaded the inhabitants of the
Promised Land. We in this land of
promise, aye, Of unreasonable fulflment
Of promise. are no less liable than they
to destruction if, instead of relying upon
the protection and counting favors of
| Divine Providence, we lean to the die
tates of Eden's beguiler.
"Our new century must be aglow with
the brightness of loves fire. We have it
in our power to fan that fire or to
smother 1t into ashes. No reformation in
the worlds history has been attempted in
the spirit of love laden sacrifice but one.
He gave His life that others might live.
| He had more cause to stand on the ros-
trum before the public gaze and condemn
Caiphas that His ministers lave today
who condemn from their pulpits the Presi-
Dental candidates. But it is well when
| they the sincere.
but this is not only a Republic of free
thought and free speech. but II is a re-
public of free ment Not free to hinder.
but to help each other; not free to de-
stroy but to build up; not free alone to
declare independence of human despot-
Ism. but free to declare tina every home
In this land shall under God be indepen-
dent of the power that prompts to mis-
rule. With the prayer that God may bless
our country under whatever economy the
people may at this time choose. let us
| pledge to each other and to God our life,
our fortune and our sacred honor