The San Francisco call., 1896-01-11
PREACHERS ON VENEZUELA.
Comments of Ministers on Presid ent
CIeve1and's Proclama alton.

1t may seem to some like small affair for
our Government TO interfere in the little mat
ter OF dispute about boundary line away on
the eastern shores of South America, but the
way TO protect the rights of this continent
against foreign aggressiyeness is to begin at the
borders and all we have asked is that the mat
ter in dispute be submitted to arbitration.
This demand must be insisted upon at what
ever cost-Rev. II. W. Thomas, Independent,
Chicago. Ill.
A war between England and America about
this Venezuelan matter would be wicked. To
fight for liberty is just and righteous, but the
well-nigh universal sentiment of the present
day condemns war when entered upon simply
tor so-called glory or for any but the weightiest
reasons. Such war that which is now
threatened would be an offeuse against civil
ization. War is barbarous and opposed in its
spirit and its results to the great interests of
mankind.-Rey. l. J. Millington, Baptist, New
ark, n. J.
There is virtue in protecting the weak,
whether man or nations and by that indirect
path the place may be reached where we shall
say Peace, Peace" and there is peace. AT all
hazards the cause must be eradiceted, and God
effect this result. The sound of cannon may
not seem like the forerunDer of peace, but 1t
may be the very tuning fork for the Keynote OF
this heayen-born music.-ReY. Cortland Myers,
Baplst, Brooklyn, n. Y.
War is a cruel hateful wrong. War is hell.
1he political demagogues shouting for war
Will be branded by the second sober thought
OF the American people as the criminals OF the
opportunity to fight for their own land, when
the Stars and Stripes were trailed in the dust,
they rent substitutes. a war between England
and America could never be terminated until
one or the other were in bankruptcy or had no
more men to fill the ranks.--Rey. Madison G.
Peters, New York.
Patriotism is love of country. and should not
that love, true to its nature, seek to gain the
best for its land And if the best can be gained
by peaceful diplomacy, without the death and
desoleuon produced by war, is not that the
proper course as well as the wisest policy? The
most costly price any country can pay Tor any
desired object is war, and it should see to it
that the object is worthy OF the outlay, since
even victory gained in the interest of an
ignoble cause is clouded for ali time.-Rev.
James Ramsay. Presby terian, New York.
This country, thank Cod has no need to
demonstrate lis honor. 1t IS nation of
heroes 1t was founded in spirit of her0ism,
and its whole histury has been manifestation
of hcrOism and Its honor has been established
again and again in hundred fierce and
desofafng battles. No man that knows the
nearing OF the word honor, the meaning of
the word chivalry, the meaning Of the word
heF0isln, doubts that this country Is equal to
the TASK OF euforciag rig hteonsness at the eau
mons mouth, If neeafut. III let our message
be not a word 0l var, not word OF anger, not
a word Ci tstc. not d word whose fur if aud
awfGl consequences she'll b. desolation TO tens
II thousands IL homes and woe u tens of
thousands 0i ht Arts, but rather Chriat's word,
ire words oi peace to all the children of
mfr- Hey. Joseph Mi!burn, Presby yterian, In
3tii ~ Dol.S lad