The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-03
WHITNEY'S DEMANDS.
Republicans Cannot Afford to Surren-
der Their Cardinal Principles.

10 I0t EQilO VI tHt
The beg-pardon methods of some would
be Republican leaders. lest they drive away
the whitneys and othef half-awakened
Democratic sinners, reminds me of a true
story. About ffty-five years ago a stall
wart old Methodist preacher. known every
where as Uncle Jimmy Jones'" was pastor
CT a little handful of Methodists in the
town of Vevay. He was famous as a re-
vivalist, so that wherever he went a re-
vival of unusual magnitude was expected.
His method was what was then mex among
Methodists, as we'll as other churches-a
protracted meeting, often continuing a
month or more, resulting in the conversion
of scores and sometimes of hundreds.
About midwinter he began one of those
meetings in Vevay without the aid of that
modern appliance called an evangelist. 1t
had continued a week or so without any
very remarkable incident, when a little
coterie of bon vivants. the CHEF of whom
was Dean" Kelso, a local politician OF
unreliable party affiliations. home just then
on the holiday recess of the Legislators,
well filled with wine. propoed that they 60
the next night to church and surprise the
preacher and his little congregation by all
going forward for prayers in a body.
Enough of the scheme leaked out the next
a " III W TEACH TIE ears Oh the Old
preacher. He caught on" at once and re-
solved not to be taken in by their impious
project. so when they carried out their
plans he made no more ado over them.
and would allow others to make no more.
than over common sinners. which
was to them a sad disappointment to
begin with. TO carry out their joke they
attended meetings for some time with
meek sincerity. but they did not deceive
the experienced old circuit rider, who was
an old-timer in doctrine as well as in
methods. He believed in hell-fre. and a
great deal of IL for a certain class of sin
ners, and he determined TO take advantage
OF their mockery to give them a liberal
portion in due season; hence his sermons
morning and evening. were exceptionaily
brimstony. 1t was not just the doctrine
they relished. but he only made that other
place all the hotter on that account. After
a few days endurance of such preaching,
said: MIR. Jones. III you don't quit preach
ing hell-hre and damnaticn so vigorously
you VIII drive US all away from your
answered the faithful old preacher. that's
the doctrine of our church. and II you ex-
evil practices which incur yHu hsIl-6Sr ve ana aa
darnnation. If you intend to drink and
swear and carouse as you have been in the
he church, ar, rather. the sooner you quit
pretending to get in. the better" This
plan speech Vas at first much deplored by
those of the brethren who had seen in the
movement a large accession OF wealth and
social influence to their members, but later
or they were satisfied that the best inter
ests. If not the life of the church, were
conserved by 1t.
OF course. it was not long before the en-
tire lot IF them ceased to make any pre-
tensions TO a religious life, and again re-
suned their cups and their cards, II in
deed they had even suspended them during
the episode IN which they hoped to make
the preacher tone down his orthodoxy to
meet ,Seir demand: and the preacher MAIN
Jained his self-respect and influence. while
he.charch escaped entire demolition.
Three months ago there was not an intel
/ uGent man in America that even pretended
OF the Republican party to fun power by
the almost unanimous demand OF the pe0-
pie. vho had marked the absolute failure
of tn Democratic party at every point and
Wild could easily trace every economic dis
aster to the change of policy which II had
BOLD to affirm his faith in Whatever was
distinctively Republican. including the COM
pick but corrected measures which had
ing gold standar of our currency. in spite
of assaults upon 1t from every side. But
now come the Whitneys and Hills Of the
US in a body IL we will only tone down
our creed to suit them and quilt preaching
r rec and everything else that Is ais
tinctly Republican; and some Republicans
are short-sighted enough to think that
i MGead cow sHoni eG'' We want ant u just 1 no~, p an
army OF Uncle Jimmy Jonscs who viii
hurl at them true political orthodoxy, all
the more vigorously because they DO not
like to hear IL, and the most Of that they
like the least. We need to take no new
stand on coinage. and least Of all on pro-
lection and reciprocity and income sum-
cient to meet expenses. Not the accession
of a thousand Dan" Kelsoes would
have justified Mr.. Jones in lower
ing the standard OF morality which
his church had established on the author
ity of the Bible; no more can the co-opera-
ton of a thousand Whitneys compensate
for the lowering Of our standards Of p0lit-
ical faith. The capture of the party or
ganization by the Bryans Of the 1arty Is
no excuse for such a lowering. Mr. Jones
was wise when he said to Mr. Kel@o. III
YOU men intend TO quit your evil ways the
Methodist Church Is q good place for you.
but we cannot affcrd TO adjust our creed to
YOUR habits" II the Whitneys CT the late
Democratic party are In earnest and want
to renounce the policy which has brought
on present conditions the Republican party
is a good place for them. but we cannot
afford TO adjust our creed to meet their
reciprocity and a limited silver coinage just
because they propose 10 become one OF us.
yet adherins TO all their bad political ways
Hence my voice is stin for war. We viii
take Mr. Whitney In II he will come In on
trial. in the old Methodist fa1hfon. but he
must not come IN proposing AT the b<Ein~
ming TO emasculate the Republican party
by closing its mouth ae to any Of fts hIth-
erto successful measurss or the sins Of the
Democratic party. L. L. ZEE.
Indianapolis. Aug. /.