The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-06
BIG FOURTH IN INDIANA
PATRIOTS CELEBRATE WITH NOISE
AND FIREWORKS.
Sporting Features Largely PredOm-
technics at Winchester.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
RISING SUN, Ind, July Rev. 3. F.
Rawiins, pastor of the Methodist Church,
preached d Fourth of July sermon yesterday
morning TO Ii large congregation. DR.. Raw
Inns, who returned to the pulpit last fall
after eight years editorial work on the
Christian Advocate at Cincinnati. has
happy way of treating practical questions,
and he found in a survey of national affairs
a theme to his liking.
The text was l Corinthians, vii, 26: Il
suppose therefore that this is good for the
present distress"
He sought the cause of the distress which
has prevailed in this country recently. and
said: Without the cross liberty could
never have been apprehended as it is. 1t
was because of the precedent teaching of
Christ that the sublime sentiment of our
Declaration of Independence that all men
are created free and possess inalienable
rights became possible L dare say without
this previous teaching American liberty
would never have been born. 1t is aston
lshlng when one makes inventory OF the
best things, TO see how all our more Valu-
able blessings, social, civil and intellectual,
root themselves in the truth OF the New
Testament. 1t was Christ who through
His apostle gave TO the world the high
thought that the powers that be are or
rant for giving large attention 10 civic
affairs"
The cause of our distress, he thought,
was not TO be found III nature, but in our
politics. There are too many people I'M
prepared for employment OF any KIND. He
estimated that there are l0,000,UU0 men and
IOOO,OOU women IN the country who have
never been trained to any kind of en-
ployment. 1t is appalling, he said, Ito
contemplate the number of this element
noW-the millions who are beyond twelve
years OF age who are in IuleneSs-yea,
do not know how to do anything eX-
cept to chew and smoke, and drink and
swear and curse rich men, and Congress
and churches and preachers. How
ing and marching daily TO join this process
sion OF do-nothngs" The placing of party
above patriotism, and the indifference OF
good citizens TO political evils he depored
causes of distress. AS to relief from
the evils, DR.. Rawlins said: Our tariff
contention should be taken out of politics
and committed to a permanent commits
Sion-a congress in perpetual session and
with only one matter before them. Immi-
grafton should be suspended for the next
twenty-five years. Our Congress and legiS
latures should be compelled to attend to
the business that is before them with rea-
sonable promptness. Unhappiy our gov
habit of making annual offerings TO the
gods of politics; and the Mississippi god
and the Indian god get the lion S share.
Let this foolishness be stopped"
But he thought Congress should provide
for irrigation of the arid regions of the
West. Every great city" he said, should
own near by a tract of 5000 or 10000 acres
where a city home could be erected and
all kinds of industries established; where
every unemployed one could be speedily
sent and not a tramp or Il scamp be found
On the street, or hiding in dens by night
~ this would make a noble advance and
give splendid uplift to our American fam
ily."
DR.. Rawlins closed hopefully. Thank
God he said that we can feel the pulsa-
n hnD hot he.
distress is not permanent! The hum of
industry, the whir of wheels, the sound of
grinding and catter of shops, the busy
ments of commerce the buzz of
wheels, the old songs of harvest home and
happy hearts and faces and flashing eyes.
will come again. Tomorrow they will all
be here. The light is already upon the
tops of the hills