The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-28
M'KINLEY IS A PATRIOT
REV. G. A. CARsTENsEN's TRIBUTE
TO PRESIDENTS sTATEsMANsHIP.
Possibility of War with Spain Dis
cussed-Treachery Is a Charac-
teristic of the Don.

was listened to with keen attention. In the
course of his remarks, Mr.. Christensen took
occasion to speak in terms of the highest
praise of the statesmanlike attitude of
President Mckinley.
Beginning with his text, the speaker said
that there was in 1t no encouragement for
laziness. "There are people" he said, who
need the spur-not the bridle-people who
mistake lethargy for quiet and stupidity for
confidence. The words that shall be spoken
to-day will not be addressed to any such,
but are intended for earnest, fiery, impul-
sive men who need to be cautioned against
exhausting their nerve force, and to be re-
minded that seasons of quiet and rest are
economy of time rather than a waste of it,
1t seems like a strange gospel to proclaim
the need Of quiet in an age which glorifeS
activity. The life of our time is so intense
that sitting still seems like stagnation.
Better an unhappy man than contented
brute is the modern version of an ancient
saying. We respect the easy going, in
offensive, slow coaches and old fogies; but
they are not the leaders of men, and we
never turn TO them for help in weakness or
encourag cement in anxiety. To commend
'quietness' seems to be to praise inertness
and the laissez-faire policy of indifference.
Nevertheless, quietness is the source OF al
surest confidence and strongest force NO
one can give p1ore than he receives, ana we
must often be passive II We are 70 De re-
ceptive. In the pattern life OF ali the ages,
thirty years were spent in the quiet OF the
Nazareth home, and three years In puphc
ministry and even that short space devoted
to what we call active life was strength
ened by retirement to the mountain top for
all-night communion with GOD.
SILENT BUT FORCEFUL MEN.
ITO the superficial observer the fussy,
bustling man is the busy man, but he is
very apt to be busy undoing whatever good
he has done. Common men talk good men
act weak men preach, but strong men
pray 1t is not the man who talks about
his promise who accomplishes the most.
Only those whose character is doubtful
have to present their credentials. 1t is only
those who are not quite sure of their posi-
ton who boast about their blood or their
family or their achievements The strong
resolute man who has a large fund OF re-
serve force is the one who impresses us
with confidence in his power. In our late
war, after trying many generals, some OF
dashing briliancy and gallant bravery, the
fortunes of the Nation were finally lntruSt-
ed to the hands of the silent man, the man
whose lips seldom parted to speak at al,
who never. said or did foolish thing, the
silent but fOrceful Grant"
DIR. Christensen then proceeded to apply
this principle to matters of everyday faith
and morals and concluded as follows:
THE events of the past week bring THESE
words of the prophet before us with singu-
lar force and significance. Across the At
lantic the tickle, volatile, excitable French
men have allowed the fulrninations OF sem
sational newspapers to make the worse APP
pear the better reason to control their
courts, to make justice farce and to lead
generals in uniform and judges in ermine
to accept as truth the most absurd state
ments without daring to submit them to
of the same kind. illustrating what is pop
ularly known as yellow journalism, have in
famed the minds of some people to an
unreasoning and unreasonable apprehen-
sion and created in some quarters feeling
utterly opposed to that quietnesS and conf
dence in which at critical junctures con-
sists our strength. Let US try to view the
situation calmly and dispassionately.
THE MAINE INCIDENT.
"All through the present administration
and during the latter part of the last one
the Spanish subjects on the island of Cuba
have revolted against the home authority
/ do not blink at the fact that, like most
of you, my sympathies are with the in
surgents, but it cannot be denied that in
the Senate Of the United States, that body
to which we have every right to
look for conservatism, caution and
prudence, there have been inhamma-
tory speeches calculated to excite Spanish
opposition and luminosity. Is it any won
der that war talk in the Senate should
arouse the war spirit in Cuba and shall
we be surprised if we find it true that sub
marine torpedoes and mines have been
paced In Havana harbor? No one knows
yet that it is true, but If the situation were
reversed would it be very strange if such
things were found in the harbor Of New
York? Under these conditions we send a
battle ship, avoWedly on a peaceful err
rand, but confessedly its very presence is
a menace to Spain under the feverish con-
ditions for which we ourselves are partly
responsible. Without a moments notice
that ship is blown up. 1t may have been
an accident or it may have been design. If
the latter may it not have been the act
of a Spanish subject or subjects which
Spain herself would not condone? Under
sit STILL to heed the advice of Captain
Sigsbee and the President and await the
finding of the court Of inquiry. Then If
Spain refuses to make reparation by apol-
ogy and Indemnity we shall have a cassus
belli. I deprecate the fiery assertion Of
NJ. Medill, the veteran observer and pru
dent man that he is, who with the illogi-
cal arguments and nonsequiturs of the
school boy declares that war has already
begun. Let US do Spain full justice. If we
are to believe Secretary Long we have no
evidence yet that the disaster was not an
accident. Certainly we have received marks
Of consideration and sympathy Spanish Of
ficers helped to rescue the wounded and
dying on board the Maine. Capt. Sigsbee
received the utmost courtesy and kindness
united with the chaplain of the Maine in
giving the victims of the explosion not only
a decent but an honorable burial. General
Blanco expresses his horror in no meas
ured terms. Sagasta disavows all thought
on hostile demonstration. The Department
of State has received, through Minister
Woodford, expressions of warmest SYM
pathy from Madrid. All these facts would
count for a great deal more if they came
from any nation but Spain; they should
count for something coming even from her.
THE SPANIARD TREACHEROUS.
"But we cannot forget that treachery is
a Spanish characteristic. OF all nations in
Europe except Turkey Spain is the least
regardful of international comfy and in
tegrity. We cannot forget that the blood
of the Duke of Alva, under Philip the Sec
ond, and of Torquemada runs in the veins
Of the Spaniards of to-day. And we dis
trust her as we distrlst no other Christian
nation in the world. We will hope for the
best, while we are justified in fearing the
worst If war must come as last resort,
let us be prepared for another baptism of
blood
My own political sentiments and affilia-
lions will lead no one who knows me to
suspect me of prejudice in favor of Presi-
dent Mckinley. Perhaps, therefore, my
thoughtful and measured testimony of his
statesmanlike treatment Of this whole mat
ter Will be the more valuable He has
neither said nor done a foolish thing, his
words and acts have been wise, brave and
paTrintic and the Nation will stand bV him