The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-14
DIR. ABBOTTS S RINGING WORDS
PIymuuti.'s Pastor on the Possibility
of a Great War

of a Great WAR
New York. March l3.-For the first
time since the Maine was destroyed in
Havana harbor. the Rev DR.. Lyman
Abbott. of Plymouth Church, Brook
lyn. referred TO that disaster publicly.
IN the course 70 his sermon this morn
ing he said:
i do not wish to import journalism
into the pulpit nor make it a field for
secular lectures, and yet when Con-
gress appropriates $4,000, 900 and gave
President Mckinley absolute power to
spend it for the nations defense, we
proclaimed to ourselves and the world
that We We're in close peril Of a great
war. Whether We are TO have a war
or not the question is pre-eminently
ana profoundly a moral one and the
prophet may not be silent. however
much he would. l do not propose to
discuss the probabilities Of a war with
Spain, and / honestly believe that the
peril Cf war is less today than at any
lime since the horrible disaster or crime
which occasioned the loss Of the Maine.
] DO propose. however, TO enumerate
the great fundamental principles bear
iul on national life and by which We
are 10 be governed.
TEe urst principle is that war is a
horrible thing, not only costing beyond
all ordinary computation in money, but
in homes and lives 1t mUltiplies trag-
elies in every nook and corner Of the
land, but this is not the least Of its
evils Is sets On fire the baser passions
Of men. il opens the way for corruption,
il is always accompanied and followed
by corruption. War is a horrible ne
Cessity-for il is necessity.
a nation is a trust organized to pro-
tect its citizens from assault without
and Injustice within. When the time
comes that il cannot protect its citizens
without war ii is recreant if ii does not
buckle on its sword. Three times in
our national history did we ind il i'm
possible 10 live in peace with all men,
and not To the utmost bound Of eternl-
~ shall Ne look back on Bunker Hill
and want The record wiped out, nor
shall we confess as a crime the battle
Uf Commodore Perry.
We can no longer stand and leave
Europe alone, and say Europe must
leave us alone. We are united by proX-
unity by commerce and by the ties OF
blood that run across the ocean We
are part Of this great world and have
always in 2 measure. recognized it
There is an attempt 10 partition
China. much as Poland was divided
One nation. perhaps two, says il should
not be done The time has come when
America shall declare that another ma
tion shall not put Gordon around
China. shall not play the part Of rob-
Der baron on the highways Of her COM
rnerce America should stand for free
dom in other lands as well as her own.
This sentiment was received with ap-
plause.
i am not going to enter into the
merits Of the war with Cuba continu-
Cd DR.. Abbott. a Cuban may not be
better than a Spaniard. but war is go
ing on there which has violated all tho
principles Of international law. Per
haps the time has come when We can
not live al peace with all men longer
We are q great nation. at least biz
one We have held our eqEipOise in ar
hour Of great Hr0vocation, but If ] do
not misread the heart Of the American
nation there is q possibility Of an eX-
ylesi0n. Standing IN a Christian pulpit
committed by its past 10 peace, ] an
compelled t. utter these words. This
great nation belongs to the community
Of nations and when the time comes
that they declare this internicene wal
with Cuba must cease, We must SAL
Amen