Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-03-01
''LE7 US HAVE PEACE"
Timely Sermon on the Span
ish-AmeriCan Situation.
VICTORY WITHOUT BLOOD
Rev. f.. t. Wexford Lauds the Course OF
the Administration. Demand rnde,n-
nifty, Another Ship and the Free
dom OF Cuba, He Says.

u. wexford, hhe pastor, referred to
the crisis through which this nation
IS now passing. Taking his text from
Acts 25;27-"For it seems too unreaeon-
apte TO me to send a prisoner and not
wluhal TO signify the crime against
him Mr.. Wexford said in part
THESE words introduce us to the
early ecclesiastical history and present
an important case in Roman jurispru-
dence.
The record of the cause occupies the
latter portion OF the Acts. What is
unreasonable, the extent of its unrea-
SonableneSS and its intensity are pre-
requisites to an understa ndng of the
case.
There is as great a difference be-
tween a charge and a crime as between
the HStleSS and preoccupied- The re-
suit may be the same, but the former
, may not have what the latter necessi-
tates q cause Charges against the
Apostle We're numerous, but none could
Oe substantiated- There was no crime
1T consequently seemed TO Testus
unreasonable to arraign Paul before
caesar. Unreasonable If not a criminal
70 mold him a prisoner. Unrea sonable
to publish the charges unsupported by
facts. and unreasonable to suspect
criminality or suppose offense where
Ghere was no motive, Such a course Is
more than Irrational: it is unreason-
able The former is fooiishness, the
latter sagacious attempt Ito execute
DE OF ignorance. To be unreasonable
as to show malice aforethought.
What could have caused such a
aravesty upon justice? Ostensibly it
was the execution OF law and the main
tenance of ciNiliza tion, but Claudius
Lyo.ias. Felix, Testus had discovered tn.
prisoner was guilty of neither dca tn
nor bonds; so also Agrippa was soon to
conclude. Thrice had ne been vindi-
Gated. but still upon tria! for his life
We look fllS,awber.a no
OF Lysias was changed when he discov-
cred Paul was a Roman. Ferix sought
a bride and when it was not forthcom-
ang, to please the Jews, remanded the
prisoner to custody to await his sue
cessor's judgment. Testus. in the
words OF our text, confeSses Paul's in
nocence, and in the preceding verse
urges Agrippa to discover a just cause
I OF complaint to excuse the Roman tri-
Runaa. These reveal the animus OF his
5asstodians. The cause was evidently
adjective, originating in the hatred of
ethe Jews toward the Apostle to the
Genttles and the desire OF the gov
.nrnors to retain the approval of their
constituency, in no way objective or
connected with the deserts OF the ac-
cused.
1.-The result was caam;tous. The in
convenience and modification to which
the prisoner was subjected is unreason-
able. This was the ripe:t period of
great mans career, and the worlds
loss by his absence from their councils
and actions was inconceivable.. Agrip-
pa would have set him at liberty had
DE not appealed to Caesar, but the in
Justice and policy of the rulers had ne
cessitated such a course, removing the
whole case from judicial jurisdiction,
Ind it Was too late to avoid the most
kstreme consequences.
tSSsra.ught with a great moral for the
gidual, and more especially for this
EisssSbn during the impending crisis, are
'flys above facts.
THE course of the aimi nistration and
the example Of those entrusted with the
affairs of state is a cause for deVOut
gratitude and honest lauda tiCn. 1t is
unreasonable to condemn Spain and not
withal to signify the crime against her.
For the United States to arraign the
Castilhian nation. or to act toward the
same other than to a friendly power.
to altege charges until we'll grounded.
or even to suspicion without motive, 1T
unreasonable.
.'It- cannot be the defensive Of our
honor nor the perpetuity of our repuo-
lis, for until crime is apparent these
are not infringed. Such attitude arises
from a desire born of sympathy for Gu
ba, strained relations on account OF
a surreptitious epistle. combined With
spirit OF adventure Tanned by the posi-
bititieA OF war. Amy present casuS
beili is subjective and not precipltated
by Spain.
..The consequences world be disas-
truus: loss and death amid the ranks
of friend and foe: probable dlsrup-
tio;l of the peace of empires, ana Such
consequence may be Thrust upon us il
= we allow any unreasonable position.
The time may come when we would
desire peatH and it he found Impossible.
Even should There be discovered a
Just use for tlostilities, let us have
peace. Let this Christian nation mani
fest to the Kingdoms of the world that
victory may be attained without a drop
OF blood Demand an indemnity. the
restoration to our navy OF an eauaiiy
gaaant ship, annalities TO all the defend
ants whose supports have been sacri-
feed, and in lieu of the dishonor to our
flag, the freedom Of Cuba. Let us have
UNDER THE SPIRES.
THE evening discourse at the Chestnut
Avenue Methodist church was discus
q sI6n OF Church Entertainments. AS
a, text Rev. NJ. S. Colonna, Jr., an
Z nounced al passage from Exodus, 3Sth
among you am Offering unto the Lord. !"
1'It rs very indifferent church" said
the speaker, "t1lat does not find need for
much more money than 1t has in it's
treasury. The divinely appointed meth
cd of raising money for religious pur-
poses is voluntary contribution. But as
this has been inadequate lit has been
supplemented in various ways. Taxa
ton has been tried; the lottery has been
used: begging, by ohain-letters and
otherwise has been greatly overdone,
even if lit ever was profitable. The
practice of borrowing, except in THE last
emergency, is to be condemned.
Commercial methods are now being
used to a great extent. Many and anse-
! nious are the schemes that have tbeen
(, thus concocted for raising the revenue.
Only ITO mention a few. We find musical
Econcar.ts nableaMx charadeS, dramas,