The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-06-02

pie then duty ina struggle upon which they are just entering lie Is
presses them with the fact that they not only owe obligations and duties
the Church, but also to the commonwealth, and he urges them to fight m
their brethren, their wives their sons, their daugbtersand their homes
have never believed that politics aud religion be altogether divorced from
each other, but the more study their vital connection. the more Il ain cn
WINGED that they are tnteHeated lido not however endorse nor advocate
the union Of church and state because l think this neither proper nor fas
Iba but do believe that whatever concerns the nation concerns the tudl
Ydaali what concerns the church concerns the state what is pomoIye d
mans moral interest, is also Dromotiye of his social interest. Iti is therefor
because Of mans complicated Interest," It'll because Of the intereaton 81
tween his moral and social being that speak this morning upon the sub
jet Of war.
A~saleadrof thought, and mouIder and director Of public opinion
as minister of the gospel, which has for its ann the education. the better
ment the elevation the civilization, and the clrisHaiaton Of man, con
slider it my duty TO- speak so you upon this most vital question Of the hour
II am aware that during recent months YOU have heard nothing buta 3r .5
perhaps many Of you who have read the newspapers and periodicals carefully
have been surfetcd With their lengthy and contradictory reports, but in The
light Of Spanish teacher. in the light Of Spanish barbarsm, in the light
Of the slow progress which our forces are making against the enemy, and
now that the president Off the United States has issued a call for seventy.
tive thousand more men, 1 consider it the duty Of every American citizen IA
seriously reconsider this whole problem. When the question Of war between
SPAN ana America was HEi agItated, and even after war had beendeclaedt
many supposed that the conquest Of Spain would be an easy thing, and tt
IL would not bedthcut to drive her forces from Cuban waters, and force her
20 Te.aqutsa her hold upon the Cuban people, but the contrary opinion is
now entertained, and it has been demonstrated that this struggle is nd
|chhds play, but that in view Of the complications that may arise, add tie
desperation which Spain has already manifested. This promises to " one n
the most dreadful conflicts in the annals of history. must confess, hogey.
|e1 that my own opinions and convictions have undergone a very radical
change during the nrogress If nts war when b n4or r. ,to.mrIg
between Spain and Cuba was first agitated, did not think it proper, nor
~ ! INNS Smo Le ofI9n" issue upon which war was declared, justified
either the means which we would be compelled to use, Or the end which was
TO be attained. but now I think that this is righteous war and that Spain
should be forced to let Cuba go free or she should be driven from the face
of the earth, Whatever You may have thought about the justice or the in
Justice OF the original issue upon which this war was declared. the question
no" Hr US 70 decide is whether painor America shall be victorious 1t is
no longer a question as to the Maine disaster or humanitqdansm. but the
vital question of the hour is victory or defeat for our beloved America. Per-
maps the Maine disaster should have been made the original issue. There
are many who would have enlisted readily and served their country with
enthusiasm, if the issue had been made revenge for the destruction Of the
Maine instead Of hamanianansm, because the blood Of these natriotfa
American citizens, who went down in that grand old batIeshin cries to-
US from the great deep and sts every spark of patriotism in or ,nls
But although this may annaar ito Won to bp ta rranor ~ma i
thaess true that Christian America owes a duty to humanity. because He
strong should always help the weak. Evidently America cannot have been
prompted y seulsnnes' rms y uqueStionably the most unsolfsh war in
theannals of history. The addition Of territory was not ANTICIPATED, nr
aa America expect financial Identification, but the movement is entirely
mmanitaransm in its intention, and demonstrates to the world Americas
noble Dhlauthopc spirit 1t is modern civilization rising up against bar
o"Sm against ueacnery, against brutality, against inhuman oppression
Nor was this war brought on any more by the republican than by the demo.
cratic party. There are those in the south who say that this war was per-
peJfaled WJhe north, and therefore let the north do the lighting, but any
one who carefully read the causes which produced the fermentation and
which eventually resulted in the declaration Of war; knows that the presf-
dent O the United States who is the distinguished leader Of tbe renutltcan
who has ever sat in the presidential chair, was deliberate. and absrutqlv
refused to perpetae war upon the American neonIo nntI II uas 1,orItaSo
and unavoidable So far from it being true that the NORTH. or the ren1bI.
can party perpetatcd this war it VIII be remembered that the south yoc-
ferousy clamored for war and thy whole Union seemed as il t would rfse
up in rebellion against the authorities and engage in was whether it was
800 =" m1 ou N"'g war m' Osn declared, the conflict had already
begun upon the waters We believe that Cuba should be free, because lB.
erty is the tnalcnabe right Of every people, and in the liberation Of Cuba.
America axes me initiative America knows what liberty means, and
what her own liberty cost, and our policy is that Cuba should not orv bo
delivered from the nhumaniy ofSpan, but is entitled to her freedom and
NeLg ana We Say sue snhi nave 1t ut takes every drop of American blood.
WHO'S there in this audience, or in this country, who has forgotten tbe
dark day. q. the revolution when our foreathers purchased our liberty
WIN OAfo " DoooI Ihis is the legacy which has been handed down to
us It'll our nohest heritage it is the patimony Of which we are nr,ud and
the heroic blood Of our foeathes which was poured out in the dread
ml struggle ofFhe revolution rings out in the clarion note of war agafrst
OPPRESSION and speaks out in thunderous tones to every patriotic son. Gree.
y ye have received, freely give" The days of slavery have passed. ana tbe
democracy Of the nineteenth century demands tbat nan sbIi Ill fna.+
manas tht despotism and anarchy and oppression and barbmism sha1 be
banished from the faceof the earth. It demands that government gban h.
or the peope,tor the people and by the people, 1t demands canal RIGHTS n,
"L al special hYor ia none Nor this time to harbor party preiudices.
political differences and personal pejudices, but opposition should b 1ad
aside and in response to the call Of his country every true American ctjzen
should lend his efforts, his prayers and his influence, so far s If ID II 6s
poNe, f" uo "Yatlo and victorious deiverance Of his couutrg. Il is not
q NM Wy more for the north than for the south. We are united Deo-
PIC and what DO we care whether we don the blue OF the gay9 There ARE
some IN are so blinded by prejudice and so dominated bv foaIo1sv tat
uey refuse 10 enlist because they are unwilling to wear the blue. aues-
W. Seolsy mIelner ones SO narrow 50 npatHotc so disoyas So selfish,
50 mean is worthy either to wear the blue or the gray.
rus Is no tmeto hide behind political differences IL il n lime ~
me osnha party pFejudces for country is more than politics q marty
Foltcal ambition and demogoguery in such A crisis ag tbs IL lt,gat5or ot
:" We auSton' Are there those who are 50 nominated by political anbi.
~, "ag wy WIN not enIst6ecause they think it improbable that they
"' ~ ee'Oeo " some oHceS Is demagoguerY ones aim? What d.. YOU
NV "I2ner you ae a captain Of the company whether you are a general
!" Z" uh OF chaplain, if the cause for which you fight be noble. ana by
'eu'5'mB 2 private service you can aid in the victorious deuyerapce IF ymHr
"'' ~" l"lleal ambition In such a crisis as this when Tile instim-
ions q or beloved country are imporaed, Is uppatrfoHc 4 sssb II
ny cmnlfy,ment the call comes to Us today loud and
hUWuN no 1unt far or raOnfrv. rtT .H