The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-11
WIPES OUT CLASSES.
John l.. Grimths Comments on Some
Results of War.

Results of War.
Mr.. John L. Griffiths spoke at the First
Baptist Church yesterday morning. In part,
he said:
1T is fitting that we should meet on this
beautiful Sabbath morning in response to
the Presidents proclamation to return
thanks to the God of nations for the brood
ing care which He has exercised over this
country of our; during all of our national
life, and especially should our hearts burst
forth in songs of praise and Thanksgiving
for the peculiar manifestations of His good
ness in these days of foreboding and peril.
1t is only through obedience to His teach
ings that we have become strong and power
full as people, and able to overcome. To
Him, and not unto ourselves. should the
honor and glory be given. We are but an
instrument in His hands for the accom-
plishment of His divine purposes.
We were fast becoming a selfish nation,
when We We're suddenly made to realize
that orr neighbor is any one in distress;
that national boundaries are not the limit
been in danger of lapsing into materialism,
Cod in some mysterious way. has laid His
hnger upon US to show us that we were
worthy of different and better and higher
flowing from the war will be the breaking
down of the barriers between the classes
If, indeed, we have classes in this democratic
land-and the bringing together of all the
people in closer touch-in tenderer sympa-
thy When the rough cowboys and the pet
ted darlings Of New York society fraternize
and discover they have much in common,
and develop an immense respect for each
other; when the son of one Of our Oldest and
most aristocratic families dies a hero's
death at the head of the advancing column,
1t will be very difficult for the demagogue
70 convince the poor man that the rich man
is his natural enemy-a foe to society. 1t
will be equally difficult for him to satisfy
the millionaire that the everyday laborer
is not worthy of his respect and esteem,
when a hundred comparatively obscure men
to whom life was as dear as it was to Ham
ilton Fish counted it sweet to die for their
when war was declared we were begin
ming to regard as our ideal citizen man
who made great deal of money in a very
short time, and we were not particular as
to how he made 1t, or how he spent it. Our
Ideal now is man like Theodore Roosevelt
"a young man of wealth and culture who
counted riches and influence and social po-
sltlon as OF no value in comparison with the
privilege of serving his country in her hour
Of need. We have Travelled long distance
from our sordid notions of life since that
May Sunday, when the humblest sailor in
Dewey's fleet showed himself to be of the
stuff of which heroes are made. War is the
of rank and fortune. 1t proves our common
humanity; 1t establishes the brotherhood
and courage What CONDENSATION
is there for all the treasure to be expended
and all the precious lives to be laid down,
that country worthy of the sacrifices our
heroes are making for her is also worthy
at all times of our best thought and our
noblest energies. 1t is the duty of the good
citizen to be vigiIant and aggressive in
peace as in war. We must be constantly
on the alert-always inquisitive. The test
of good citizenship is not an occasional eff
fort to cleanse things, but the constant en-
deaVor to keep them pure and wholesome.
We must maintain high civic ideals, enact
just laws and fearlessly enforce them be
patriots rather than partisans"
Mr.. .Griffiths said, In conclusion, that he
thought there should be an Anglo-American
understanding, because we have the same
ancestry, the same language, the same lit
erature, the same ideas, the same ideals.
the same institutions. and working in har-
mony we will lift civilization "a whole
stage-rather say a whole heaven--higher
than before" He predicted that a union
Of the two great Christian nations would
be the beginning of the end of war-that it
would be in the interests of final and uni
VerSal peace