The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-04-29
PULPIT PATRIOTISM.
Continued from First Page.

COntenueu from fGTSt rage.
be answered before we decide on the
character of any particular war.
To these questions, in our relations
with the Spanish Government concerning
Cuban affairs, it seems to me but one
answer can be given.
The only alternative would be to reply
that it is no concern of ours what Spain
may do in Cuba, or what scenes are
transacted on its shores. But that would
be horrible the supremest seltishness.
We cannot free ourselves from the re-
sponsibility which in the providence of
God has been thrust upon us as a people.
What feeling Of Indignation swept
through the land at England's indiffer-
ence or unwillingness to interpose, and
with all the force at her command. to
end the awful atrocities in Armenia !
And yet the United States is more in
timately and directly concerned in Cuba
than England in Armenia.
And our government has felt this, not
only now, but for years, and througk
successive administrations has earnestly
sought solution of the problem. Every
resource in the interests of peace has been
exhausted, and the awful fact remains
that at our very doors, almost under the
shadow of the flag we love and honor,
scenes of horror and shameful cruelty
are enacted, almost without parallel in
human history. It certainly is solemn
and stern question, whether our sending
supplies to the starving thousands of Cuba,
the sacrifice of trade and treasure, the
cost of maintaining the laws of neutral
ity, not to mention the awful crime of
the destruction of our warship with its
precious freight of human lives, due, to
say the least to the Indifference or care
lessness, not to say the actual connivance.
of Spanish officials, do not lay upon us
the duty and give us the right to inter-
vene, and by force, if need be, to put an
end to such shameful conditions, since it
is in our power to end them, and Spain
has shown herself unable and unwilling
to do it. War is horrible and always
to be deplored, but so is the surgeons
knife. There come occasions when it is
necessary and inevitable.
1t is certain we are not seeking war for
wars sake; we have no selfish end in
view; it's not for ourselves we fight, if
fight we must; it's no greed of empire or
vi Rdlus VI " IudluIdlA IlSAIS VI OuI OWu
which are imperilled, but to meet
solemn responsibility i'll the providence
of God forced upon us. We cannot, we
may not, we must not, stand aloof and
Indifferent.
Unless Jehovah Himself interpose to
turn the heart of the oppressor- and for
this let US not cease continually to pray
it certainly would seem He has laid
upon this nation the solemn responsibility
of unsheathing the sword of justice. So
be it, and God defend the right
But in meeting this stern duty let us
see to it that all is done in the name of
Him whom Moses called Jehovah
Nissi, the Lord my Banner" Read
Exod 1876.
That fight with Amalek was Israel's
first battle, and God seemed to wish to
make known to them the mystery of all
battles for righteousness sake, viz: the
unseen spiritual forces on which depend
the final issue of all struggles and pro-
gress in the world.
Two conditions of success are indi-
Gated. The first apparent condition was
the courage and skill OF the commander
and his troops; but, and here is the great
lesson of that conflict on the plain Of
it is courage and skill allied
to and not separated from the fear and
favor of Almighty God; in other words,
on the unseen spiritual
forces of divine approval and help. And
thus we have second condition of sue
cess. Joshua fought while Moses was
and while he knew that Moses
was praying. Both had a conscious hold
on the strength of the arm of God. So
it must be-so it is-in this present
solemn crisis. The sure hope of victory
is the assurance that God is on our side.
Let it constantly be kept in mind that
we have not sought war. We do not
want it, we have nothing to gain from
it; it means the sacrifice of untold
treasure and the awful cost of precious
lives; but neither must we shrink from
the stern and solemn responsibility of
putting an end, in Gods name, to the in
tolerable oppression and shameful cruel
ty that SO long have desolated the fair
island which is our nearest neighbor.
But also let us not cease to pray that
even yet, and speedily, God will intervene
and bring deliverance out of all our
troubles, and let the oppressed go free.
The evening service was a prayer
meeting for our rulers and for the army
and navy Considering the weather
there was large attendance and con-
siderable number took part. The pulpit
was draped with the American colors
and patriotic airs were rendered on the
organ.
Rev. DR. Coultas, at the Methodist church
last Sunday morning. preached a very able
sermon touching the present war crisis. The
text for the discourse was John IS: 81.
Referring directly to the war and the Cuban
questions he said in part: I'VE have reason
TO rejoice that it is not war of con-
quest; it is not greedy effort to enlarge our
territory. 1t is not even war declared be-
cause our commerce is interfered with, except
1t is not even a.war of vengeance
because of the destruction of The United States
with 1855 of its officers and crew. 1t
is proper that nation whose course for years
has been marked by oppression, injustice and
butchery, a nation who so increased the tor
lures of the inquisition that it was called the
Spanish inquisition, should practice many
of its old time cruelties upon people on our