The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-11-25

iliZaton, benignant rule and commer- | oial prosperity, Questions of the gray | est moment are to be settled, We trust | that they may be adjusted for the glory of God and the highest and truest well fare of all parties concerned With our glad expression of gratitude we need to offer the prayer for strength. Let us encourage the calling of court of all nations, in response to the re- quest of the Czar of Russia, in the in- terest of true, honorable and lasting peace among all the powers of the round globe.
 It is but right that we admit that there are some things in our social, l commercial, political and national life to be deplored. On this day of jubila- tion we must not overlook them, We lament the baneful influence and power of the saloon, the existence of plotting, interruptions politicians, perjured bank presidents. defaulting cashiers. It is | burning shame that race conflicts in the south, and lynch laws both north and south, disgrace our Christian civil ization. The right of franchise must be carefully guarded, but no American citizen, by the action of purely partisan politics, should be deprived of the right to vote in any part of this glorious land. As R. R. Tolbert, a cotton planter in South Carolina, but just now an exile from home, with no blot upon his record as citizen, but for simply being iden- tified with an unpopular political party in his state, says in a recent paper: The flag which floats proudly in Cuba and the Philippines, as an emblem of popular rights, civilization and good government, ought not to be furled in the presence of a Carolina political mob"
 The ballot box must be protected both north and south. The shotgun argu- ment to deter any American citizen from the exercise of the franchise must be prohibited The government may not dictate to any man how to vote, but it must, at all hazards, guarantee him protection in legal voting. Otherwise, free government is at an end, and our much boasted constitution becomes the sport of mobs. Good men must not decline participation in political mat ters
 We need to be cautioned, too, Hest we rush men into responsible public sta- tions before they have broadened their intellects, ripened their character and cultivated their powers" The per cent. of illiteracy in sections of the land needs to be greatly reduced and will be, if the public school system, with it's true intent, is distributed and generous ly maintained. Rioters and break CTS must not be nominated and should not be elected to fill responsible politi- cal places. Frauds and forgeries should not escape just punishment While on the one hand we read of murders, sui cides, domestic tragedies and political treachery, on the other hand, thank God, we have many honest merchants, true off1cials-noble spirits that rise above personal aggrandizement-ju Judges and justices whose ermine has not been soiled, and public men who have the welfare of city, state and nation in their daily thought and upon their hearts. For this, and more, we offer thanks to God this holy hour. While we are not here to utter political rhapsodies, and propose to let the star spangled banner float undisturbed, and allow the Ameri- can eagle to nestle in quietness, and leave Bunker Hill and Plymouth Rock alone in that glory, still, we exercise the right, by the blessing of heaven, to re- Joice in our glorious heritage as, upon the whole, the fairest and best upon the face of the earth.
 Even a brighter day will surely dawn. Through mists, ominous reports and threatening storms, the outlook is hopeful. l tell you Christian people. that the tide of a higher political, ethical and religious progress is urging onward-onward over states and na- tions over republics and monarchies. over lands and seas, and is destined to purify the peoples of the round globe. Truth shall displace error; gospel light and Christian principles shall dissipate human gloom, and all the nations of the earth shall be shaken by the power of Jesus name. The day of glorious fulfllment is nigh at hand:
 "'T 'Tis coming up the step of time,
 And this old world is growing better!
 We may not see it's dawn sublime
 Yet high hopes make the heart throbs
 Our bodies may be sleeping in the ground When it awakes the world in wonder
 But we feel it gathering round
 And hear it's voice of living thunder
 'Tis comin"! yes, 'tis coming"
 Let the enemies of Christianity say what they please against the truth of it's dogmas and the methods of it's op- erations, the fact remains beyond dis pute. that the really aggressive force that is stemming the tide of corruption. seeking to pour into every avenue of society, the cleansing streams of re- form and healing power of salvation, is that which centers in, and radiates from the churches of our Lord Jesus Christ" Never was the power of Christianity so manifest to bless and permeate society as to-day Look at the activities of Christian beneficence. the organized forces of social improve ment, the missions of mercy upon the right hand and the left, the extraordi- nary efforts being made to Christianize heather nations and dissipate the darkness of pagan gloom; mark the re- duction of debts upon mission boards, and the increased offerings of the peo- pie of this land for missions at home and abroad! Surely we have additional reason for special thanksgiving to our N