Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-01
WAR TALK IN THE PULPIT.
Father Malone Says the Nations Hon.
or Must he UphcId-Dr. Park
hurst'S Views.

| New York Feb. 2S-In the church OF SIS.
Peter and Paul in Williamsburg, Father
| Sylvester Malone spoke to large conSre-
| cation on the possibilities of war between
| the United States and Spain. He said in
part: Il am for war, if war is declared
| not only as an American, but as a Catholic
| priest. If your country's honor is at stake,
give your life, if necessary, to sustain 1t.
| That is the true American and Catholic
principle. ] do not desire to see a war. but
| If it comes we must abide by the govern
| Inent's decision and show our true spirit as
American citizens. Whether it is war or
peace, We must do our duty. We must sup
port the government and its president,
whether he may be a Democrat or Re
publican. Throw aside all party affiliations
and act with your brothers as a unit.
People should be calm and wait for the
decision of President Mckinley. His repu-
tation for GOODNESS stands high. If the
Maine was destroyed by design, we should
strike the blow, If justified. or demand in
demnity."
The Rev. DR.. E. Homer Wellman, of the
Episcopal Church of Atonement, Brooklyn,
referred to the war talk last night in his
sermon. He said in part: Never since the
days of the Spanish Inquisition have such
terrible deeds been countenanced as have
something wrong with a nation that would
do such things. War would be barbarism,
but it must be resorted to to stop a worse
kind of barbarsm. The discipline on the
Maine was beyond question, and the ca
lamity could not have been due TO the care
leSSneSS of her officers and men. The only
remaining possibility Is that the calamity
WAS planned by some one who was or had
been. connected with the Spanish govern
ment."
In the course of his sermon, the Rev. DIR.
Charles II. Parkhurst. pastor of the Madi-
son Square Presbyterian church. referring
to the Maine disaster, said: so far as
relates to the definite ascertainment of
facts. that of course. is duty incumbent
upon the general government In way that
it can devolve on no one else. and that duty
the general government is conscientiously
and dignifiedly discharging. But as
to the kind OF moral reception that is
TO be accorded to these facts when ascer-
tanned. and as TO the moral tone in which
the music of the action is to be played.
that is thing that is proper to be deter
mined not by the president not by the
cabinet, not by congress, but by the moral
sentiment of the church of Jesus Christ in
these United States. 1t would be wise to
remind ourselves that there are two dis
tinct questions involved in the present sit
uation: First, what is our righteous duty
toward Spain in view OF Spain's attitude
toward the Cubans? Second. what is our
righteous duty toward Spain in view of
Spains attitude toward us?
If the situation is such between Spain
and Cuba that We ought. as Christians. to
go to the relief of the Cubans. why. then,
let us go. If the words of the Hebrew
Epistle Remember them that are in bonds
as bound with them means that American
Christians ought to fight for oppressed
Cubans and murdered Armenians. then let
us send an equipped fleet to Havana and
dispatch another fleet of the same kind
to the Bosphorus. Another pertinent
thought under present circumstances is
that every little while we find ourselves
in frictional relations with some existing
national power or other. Not great while
ago IT was England that we thought had
committed affront, and If the sentiment of
earnest and self-contained people had not
promptly and very emphatically asserted
itself, we might in few days have become
! committed and involved to degree that
withdrawal and pacific adjustment would
have been impossible. War would have
been declared if the country had yielded
to the solicitations Of some of the same
mentors that have declared themselves in
war paint now