Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-07
A WAR SERMON.
Rev. S. B. Meeser Talks on the
Disaster of the Maine,
AND OF THE NATIONS DUTY
Under Certain Circumstances
War is Justifable.
We Should be Ready for self-sacrifics
for the Sake Of honor and Humanity
We Want No Indemnity.
AND OF THE NATIONS DUTY

A large and appreciative audience
greeted Rev. Spencer B. Meeser, at the
First Baptist Church, Sunday evening
the occasion being mis- discourse upon
the value of man." with special refer
ence to the recent affair of the Maine
Both the galleries and auditorium were
crowded, and the earnest and eloquent
patriotism of the speaker thrilled his
critical hearers and made a deep i'm
preston. The text chosen was Mat
thew xii, II; How much then is a
man better than a sheep?''
| He said, in part:
| Humaneness is the supreme law OF
men and nations. In this declaration
Jesus gives us, therefore, a principle OF
conduct by which we may know how to
apply Gods law on the Sabbath. Be-
hind the defense of religious traditions
and law, many a man and many a ma
ton has hidden the dictates of a plain
duty to their fellowmen. Back of ma
tional tradition and national law many
a people have fed from their plain duty
to another helpless people. The world
needs to learn the supremacy of hui
maneness. And it is a lesson which
has application to our nation in the
present day.
Indeed, we are fronted just now to a
specific application in the Cuban ques-
ton. Men say we should not touch the
question in Cuba, but I tell you, friends,
that humanity and God both require an
answer to that question from US. They
say it is against International law and
precedent for US to NEEDLE in that af-
fair. That is not altogether so; if it
were, human life is more than interna-
tionaa law. They say it may involve US
in war; but life with its liberties and
its rights is more than peace. In such
a case the cry of peace Is the cry of the
slave. They say it will affect business,
but man and his welfare are more than
business. He is a barterer and pedler
who counts business more than the
privileges and duties of life. Woe to
the nation that puts trade above right
eousness and commerce above duty.
What is a nations duty in such a
case? In great passion we should re-
frain from judgment. We need facts in
order to determine our duty, but we
may see what we should do under the
various circumstances. If that affair
was an accident, we should all be thank
full, for it relieves a nation of the fright
full guilt of a homicidal mania, of which,
in their treatment of the Cubans, we
have all too good reasons to suspect
them; and, at the same time, 1t takes
the bitterness out Of our hearts and re-
lieves us of a great duty. We are thank
full, / say, even while we wonder at the
inscrutable providence which brought
about so significant an accident, under
such suspicious circumstances, in such
a time, in such place, under such con-
ditionS, and after so many expressions
Of Spanish hatred of America just vent
ed in Havana.
If it were not an accident but the ir-
responsible act of a fanatic, some
| demon-inspired individual-if it were
such deed a nation is again relieved
of guilt. and is responsible only for i'm
proper defense, which rests upon them
| because q ship in friendly port must
trust friendship, and could not, without
the diseouFtesy Of suspicion, properly
| defend herself. 2 asons1a2
But if, which God forbid, it were not
an accident, but the result of Spanish
perfdy to which the ship was guided
the fatal spot chosen-What, then, in the
light of this principle, is our duty? No
sane man wants war for wars sake. No
good man demands mere revenge; but
is there no penalty which nation might
righteously infiict upon such perfidy?
Does God to whom vengeance belongeth,
never call upon a nation to administer
judgment? In the federation of ma
tions is there no sanction for humane
ness and no penalty for treachery? Is
there no dignity and defense for a ma
ton wherewith to protect innocent men
from being blazed into eternity without
warning? Is there no redress but in
demnity? sIt is neither war nor in
demnity, but security we want. For
what can indemnity pay? The hulk of
ship? That's the least. Indemnity
cannot pay for the sacrifice Of a peace
full man of his life 1t can never pay
for the sense of security lost nor for the
indignity to nation. At how much
shall we list the life and hopes and
love of a dear seaman? What is the
price in this commercial age for the
| sorrow of the marine. Indemnity? 1t is
high-sounding. but not a high-toned
plea. 1t is the price of low sense of
honor and a low esteem of the life of
men.
1t is asserted by these Spaniards that
there is no such thing as honor in Amer
| lea, that we are a nation of mercenaries
and barterers. 1t is upon the belief in
this characteristic however falsely ii
may said to be ours, that Spain has
/ worked in her dealings with us. If she
| were rich, she would think she could
ravish us and then buy us off with that
| indemnity. War l do not advocate, for