The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-07-22
NOT A WAR FOR CHRIST.
Rev. Peter Ainslie Denounces the
Philippine Policy.
From the Baltimore sun, July Il.

From the Baltimore sun, July Il.
The Rev. Peter Ainslie, pastor of the
Calhoun Street Church of Disciples,
preached yesterday morning on God
Keeping Us" During the sermon Mr.
Ainslie earnestly and in stirring words spoke
against imperialism, as follows
''Our national greed for conquest is the
legitimate result Of nation whose indi-
yidual citizens have been set on the greed
for gold, for nation policy is the express
sion Of the leading traits of its individuals
Did the liberty loving Frenchmen, who
came to our rescue more than Il century
ago, grab for one Of the newly made States
as the price Of their blood for our independ-
ence? This splendid act placed America
under obligation to every liberty loving
heart in all the world, but does not our
present day policy in the Far East indicate
our absolute forgetfulness of this obligation,
as well as Of that humanitarian spirit that
we claimed moved US to declare war? We
have forgotten the history of the American
independence and honor is becoming a
cankered thing upon our national escutch-
con.
Because imperialism is popular is no
reason that it Is right Because many
good men believe that the subsection of the
Filiplnos will open new missionary fields
is no reason that we should declare it
provideutial 1t Is better to be pagans than
Christians b. force. Leave the sword CON
quest in the name Of religion for the men
who march under the Crescent. but let the
Stars and Stripes stand for that Christianity
born in the Judean hills and whose emblems
are love and kindness 1t is base, it Is
sacrilegious, to fasten this war to almighty
love. Lay side by side the pages Of the
New Testament with the pages Of this
war records and it will be miduoon com
pared with midnight. Infdelity would
laugh at your charge and rightly scorn
your God.
And standing upon the graves of the
murdered freemen, i this the religion that
we propose to present to their children if
they are living when peace Is declared ? |
fear that the new chapter in our history is
being written under a dark sky, far away
from the heavenly light but right viii
some day carry the banner, and then We
shall know the value Of trust aud obliga-
tlon and opportunity opportunity rs
God gave America in giving liberty to the
oppressed by the rights Of the Christian
religion and not the tyranny Of new op-
preston,
"A year ago America occupied mag
ni6cent position for the exaltation Of ma
tioual honor and righteousness After
breaking the Spanish yoke she should have
aided those brave people struggling for
liberty aud who loved it no less than the
men who marched with George Washing
ton through Valley Forge and slept in the
trenches at Yorktown. Then on the es-
tablshment Of stable government 10 re
turn across the Pacific and she would have
worn the honors Of centuries.
But without giving the Filpinos a trial
she declares that they are incapable of self
government. although they have been
more than Spain in a match for the United
States, bays them agains; their entreaties,
stamps them rebels although they have
never been subjects Of the United States,
and has killed more Of those natives in
these few months than Spain did in 800
years America Is uudoing the best in
her past and j, making a Goddess record in
the closing DAYS of this century. In little
more than generation she exchanges her
abhorreace of African slavery in the South
eru States tuau ardent advocate Of 5. 600, :
600 Of Asiatir slaves II her present
policy be right, then her policy Of the COS
was farce To buast Of killing 43l
Filipin0s in one engagement, while the
American lJss was only | and then bury
in- IS in the same grave and marching
away with flying colors, is certainly no
honor 20 American civilization At this
same place, women were shot down while
cooking for their husbands and brothers,
aud lads Of > and | { took up the guns of
their fathers to defend their desolate homes
when they were shot down ike dogs by
the superior force Of Americans, until
miles Of desolation covered by untitled
fields, ashes Of once happy homes aud the
graves Of people who once sighed for
freedom
This may be one in the name of 81
mon Peter. but certainly no part of it is
done in the name of that Christ Who said
to Peter Put up thy sword, for they
that take the sword shall perish with the
sword am glad TO see that several
cities have held large mass meetings pro
testing against this policy The Ameri-
can people are the sovereigns They
should speak and speak freely. Right Is
being forgotten in our greed for conquest
and We have put a new song into the very
/ forefront Of our civilization that goes like
/ this.
I Take up the white man 5 musket.
The deadliest ones yOu make;
I Go drill your sons 10 use il,
And then for Jesus sake
Send them with ammunition
/ To hunt these heather Wild
/ Your new caught, sullen people.
/ On whom God never smiled.
/ Take up the white mans cannon.
/ The largest that you cast.
Go put it on your warShipS,
The strongest ones and fast
Speed them to heather countries,
Seek out each tarthest spot,
And save these sullen people
With Bibles and with shot
If good celery is desired water the plant
with soapsuds and keep the ground clear
of grass and weeds The watering of ;