The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-27
Resigns From Web
ster Cong'l Church.
A LOCAL SURPRISE
Rev. Mr.. Digit Speaks Of
President Faure's Death.

Webster, Feb. 26.-The members of
the Congregational church did not
imagine when their pastor, Rev.
Henry a. Blake, exchanged pulpits to-
day with Rev. Willis Rollins of Black
stone, that anything out of the ordinary
would occur The unexpected, however,
did occur in the shape of Rev. Mr.
Rollins reading the resignation of Mr.
Blake. 1t was accepted by many with
surprise and approval Mr.. Blake will
close his services here May 81. He has
been here the past IA years, coming
from small parish in Providence.
At the NJ. E church the last Sunday
evening of each month is devoted to a
talk on current events. Last night the
pastor, Rev. Mr.. Digit, spoke as fol-
lows to an interested audience:
These discourses are not intended to
inform you as to what is Transporting in
the world, but to point out through
current events some things that may
help US to better citizenship and better
lives.
In foreign affairs the event that
attracts all eyes is the sudden death
of Felix Faure, the president of the
French republic. There have been six
presidents of the republic, not one of
Nhom has completed his term of office
one has been assassinated, four
have been worried by their opponents
INTO resignation, and not few suppose
that Felix Faure has been worried into
his grave. President Faure has never
been considered brilliant man. but
ne has been moderate safe and fairly
successful ruler.
Linden
brought about the strange spectacle of
the most despotic government of Eu-
rope entering into public alliance with
the latest representative Of free and re-
publican Institutions"
On Saturday following Faure's death
Emile Loubet was chosen his successor
Loubet, like his predecessor. In q mod
eratlst To uphold the republic he de-
clares will be his chief aim. France
ana the republic are inseparabIe." Lou
bet has never attached himself to the
extremes of either party in France. In
the mysterious and apparently inter-
}llnaple conflict over the Dreyfus case
the friends of Dreyfus seem to take his
election as an hopeful omen.
The disorder and riotins that has fol-
lowed his election, the unrest and anx-
iety that everywhere exists throughout
France, and the mere declaration Of the
new president that he will govern in a
republican sense only" show how un-
stable the foundations Of the republic
are. a.s
If the surmises concerning the Drew
ius case should turn out to be true.
there must come a terrible reaction
against militaTism. If these surInises
should prove true nothing can save the
army officers from the basest kind OF
lying, treachery and cowardice. and it
VIII pc many year before the French
people will have that confidence in
their army that will make it the strong
arm of the government which her cir
cumstances call for.
Honesty and openness in nations, as
IN individuals, is the best policy,
AT home the things that have been
the most prominent have not been the
most important. The army and beef in
Festigauons, the court martials, etc.,
chat have been going on are only sur
face Indications OF something that lies
deeper. The unreasonable and unpatFi-
otto desire for place and wealth pushes
many a man otherwise sorupulous in
his life to the very verge of dishonesty,
and the man who is not scrupulous is
pushed clear over into dishonesty. There
Is no more fragrant act of this public
robbery than is seen usually in the
river and haTbor appropriations, large
amounts OF which never benefit the
public, but serve to ingratiate the rep
resentative in the favor of his oonstit-
uents.
OF this and the ship subsidy bill Mr.,
Digit spoke at length. The case of
Representative Roberts of Utah was
also discussed. Mr., Digit held as a
general principle that every state had a
right TO be represented by a man of its
own choice, regardless of what others
thought Of his moral character or FAM
lily relations. On the other hand, con-
gress is to be the Judge of the fitness of
its members, and if one knocks at its
door for admission who has been, is
and purposes TO continue a violator of
law which he himself was a chief
agent IN enacting, it would seem most
Inappropriate that he should be adj
mitted."