The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-10-27


The temperof pulpit and pew is teste'
BY the excitemenis and aniagonisms o
great political campaign. Theoretical
~, the people want their preacher 4
have r6iSictions. They prefer man ir
the pulpit I who deals in. opinions, bu
just before election there is certain
eonlingent that desires the preacher tC
hold bis opinions in allegiance, while
q another element OF his constituency will
say, now is the time 10 speak, il ever
The traditions Of this pulpit are not such
as forbid Interference with politics OF
business. For eighteen years this
church has maintained pulpit that has
had convictions on cnrrent questions,
and has not hesitaled 10 speak them
when theywere held with su1icientclear-
ness ahd seemed TO be OF sufficient i'm.
portance. This church has supported a
pulpit that has often disagreed with
many OF iti supporters, and still has
retained mutual confidence and mutual
co.operation,
.u Ia aceordence with these traditions, /
am impelled by all the higher sanctilies
aoof religion and morals 10 speak my word
on the nnomentons issues that now wait
upon the suffrage Of the citizens Of the
United states. II Is not necessary TO
Z confess that 4 speak for myself, and
ihyssb only; hope to speak my own
convictions IN Auch spirit OF love that
those Who differ from me may yet be
glad ihAfe spoken Let the integrity
and Independence that find utterance
la the pulpit be thereby strengthened
aud inspired IN those who listen. i
bespeak cHndid listening 10 candid
word. A bring my contribution Of
thouGiltf % those who are thinking, and
hohof the man who gives thoughtful
dissent tomy words rather than the one
who brings thoughtless approval
Thropgh irankness,not through evasion,
is fellowship realized and corporation
found. ftN iH ~
ciiIithe church is IN some poor fashion
an exponentoi religion, II religion in-
cludea the science Of conduct--conduct
OF states and Of nations as indiyiduals--
there il no question before the Ameri.
can people today that Is not profoundly
a question with which the church
should concern itself, because it isa
question Of religion. The time has gone
by when an Individual, state or nation
can claim release from the responsi-
biity Of the world, Every great ques-
tion before the American people today
10 Ia worldwide question, aud must
y flnally be settled at world tribunals aud
according to the everlaaiing principles
that obtain In all nations, underlIe all
ages and 0veFaTeh all righteous courts.
~ My first plea e for clearer dscrimi.
nation between party issneS and world
posiiica- .once- thisdistinctiOn is rec
ognized, most Of the noise, all Of the
baneomba. and a large part Of the ora
tory OF this campaign will TALL 10 the
ground. Itrequires but little study,
buta iittIeqaiet thinking, TO discover
hoFlshellowaret the party lines and how
superficial are tho claims TO party 70,
specl oh eill,ei OF on all sides. Party
platforms are known to be largely fabri,
cAtions Oi expedieuey, conceived in
sabtlety and planned for diplomacy con.
iured by the managers ia privacy and
with Deliberate strategy. then foisted
upon their constiiusncy With the blare
oi'trnmpot aud the tia thunder OF con.
ventien ,oxoilemenls. There is large.
elcn'eit Of ulUaliIy In the party enthu.
slaSn anil The so called party issues"
in his A. IN every presidential cam
palgn, .si.d neveT perhaps more than at
the present time. There IL wholesale
optimism in regard TO the defects. ineon-
aislenciea and disgraoes Of ones own
party, and a Wholesale pessimism In re-
gard 10 tloaS of.ihe opposite party that
is good only for campaign purposes.
There is the unscholarly and unhistoric
assumplion that our national parties are
fixed elements IN the politics Of the
world, that they have continuous and
consistent place IN the hist,ty Of our
nation. while the fact is, AS every stu,
dent Of Am,riean history knows, parties
are a. changeable A. the men who make
them parties conceived IA righteous
ness bring forth oitentimes an inquitous
progenY and eventually die from inter.
nal corruption The greatest menace 10
American institutions today Is the
party blinduess that leads the Demo.
eret still 70 hurrah for Andrew Jackson
and the Republican slill 20 ilatter him.
sell that he h voting for Abraham Lin.
coins while the plain truth 10, as every
student must know, The party OF Me,
kinney, Mark Hanna and Cbanoey
bepeN, i not the party that once 70.
ioieet p The lealemhip Of Abroham
tlpco'p, Chades umnef aud MILAN
"A seward Neither 4 She cainpaiga
lsi By Bryan, Carl schurs aud their as.
sltiases 70 be conioanded wah the De
mcoFacy Of james buchanan and the
pro slavery leaders Of the rebellion. let