The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-26

The subject OF the discourse at the
Church Of the Epiphany last night was
Justice to Porto Rico" Rev Randolph
II McKim. the rector. found the text for
his sermon in Amos Va: "Ye trample upon
the poor and We take from him exactions
Of wheat"
Dr. McKim took up the Porto Rican
Tariff bill now pending in Congress, and
declared it to be a great legislative wrong.
Injustice and inhumanity he said. were
Incorporated in the bill. The rector said
in part.
There is an important public question
before the American people at this mo-
ment. upon which. as a preacher Of right
! eousness. / feel constrained 20 say a few
words. ] refer to the Porto Rico Tariff
bill This bill involves great moral
! issue. which affects the character and the
good name Of the whole American people.
with the political and the constitutional
issues presented by il. the pulpit has moth
ing to do. 1t were an impertinence and
an improperly to speak Of them here.
But with its moral aspect the Church of
God has a right and il is its bounden
duty. 70 deal. High above the petty in
trigues Of party politics or the large de-
bate upon constitutional interpretation
rises the inevitable moral issue which is
hanging in the balance with the passage
or the defeat OF this bill. If il passes
then. in my judgment the Congress Of
the United States will have committed
itself 10 a policy OF injustice and inhu-
mainly: injustice. because it involves a
violation of the plighted faith of the ma
ton, and inhumanity because it involves
a violation Of the Plainest dictates Of
charity and pity.
If the Hebrew prophets felt within
them the inspiration OF the Almighty to
rehuke in his name those who oppressed
the poor and turned them aside from
their right taking from them 'exactions
Of wheat, surely the ministers Of Jesus
Christ need not incur the charge of fanat-
icism if they feel deeply moved by the
spirit Of God to rebuke in the name OF
the God of righteousness. who is the
friend of The poor and the oppressed. such
legislation as This. which proposes to lay
heavy burdens upon an impoverished and
half-starviug people, who only eighteen
months ago welcomed us with acclama-
ton as deliverers from the yoke OF Span
ish oppression. and to whom the Com
mander-i Chief OF our armies issued a
proclamation. saying. We have come TO
best0w upon you the blessings and i'm
munities Of the liberal institutions of our
Government
1T is under that conviction that | speak
tonight. I cannot keep silence while
great legislative wrong is being perpe-
trated. The pulpit is not too sacred
place to preach righteousness and justice.
And it is not enough to proclaim these
great principles in the abstract The min
lister Of God must apply the gospel of
righteousness TO the living issues of his
time. Here is definite concrete wrong
on the eve Of being committed. Shall the
pulpit then, be silent? God forbid"
Referring to the appeal OF the people Of
Porto Rico Or. McKim said; Is it posi-
bic that such an appeal as this can 20 I'M
needed? Il comes from that suffering.
half-starved little island over which we
have SO lately placed our flag as the sym
Dol Of liberty. justice. and humanity. Since
then it has been swept by a destroying
tornado. which carried ruin and desolati0n
and death in its wake And now these
people in their poverty and distress. look
ing across the sea to this mighty Republic.
in place Of the rainbow OF prosperity and
freedom. which they confidently expected
70 see Spanning lutlT EOIlLOu uuNeF our
benefceut rule. behold a dark storm cloud
gathering in the west having its genesis
in the legislative halls Of Congress.
charged not with blessing but with blight
and ruin
In their extremity they call 10 the
American people 10 come to their help
They implOre as not to treat them as
slaves as foreigners. as vassals. as a mere
appanage OF our Republic. having neither
political nor commercial freedom. They
point TO the wrCtchedness and poverty and
Of their people and beseech us to
strike the letters from their commerce a
heir only salvation from utter ruin.
My friends and brethren. il this cry for
Justice and humanity awakes no response
II the American people do not heed it: if
this cruel legislation shall indeed be con
! ask. will the Stars ana
Stripes be to the people of Porto Rice any
longer he symbol Of Justice and liberty and
! go further. and ask If the en-
ictment OF this bill takes place will it not
be a stain upon our escutcheon. q blot upon
our flag long as it stands upon the
statute book?
This is. ! verify believe. a critical mo-
meut in our history. Right upon The
threshold OF a new career of expansion we
are on trial before the conscience Of the
world whether We viii exercise our
power righ;eously and in harmony with
the spirit OF our Constitution. II is
10; enough to assent that the advocates OF
his bill do not intend 10 commit an in
Justice or an act OF iuhumanity. Let that
be granted. Indeed / would disclaim the !
mputation Of any intentional wrong-oC !
any conscious injustice or inhumanity. But
al the same the injustice and inhumanity |
remain. They are incorporated in the
bill. they are insepardblc from it. however
far they may be from the thought or in |
tention Of its authors.
THE world viii recognize them. and we
shall be open to the just reDroach of
having gone to war with Spain in
1898 to rescue The starving inhabi-
tants Of Cuba, aud then. i'm 1900 Of having
turned deaf ear to the cry of another
starving people-starving under our os-n
flag and by reason Of our unrighteous leeis-
laJion. To this rcpIoach, my brethren. We
should have no reply. We should be
Obliged 10 hang our heads in shame
zone Of the worlds greatest champions
Of freedom. standing alone against a vast
array OF power and prestige gave utter
ance on famous occasion to these words,
IL is not wise It is not safe for a man
20 do anything against his conscience
[ pom the same principle we say to the ad-
vocates Of this bill. IT q not wise it IS
not safe for a political party TO do any
thing against the conscience of the people
More and more il becomes apparent
that the provisions OF this bill are repug-
nant to the conscience OF th--plain people
OF the United States. and that if il is