The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-30
STRIKE THE ROOT.
DR.. J. d. Countermine Discusses
Assassination Of Presidents.
Murderer the Product of False
Philosophy Of Life.
FAILURE OF PEOPLE.
Have Not Done Their Duty by
Bible and Saloon.
Lack of Reverence For Majesty
of the Law.
OF PEOPLE.

Rev J. D. Countermine, pastor of the
First Presbyterian church. Sunday ev-
ening asked and answered the ques-
ton: who is responsible for the death
of President AcKinIey2'' His text was
from Proverbs 2s:12: He that covereth
his sins shall not prosper. but he that
confesseth and forsaketh them shall
have mercy"
Rev Mr.. Countermfne said:
Two weeks ago in nay morning ser
mon L stated that no one man killed
President Mckinley. Since then others
have affirmed the same. The assassin
may have been without accomplices-
The overt act may have been his and
his alone. but nevertheless both he and
the act are products. They are prod
ucts. first, of long centuries of injustice,
wrong. oppression. misrule, and tyran-
ny, not in this country but in lands be-
yond the seas There the awful seeds
OF malice. hate, revenge. and murder
were planted, and replanted, till at
length they We're brought to this coun-
try by men and women too ignorant
and morally twisted to discriminate be-
tween the government of the United
tSates and the oppressive rule of their
own home land
Secondly, the man and the act are
products of a false philosophy Of life,
and of governan emit Life to the assas-
sin and his consorts is a low, narrow,
circumscribed. limited thing; a thing of
the present without any future or ideas
of God and right, heaven and hell;
mere animal existence with the gross
est passions unchecked and appetites
unrestrained- All government with
them is grievOuS- They do not want
any of any kind. It stands in the way
of what they believe to be their liberty.
Hence away with it. This is their phil
osophy and their practice.
Thirdly, the man and the act are
products of a corrupt national ltera-
ture, and degenerate and false journal
ism. Free speech and q free press are
among our greatest blessings Their
value cannot be fully estimated, but
they have been most grossly prevented
and used in different ways to corrupt
the corruptible and unbalanced the men
tally weak. On this kind of literature
and journalism the assassin and his as
sociates have confessedly been feeding
Hence the awful deed, the supreme
crime OF the centuries.
'.FouFthly, the man and the act are
products of the lamentabIe failure on
the part of the people of the United
States to do their most imperative duty
relative to the Bible and the saloon in
terest. Instead OF leaving the Bible
it, in the schools and making It the
great text book of the nation, we have
thrown il. out and licensed the saloon
that gateway of hell. where anarchy
and all other vices and crimes flourish
Hence barbarOus manners and feFoci-
Gus deeds. dead presidents and a weep
ing world, children ignorant OF God.
children candidates for the gallows. in
stead of candidates for good citizen
ship.
Filthy the man and the act are
products of a great lack of reverence
in the United States and elsewhere, on
the part of even good people. for the
majesty OF law. Law IS benedcence
acting by rule. It's seat says Hooker,
is the bosom of God, and its voice the
harmony of the universe. We have
not always listened to the voice. we
have broken the harmony. we are one
and all more or less guilty What shall
we do2 Let every one, from the presi-
dent down to the humblest servant. seek
q true philosophy of life, and honestly
endeavor to live up to it Let every one
honor the law and use his utmost inf1u-
ence to persuade others to do the same.
Stamp out the saloon and exalt the BIZ