New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-21
RELIGION CONFERENCE CLOSES.
PATRIOTISM AND NATIONAL RIGHTEOUS
NESS" SUBJECT OF THE REV.
THOMAS r SLICER.

Politics is an exact science" said the Rev.
Thomas R slicer iE speaking the subject Of
Patriotism and National righteousness" before
the New-York State Conference Of Religion yes
terday afternoon, land not a mere study Of de-
based psychology, we see 1t too often before US
to-day 1t is difficult for to express myself
moderately the Of statecraft game
usually game OF grab And there IS absolutely
no moral difference between the President OF the
United States and the pirate on the shores of
Tripon, If both In It for what be got out
of it The patriots purpose is to see how much
OF himself he put into his country; the ad-
venturers, how much he can get out Of it. Patri-
otism is not abstract virtue 1t has been termed
a tribal virtue; but class 1t a positive and
personal one. and its possession and expression
question of either internal celestial grevitation.
And yet make distinction between personal
and national righteousness. I do not that
the man who would scorn to steal a cent from his
neighbor may yet steal Senate from his country.
But I do that what IS a vice for the indi-
vidual at the moment may. by reason OF the i'm
maturity of the whole be as yet virtue for that
whole 1 that this is dangerous doc
trine. but In my best judgment it is the truth. A
nation take the perfection OF individual virtue
e t Ereat b Of fh9 grte OF
duties TO perform before It even approxmates that
graphical qualification OF national righteousness
we as strong neghbor may show our neighbor-
southern waters, but similar action in the mid
Pacific may have different interpretation"
In speaking upon the subject DR.. Charles
B. Spahr said he foresaW in the discussion before
the assembly reunion of church and state, purged
or all paraSitsm and mutually helpful. And |
fail to find" he continued lin the teachings of
Jesus in the processes of my own reasoning any
basis for enforcement of private and national NOR
ais. The least Of these the least nation.
must nor aggrandize myseIF ef the exna 90 II
neighbours cellar, neither must my country grow
rich at the expense OF neighboring countrys com
merce Of mankind
DR.. Spahr frequently applauded. He was fol-
lowed by Professor John B. Clark, of Columbia
Ve NOT rsb b game OF
profit by little bargain, but the man who under
sells his neighbor is virtually striving TO see who
can give most FOR least money, and, on the whole.
II is but practical application of St Paul's com
mand to excel in ali things. Competition is not
an EVIL, though one or It's outgroWths monopoly is
far from an unmixed good Monopoly IS the club
the trustmakers use to beat competition into the
lines Of their interests. Now, there's nothing but
apathy prevent laying that club on
the shelf. One trouble is many Of don't know
what sort of government really do want"
Whatever be the final solution the liquor
course of his address on The Saloon: Its Functions
PeriIs before the morning session, 1T certain
hbition has already been proved a failure and our
only hope is now local option. There is no hope of
reducing the peTs of the saloon, long as liquor
selling and profit taking are associated The
solve the problem and pointed out the pitfalls in
each. He classed with the warning. But until
Cd meet needs of the social instinct in the
average human being we must be slow to lay
our hands upon the one institution which now
holds this place"
In speaking on the subject. Professor Charles
cluson to local option, but agreed as to the
necessity OF a substitute for the saloon as it now
IS In this connection he instanced the successful
establishment of social clubs under the auspices Of
the Peoples Institute
Miss Virginia Potter spoke at length or the work
Of the Social Halls Association. IT Is not char
table scheme she said. but purely business one
We shall have liquor license. but whether we
shall sell anything stronger than beer will depend
the vote of the club