The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-30

cdyr 1t is. first, an appeal to govern
ment. If there Is any legislation upon
our statute books that will bring relief,
let the injured and oppressed go into the
courts Of tho country and seek the en-
forcemcnt Of that legislation. If exist
ing laws furnish no relief, then let an
appeal be made to tho public conscience.
Generate sentiment that will express It.
self at the ballot box, and thus secure the
passage Of laws that will prevent selfish
and corrupt corporations from INJECTING
injustice and wrong upon their employees.
These methods Of redress are compatible
with law, public order, peace, moral gov
eminent and reliogin. Recently at the re-
quest of the street car motormen
of this city, went before a COM
mittee of our State Legislature and
urged the passage OF a law for the
better protection of the comfort and
health and lives Of the employees OF
the stree railway. Believing that they
had just complaint, with all tho earn
estness Of my nature I supported thor
petition, and would do 1t again. That
was the legal method; that was the pat
ritoic method; that was the rational and
virtuous method. For period Of forty
five years have been appealing to the
public conscience In the interest Of over
WOIkcu uuu pOOllS'. PhAA SO'Ao W 'c't'
am not ashamed Of the record which
have made in supporting their cause. But
all that have said and done has been
within the limits of the law and in
spirit of subordlnation to civil authority.
moral government and Christian pre-
cept.
Every day civil government Is becoming
moro regardful of the rights of laboring
men. Every day public sentiment Is de-
manding improved legislation for tho bet
terment of the condition of the laborlng
man. But these results have been Sc
cured, not by political demagogues who
play upon human ignorance and credulity
to put themselves In Office, not by comb-
nations of laboring men who have cove
nanted with each other to override civil
authority, not by soliciting the diabollc
interference of buns. thugs and toughs,
not by mob violence, not by hingng
stones and brick-bats and dynamite, but
by calm. intelligent. persistent and dig
nifed appeals to government and to en-
llghtened public opinion.
QUESTION IN RICHMOND.
The supreme question in Richmond to-
day is. Shall we obey the law, and shall
civil government be upheld In the en-
forcement Of law for the protection OF
life, liberty and property l believe 1t
to be my patriotic and religious duty to
obey tho law. believe 1t to DO my duty
to teach the people that those who resAt
to mob violence, In any emergency, are
ms truly enemies to their country as SOL
ders who naunt n mutnous flag in the
face of their commander or incendlarles
who set fire to their nations capitol
The apostle Peter tells us that 1t Is
"the will of Cod that we obey the ordi-
nances of civil government, 1t Is reli-
ola NJ nicnhn6i,
ence to civil government Is insubordina-
ton to God,
From the very beginning OF his minis
try the fealty of Jesus to the civil power
was questioned and discredited. His enc
mics were Jealous in trying to make It
appear that he was unfrlendly to Caesar.
But when they put to him the question,
"Ia 1t lawful to pay tribute to Caesar?'
he replied, Render unto Caesar the
things that are Caesars and unto God
the things that are Gods"
It was favorlte charge against the
early Christians that they We're plotting
the dethronement of Caesar, Their pagan
enemies declared that all Christian meet
ings for worship We're intended to pro-
mote dsloyalty to the empire. But these
false accusations We're perslstently denied
In the writings Of the apostles there are
. many passages urging Christians to re-
EpeCt and 'ODey tNe powers tlldt pe
So consistent was the conduct OF tho
early churches In this respect that Pliny,
In his letter to the Emperor Tragan. adj
mitted that he found no cause OF blame
in them except "a preverse and extrav-
agant superstition
OBEDIENCE TO AUTHORITY.
In concluding this discourse, let mo
emphasize the lofty and holy motive
to obedience to rightful authority set be-
fore us BY the apostle Peter. Submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for
! the Lords sake" What is It that true
man will not do and suffer for his friend?
See Pythias mounting the scaffold and
rejoicing In the privilege of dying for
| Damon, What Is 1t that true patriot
| Will not do for his country See Marcus
| Curtus mount his war horse. and. with
| the hope OF closing the chasm In the
| Roman Forum, ride headlong into the
| yawning abyss, What is 1t that the true
| mother will not do for her child2 What
| is 1t that the dutiful child will not do
| for mother?
Christian men and women, II for the
sake OF friend or country or parent We
| would struggle, sacrifice and suffer, what
| should be our feeling to-day, when We
hear the voice OF Him who loves us best
and gave himself to redeem us from sin
| and death and hell, SAYING. "For my
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