The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-27

but the outlook Is most hopeful because. as I have said. men are everywhere recosnising. fn larger degree than ever before. the mutual rights which belong to 1t.
 Arbitration, however. which can never
 be . soiution. but on.y means to an
 end, takes broader and grander lines than
 the mere adjustment of labor troubles as
 they occur between employer and em-
 ploye. The growth of the religious spirit
 in tho settlement and adjustment of in- ternational affairs is an evidence that the public conscience has received some
 stimulation from other sources, which leads it on to the reasonable consdera- ton of questions involving international i, rishts. duties and obligations. This Is a religious spirit: 1t is a spirit winch comes from very old teaching.
 You will remember that the prophet
 Isaiah, 8 citizen of Jerusalem. and man who was considered in his day of great importance by his neighbors, became alarmed at what he thought an impend- ing national calamity. He undertook to point out to the citizens of Jerusalem their particular sins of omission and com mission, the wrongs which had been done and to prophecy to them the results of
 their actions, and when he had made
 strong presentment of this case he said
 to the leading men of Jerusalem. Come, now .and let us reason together" This was about 750 years before Christ. The
 great prophet knew that by reasoning together people could come to see more clearly than by any other method the real dangers which confronted them. This old sentiment remained dormant for cen-
 turtles and centuries It was the Pauline
 method of adjusting difficulties between employers and employees, and the spirit has gone up higher-into the work of nations themselves.
 There is new patriotism-that patriot
 ism which Is born of religious spirit It
 is devotion to a high principle. It is a
 patriotism which means personal sacrifice in social service. It is a higher type of patriotism than that exemplified on the
 battlefield. It is not limited to sect or to party. Denominations vie with each Oth- CT In their devotion to public interests, and one of the most gratifying results of this broad and religious patriotism Is
 what may be called the new American
 diplomacy. Our martyred President Mo-
 Kinley set the world an example when he established truthfulness as the essential element of diplomatic. action, and today
 truth is the spirit of diplomacy-truth
 ond the acceptance of high principles.
 The old diplomacy was sympathetic de-
 ception-methods to avoid the truth, pro
 cesses to conceal the real intent of a gov-
 ernment. Now diplomacy must disclose
 the real intent, reveal the truth and show
 the real a.stude of contending nations.
 This Is one Of the results of that sen-
 sitive conscience which demands publicity
 in all things relating to the public. It is
 through this spirit that we learn of the
 conditions, economic and moral, which
 pertain to all public action. The new con-
 science demands that if there be anything
 to be known which in any way interests the public and by which 1t can guide its action and reach its conclusion, 1t shall
 be made public. Great corporations come
 under this power, the Government itself comes under it, and the increasing de-
 rnand for publicity in all affairs will do
 more towards solving some of the prob- lems which VeX us than any other one
 means.
 We see this sensitiveness growing out of
 public action when any of our public of-
 ticials take the wrong road. We have
 been very severe everywhere in the con
 demnati of some of the transactions in
 the Postoffice Department At the close of the Spanish war the public became
 very much excited over the Neely case.
 These two incidents in public service.
 however, were slight affairs compared to
 the scandals of the whiskey ring and
 the Star route cases of a generation ago,
 but there has been more said, more con
 demnation, more public interest in these
 recent affairs than there was over the
 two greatest scandals ever connected
 with our Government, Why is this? Sim ply because the public conscience de- mands integrity of service by all public
 officials. Tlie increased sensitiveness of this conscience is back of the demand
 and a conception of a religious principle,
 active and persistent, |, what has made the sensitive public conscience of ou' day.
 tteligion has done away with the old form of charity. We go into the slums | now. If We are wise we do not toss a | beggar d dime or 8 qSarter. We treat | the whole subject in different way, Tn | a way which means the betterment of l men themselves and not qualification to ! the giver. We establish university settle ments; we take men and women by the hand; we lead them to better ways. We
 scrutinize all charity work. In the cities 1 this is organized. Investigation follows petition and demand, and the spirit of true religion is being exemplifed in this | direction alone
 During the past few months there have l been some very edifying and broadening experiences which touch closely not only | the spiritual nature of men but their tol- | erance. their devotion to high personal character. as represented by individuals, | thus testifying to their devotion to the very highest principles themselves. We have been celebrating the centenary of l Emerson, and all denominations, wheth- | CT our own or others, have joined in pay | ing tribute to the memory of a pure soul. Emerson's influence has lifted men out of 1 dogmatic ruts. It has left an impress on
 our public thought and on our public conscience. Perhaps his greater legacy l to the world was his emphasis of the ne-
 cessity of perfected personal character. | This has been the keynote, in large de- gree, of the enoomiums that have been i passed upon him. Whatever he was as | a preacher. philosopher. or poet high l personal character accompanied all his l work. and we of today can draw the cs- | timation in which he Is held without re- gard to theology or creed. And in the
 centenary of Charming, 1t has been dis l closed that his thought, his work, his
 message to the world helped, not only
 the people to whom he preached, but the
 whole public, to a comprehension of q
 purer, better, n higher Christ than ex-
 isted before his day.
 | But perhaps the grandest experience has | come through the death of Leo. All. To
 read the estimates of his character, as given in different Protestant churches, by
 ministers of different denominations, one would suppose that the old attitude to-
 wards Catholicism had passed away. Not an acrimonious word has been said. there being only praise for that sublime char | N1S "