The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-05-17

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Birmingham. Ala. May is-vive
President Fairbanks today addressed
the general assembly OF the Methodist
Episcopal church. south. He brought
greetings from the Methodist Episcopal
church and expressed the fervcnt hope
that the two branches OF the denomi-
nation would soon be merged.
The vice president referred to socialism
as antagonistic to the best interests OF
the people and To our form or govern
ment. being a"leveling down" and not
''lev.ling up" No political law. he
said. would ever be devised which would
bring labor and capital together In
amicable union. the church could per-
form the greater service In this direc-
lion
In part the speaker said:
II cannot refrain from expressing
and emphasizing the hope which those
who have preceded me In this brotheriy
mission have ventured To express. The
two great branches OF Methodism In
America may be consolidated Into one
mighty church. not In sentiment and
In purpose alone. by I'm organization as
well. l give utterance To this wish
upon my own responsibility. though II
II shared by many OF my brethren.
With me IL In not desire born or this
kindly mission. but IL one I have long
cherished: one which time has but
strengthened and which your hearty
welcome has but quickened. The trend
of events seems to me to lead To ulti-
mate union. The process may be slow
but I believe u to be certain.
The memorable logic OF mutual Inter
ests must lead IN To n common conclu-
sion. Union viii come through the
subtle yet powerful influence OF the law
or gravitation. the gravitation OF mu-
81 N.lN has
the same ecclesiastical policy and sing
the praises OF the Master from n COM
mon hymn book. Lines OF latitude do
not AFFORD an insuperable obstacle TO
ultimate and permanent union. Ancient
difference do not constitute an
insurmountable objection. The church
inspires feeling OF brotherly love. IL
teaches forgiveness. and II either
church has erred In the past, IL has
long since been forgiven In the supreme
chancellory where those who misJudge
for want OF light are forgiven. Meth
odism IL too broad to be bounded by
sectional lines. II L. too catholic I'm Its
exalted purpose To- be restricted by linn
its less ample than those OF the re-
public.
While with US the church and state
are separate and should so continue. the
Christian church IL nevertheless a pow
erful agency In the support or free
state. II presided at the birth Of the
republic and has been Its faithful
guardian angel from that hour until
now. IL inCulcates among the great
body OF the people that wholesome re-
spect for the rights OF men that regard
for law and order. without which
the state cannot long survive.
The United States" said DE Tocaue-
Vile. must be religious To b. free.
Furthermore" said he. "despotisn may
govern without religious faith. but ho-
.rty cannot,
THE socIalistIc tendency In certain
luarters has not escaped the attention
OF the most casual observer or current
events Its growth cannot be viewed
except with concern. for u bodies no
good To our country. The church may
well concern itself with all those things
which affect the temporal welfare OF
this great people. II may well concern
ITSELF with those things which menace
the state. which tend To- Jeopardize the
institutions which came tn Us from the
hands of our fathers, The movement N
vet In it's incipient stages and II II well
that its pernicious influence should be
understood.
Socialism Is at war with our most
cherished traditions. II IL hostile To
the enlightened principles or our
growth NJ a great people. IL IL peril
To our social and Industrial develop
msnt IL would paralyze individual
Initiative. which has been the most po-
tent factor In our upbuiiding. Here.
amidst the unsurpassed advantages
which a kind providence has placed at
our hands tn. individual counts for
more than anywhere else beneath the
sun Here no matter how humbl. his
station IA. IL able 10 develop hts ge-
Mus for accomplishing things, for
subduing tn" wilderness for building
great cities for spanning an. CONT
n.nt with the evidence of his power.
for improving his environment and
making better the home and stronger
the state Eut this wer" endowment
enough. II has been the touchsionc or
our national development II has Civ
on US countless communities. happy.
Self-rcllaut. prosperous. brave and pa
triotic. Socialism seeks to level down
and not level up. IL II alike at war
with tn. best interests Of both capital
ana labor
III seeks To restrict each In the "x-
ercIs- 81 It's natural functions. II puts
Limitations upon each which are CON
irary To American genius and spirit.
In the United ST tcs the laborer OF
today becomes the capitalist OF tomor
row. Such has been our experience
from the beginning until now. and IL
will be- the history OF tomorrow.
Neither constitutions nor statutes.
though they w-r" framed by men with
the wisdom OF Solomon, can establish
and maintain equality and absolute
Justice among men. We must look TO
the persuasive power and influence OF
the Christian church to bring them To
n complete realization OF their true re-
lationshIp To each other: To their pri-
mary duty To- deal fairly with one an
other: To carry into the various rela-
tions OF life the principles OF that brief
ani splendid code, the golden rule"