The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-10

government Declaring that the pres
cnt Mayor was such man. MIR. Mere
ditf said he had not only choked the
channels OF vice and fought fraud
wherever found, but that he was n man
Of creative ability.
MIR Meredith testified TO Mayor Me-
Carthy's good work in connection with
the sinking fund and other important
reforms, and closed by presenting him
TO the audience ms an officer well
worthy OF reelection.
Mayor Warmly Greeted.
When the Mayor walked to the front
of tho stage lie was greeted with en-
thuslastic applause, which lasted for
several minutes, and which was re-
newed with vigor many times before lie
concluded his address. After EXPRESS
ing his appreciation of the cordial re-
ception given him. the speaker pro-
ceeded to most interesting discussion
of questions relating to municipal gov
eminent, and incidentally to the issues
of the contest for Mayor. He found
his text in the following language,
taken from the twenty-first and TWEEN
ty-second verses of the eleventh chap
ter of the Gospel according to Luke:
"Wlicn atrOns man armed kecpcth
Ills palace his goods are In pence. But
when q stronger thnn he shall come
upon him and overcome him, he talsetI,
from him all his armor wherein lie
trusted. and diyidcth his spoiis.''
ave hive Il great palace here OH
seven hills" he said. "bcautiful for Its
situntion. containing mnny mansions.
greatly blessed With pence, prosperity,
comfort md luxury. worth NOW $780,
100000.
Upon this great pnlncc millions upon
millions of dollars have been cNpcud-
cd to bcnutify II, To make II the envy
OF thousands who visit Il and consider
fits beauty. Its lovely situation, its
glorious history and the dazzling pos
sibllitics OF its futurc.''
The Mystery of Life.
Life" he continued. ''is the most
universal thing which surrounds us
and vet it is the most mysterious.
Vegetable life, animal life. our life.
The life of man is the thing which
gives value to everything material.
1t is impossible that the great Creator.
who has made laws to regulate and
control the life of plants so that they
bloom and bear fruit IN their season
oi yield their crops under the sumner
sun, who makes immutable laws and
instructive wisdom. for the guidance
of animal life, and who supplies man
with the wisdom to control his physical
existence. should have absolutely failed
to establish any moral laws for the
guidance of the higher nature of His
creatures!
The denial of the obligation to
recognize the. presence of absolute
right and absolute wrong, and of the
intermediate stages between vice and
virtue. is not only refusal to recog-
nizc the conclusions of the combined
intelligence and wisdom of all ages. but
is treason against the good order and
life of all the world. and a denial of
the fundamental obligations of patriot
ism and of the essentials of civilization,
or even communal life.
Peaceful Conditions.
There are some people who indicate
by the thoughts which they express
the opinion, if not the conviction. that
those who insist upon the constant
presence and power of absolute right
and absolute wrong arc hypercritical.
impracticable dreamers, who will prob
ably be compelled by the force of the
evils surrounding them TO surrender
their high-flown ideas.
The striking unity OF our people
and the pervasive peace and amity
which prevail amongst the inhabitants
OF TINS great palace are remarkable.
All nationalities, all creeds. all COM
mercial bodies. all the social circles
of the city work together in peace
harmony and charity.
The most striking example of this,
is tho exemplary conduct of the Jews
of Richmond, their voluntary ana
generous observation of the Christian
Sabbath, their public spirit and patriot
ism, illustrating the fact that patriotic
people of widely divergent views, en-
IN i,,
exalted form Of charity, can live to-
gether in peace, harmony and mutual
prosperity.
One DiscOrdnnt Note.
THE only lack of harmony here re-
suits from the preposterous and eXag
gerated claims of certain interests UNI
justifiable and in contradiction of the
essential principles of community life.
There is an absolute necessity for
the surrender of some national pecu
liarities and some forms of so-called
personal liberty to the interests of the
community at large and the general
welfare of the people.
Personal liberty is impossible eX-
cept wheEe.a man lives alone. If one
goes OUT and practices the personal
liberty of getting drunk, he will see
how long it will take him to get in
Jail. The truth is that freedom and
liberty We're not made for evildoers.
slavery and chains and confinement
are their portion on earth, and shall be
in the world to come.
The violation of the community SEN
timent results in the immediate loss
of personal liberty and the consequent
punishment OF the offender by uni
vcrsaI consent"
Defines Office.
Mayor McCarthy's definition of of
nce'' and official duty" provoked long
continued applause. and 1t broke out
afresh when he said he was not seek
ing re election in order that he might
spend mis- declining years in ease.
IAN office is a service" he said. "The
word office. purely Latin, means, If 1t
means anything duty In our Ian.
guage we have the simple word duty
but in the Latin tongue we have the
word only as qualified by various adj
jectives, such as official duty. 'frater-
nal duty. maternal duty, paternaf
duty. An officer is man engaged In
re I,,t,, DO IN