El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-11-04

Baltimore, Nd, Nov. &c rdfn /
Gibbons, in the cathedral mere on sun
dav delivered an election eve sermon
DESIGNED to awaken the Supine citl-
zen who never takes an interest IN
the political welfare of his country.
He declared that II the future MS
torian is called upon to record the de
cline and fall Of the American republic
he will ascribe as the cause the in
difference, lethargy and political apos-
tasy of her own sons
The sermon was non partisan as 10
the personal preferences Of the cor
dinaI toward the three conspicuous can
didates for president He asserted MS
intolerance toward pessimist1c proph-
cts who each campaign predict the end
OF the government unless their favor
tie candidate is elected and by a dis
cussiOn of our form Of government
sought to show that the results OF our
election cannot seriously affect the en-
durance Of the republic.
1T is the habit of pessimistic proph-
cts to predict that our government VIII
soon come TO an end, and that II Is al
ready in the thrOes of dissolution, and
the disaster is sure to occur II their
favorite candidate is defeated. These
prophecies are usually more frequent
on the eve of a. presidential election. 1
have been listening to these dire prog
nOsticatiOns for over half a century,
But in every instance the American
people wake Up on the morning after
election to find that they were dis
quoted by false alarms, and that the
government is transacting its business
in the same quiet and orderly manner as
before.
our system of government is very
complex. It may be compared to a CO.
lOssal engine containing innumerable
wheels within wheels. Zach wheel
works in its own orbit, like the plane
tary system. If the great federal wheel
gets out of order, the smaller wheels
are not much deranged, but keep on
moving till the big machine IS repaired
w care all familiar with the memor-
able Titanic disaster. which resulted IN
the loss of so many precious lives, as
well as the peerless vessel itself Had
all the compartments of that steamship
been watertight the los OF lie would
have been avoided.
Now our government is often called
a ship of state. This great ship OF
state is divided into As minor states.
Eeach Of these states may be said to be
waterproof, in the sense that the en-
quilting of one would not involve the
sinking Of the other. California, for
example, might be overwhelmed by the
waters Of a political revolution without
disturbing the neighbOr1ng states or
Washington, Nevada and Arizona
If our states were mere provinces
or territories, without autonomy and
sovereignty. like other republics less
favored than ours. We would enjoy less
stability and less hope of enduring free
dom than we now possess
''The safety and permanence, there
fore. Of our republic largely depend
on the autonomy of the several states,
without the danger of absorption by the
general government. Should our gov
eminent and legislators ever become
the subservient creatures of the federal
government they would be mere pup
pets. subject to the will of the chief
executive. Taey would cease to be
waterproof and would share the fate
fthe Titanic.
Two National Crises.
Two mOmentOus crises occurred IN
my own day which were well calculat-
ed to test the citality and strength OF
the republic. The first was the war
between the states, when the nation
was cut in twain, when fratricidal blood
was shed over the land and a ire
mendous conflict was carried on for
four years. This calamity has happily