South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-05
IS AMERICA FREE
ASKS DIR. EDWARDS
breaches independence Day
SermOn-SpeakS of Achieve
ment of Observation-Disclosures
titled to Living Wage.

&c bonn baSt and spread eagle OratOry.
Dwelling upon the triumphs Of the
past. blind 10 the dangers of the pres
ent it is easy for the Fourth of July
orator to paint in gorgeous colors the
future of our country. Such a pro-
cedure seems in harmony with human
nature and in perfect accord with the
facts of history"
Rev. DR.. Loren NJ. Edwards in the
Methodist Memorial church Sunday
forenoon spoke from the text: is
America the Land of the Free The
text of the hour he said was an illus
tratton of the above pessimism; he
did not like to hear the chronic croak-
er and tried rot TO be one But If
a SenselesS pessimism was deplOrable
so was a senseless optimism. The lat
ter was not the only alternative from
the former; but one was as much a
perversion of the real truth as the
other. The distinguished English di-
vine, Canon Farrdr once said: And
so II has been written in Gods book Of
destiny that over America should wave
neither the golden lilies of France nor
the Lion and Tower pale emblems Of
CaStilian pride; but first the stainless
semper eadem of England through
we do not drudge them 10 you--the
stars and stripes which you borrowed
ingtOn. America was Gods destined
heritage; not for tyranny. not for
aristocracy, not for privileeg-but
for progress, and for liberty, and for
the development OF a great and noble
type of righteous, fearless, and indie
pendent manhood"
In connection with those ringing
words listen to this prophetic utter
ance of Americas greatest statesman
"a nd & hra n I'M of ri n ~
10 a possible downfall Of America, he
said: At what point shall we expect
the approach of danger? Shall we eX-
pect some transatlantic military giant
to step the ocean and crush US at 4
blow? Never. All the armies of Eu-
rope, Asia, and Africa combined, with
all the treasures of earth (Our own
eXcepted) in their military chest, with
a BOnaparte for q commander, could
not. by force. take a drink from the
Ohio or make a track on the Blue
Ridge lin q trial of a 1000 years. At
what point, then, is this approach of
danger to be expected? / answer, if il
ever reach us, it must spring up
amongst Us. 1t cannot come from
abroad. If destruction be our lot, we
must ourselves be its author and fin
Usher. AS q nation of freemen, we
must live through all time or die by
suicide
LAS we mediate upon the signifi-
cant import of these two utteranceS
concerning Americas destiny, and du-
ties and perils, We can hear that IA
miliar strain: oh say, does the star
spangled banner yet wave DER the
land of the free, and the home of the
brave?' With the firm belief" said
the speaker. that God has destined
this republic for great things, that its
mission is for all the people instead
of the privileged few, that its safety
and perpetuity are imperiled, if at all.
from within rather than from without,
that the old flag we all love does wave
over the homes of a people as brave
as ever took up arms against a foe,
secure in these convictions, let us adj
dress ourselves to the question of the
hours America the land of the free?
Naturally the answer of first i'm
pulse is a strOnp and confident affir-
native. To be sure, America Is the
land of the free. American citizenship
carries with II a freedom not enjoyed
elsewhere on this planet. 1t means
freedom of speech. freedom from slav-
cry. freedom of choice Of occupation,
and marriage, freedom of speech, free
dom of location, freedom of scientific
freedom of political affilia-
ton and freedom of religious belief. |
Our constitution declares that all men
are created free and equal and In the !
administration of the government this |
freedom is secured for every citizen
so the incident is closed. But this /
question is raised today to show that |
he incident is not closed, to point out /
certain conditions which bear on the |
negative side OF the case and TO point /
)ut few elements Of national danger |
IN order that we may see more clearly |
,ur duty as citizens and as Christians. [
Continuing DR.. Edwards said, that !
without question one of the greatest. \
single acts of human achieve
nent was the emancipation proclama-
ion by Abraham Lincoln. When, Dy /
/ stroke of the pen almost 4,OOO,OOO
we're liberated from SerVitude ana
;iven the rights of citizenship, chap
er was written in the annals OF Amer
can history which viii challenge the
lttention and admiration of the world
While time abides. A thing may DE
officially done and yet not practically
lone. A man officially executed and
&c, I'd made Yet because of some
confusion or negligence on part OF
ome official intrusted TO do IT, the eN-
cutiOn did net take place. 50 man
nan was officially dead but practical
Y very much alive. An Investigation
# the conditions prevailing among the
legrOes, particularly in the south Will
pSUlt IN a similar tOllluSAous - ~ /
ca the land OF the free for the negro
'hen let him try 10 enter the ranks
f skilled labor. and the unions crying
the gospel Of equality ana
Justice. will shut their doors in his
ace. He can sweep out a car, but ne
an never manage the train or pun
ne throttle: ne can carry the nod and
nix the mortar but he can never lay
he brick or the stone. he can De
.ewer OF wood and drawer of water.
M cannot sit at his desk and manage
concern or a business.
lis America truly the land OF the
rec so long as 100000 OF its people
re in a position of enforced subordl-
ation. socially. politically and com
nerciany2 II America Is really 10 De
free and a fair land for all theh
very man is entitled 10 chance 10
york at honest work at a living wage
rhich Will not only provide the neceS-
tiles OF life but which Will leave
margin for winter. for sickness ana
or old age.
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