VOICE OF THE PULPIT

Rev. Charles Henry Parkhurst.

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, December 23, 1895.

VOICE OF THE PULPIT.

Peace the Burden of Sermon and Prayer.

PARKHURST WAXES SARCASTIC.

No Opinion Expressed as to the Merits of the Question at Issue, but

Preachers Unite In Their Declarations Against Bloodshed.

   NEW YORK, Dec. 23.—Rev. Dr. Parkhurst in the Madison Square Presbyterian church took for his text "Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men." After describing the coming of Christ as a surprise to mankind, he said that human history does not contain anything which prepares us for the great surprises hanging upon the edge of the future.

   The sermon led up to the Venezuela question and he made a passionate plea for peace. He said in part:

   "It almost seemed as though there were a Providence in the way in which these Christmas days synchronize the year with events that are just now filling our hearts with disturbance and throwing an uncomfortable shadow across the track of the near future. Now we do not care to beat about the bush in this matter, but prefer to go straight to the mark by saying that if Christendom wants to make the religion of Jesus with its Bethlehem, its angelic choir and its anthem of 'Peace on Earth' a laughing stock to the ungodly and a contempt to the heathen, the best thing it can do will be to set the two foremost Christian nations of the earth to work blowing up one another's cities and blowing out one another's brains.

   "Unless we utterly misconceive the sentiment of the Christianized masses both here and on the other side of the water—say unless we utterly misconceive that sentiment as it seems to be asserting itself in sober second thought—such an issue will be morally impossible. But the church must now move to the front.

   "There will be no conflict that will go beyond the point of messages and pronunciamentos on either side, if the church of the Bethlehem Christ comes out and records its veto. Christianity both here and in England is too thoroughly an integral part of national life for armies and navies to clash in warfare.

   "We are not here to discuss the international technicalities of the case. This is not the place to enter a philosophical or historical exposition of the Monroe doctrine, only it is safe to say that this nation is not going to be drawn into an international conflict of arms—to the dishonor of Christianity, the discouragement of civilization, the destruction of life and treasure and the demoralization of our entire organic life—in behalf of a doctrine such as probably 90 per cent of a congregation as well informed as this would not be able to state intelligibly and the other 10 per cent who can state it, disagreeing among themselves as to whether the doctrine is applicable to the present situation.

   "We are not speaking disparagingly of loyalty to country or patriotic regard for our national rights. But patriotic passions are incensed and can easily be fired to the point where righteousness is ignored and reason and balanced consideration tabooed; and that is the mischief of inflammatory sheets that make a paying newspaper business of fanning the flames of international animosity. I wish for two weeks that it could be a states prison offense to print newspaper headlines with anything larger than small capitals.

   "If the nations would first take up the business that belongs to them first, and if England and the United States would join hands in the rather more Gospel enterprise of rescuing pillaged and outraged Armenia from the dirty, bloody grip of the Turk, these two nations of brothers would soon find themselves in good Christian condition of spirit probably to settle that little question of civil engineering down in Venezuela in a way that would save both parties not only their pride and their heads, but their Christian repute."

   A number of other pastors of New York city and Brooklyn delivered discourses upon the subject of a possible war with England.

   Rev. Charles H. Eaton, pastor of the Church of the Divine Paternity, preached a sermon on the wickedness of war.

   It was deplorable, he said, that the day on which Christians were to celebrate the birth of Christ, and to proclaim from every pulpit the doctrines of peace, the nation should be eagerly waiting the ultimatum of statesmen and mutterings of war should fill the land.

   In the course of his sermon, "Civilization's Debt to Christianity," Rev. Dr. Madison C. Peters of the Bloomingdale Reformed church said:

   "War is cruel, hateful, wrong. The political demagogues, who at this Christmastide are shouting for war, will be branded by the second sober thought of the American people as the criminals of the Nineteenth century. When these men had an opportunity to fight for their own land, when the stars and stripes were trailed in the dust, they sent substitutes. A war between England and America could never be terminated until one or the other went into bankruptcy or had no more men to fill the ranks. As the preacher of the gospel of peace and universal brotherhood, I call for arbitration. 'Blessed are the peacemakers.' I pray that England and America may look across the centuries and hear the proclamation, 'Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men.'"

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

   We owe it to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and the allied powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our safety. With the existing colonies or dependencies of any European power we have not interfered and shall not interfere; but with the governments which have declared their independence and maintained it, and whose independence we have, on great consideration and just principles, acknowledged, we could not view an interposition for oppressing them or controlling in any other manner their destiny by any European power in any other light than as a manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States.—From the message of President Monroe in 1823.

In the Event of War.

   The possibility of war with England has undoubtedly recalled to many minds the wise, patriotic and earnest appeal to congress by Secretary of War Lament, in his recent report, for appropriations to complete our only fairly begun work of coast defense. We could contemplate war with a great maritime power with much more equanimity if our seaports were protected as they ought to be. But the last Democratic congress was more intent on destroying our industries and cutting down our revenues than in protecting our great seaboard cities.

   Both as to coast defenses and navy we are not prepared as we should be to cope with the great naval power of England, but we are far better prepared proportionally than we were in the Revolution or in 1812 and can do an immense amount of preparation in a very short time. War, too, would mean in the end overwhelming defeat to England and the stripping her of every one of her American possessions. She realizes this and will hesitate long before she measures strength with this republic. Still it is not unwise to take an inventory of ourselves, as the Utica Herald does in this following article:

   The president's message is official notice of the possibility of war, war between the United States and Great Britain. It is therefore timely, while bearing the chip jauntily on our shoulder, to think of what next if the other fellow should rashly knock it off. We number 70,000,000 and have no doubt we can lick all creation. But in what condition are we to engage in a hostile wrestle with Great Britain?

   A war with that power must be chiefly on the water. There Britain is the best prepared of all the nations. It has battleships enough to station at least two off the harbor of every coast city of the United States, and have for attendants two or three cruisers and half a dozen torpedo boats to each battleship. It could not utilize this overwhelming force against us, however, as home and colonial interests will always require adequate reserve ships and policing fleets. It is to be remembered, also, that England is ready for immediate action. Its ships and men and guns and ammunition are on hand. It has coaling stations in every ocean, docks and storehouses at Halifax and Bermuda, supplies of all kinds at St. Lucia, Port Royal and Jamaica. With events approaching the stage of war declaration England would have powerful fleets at Halifax and Bermuda within a few hours of our coast cities.

   The United States is without coast defenses, from Maine to the gulf, on the gulf and on the Pacific, excepting New York and San Francisco. The defenseless condition of its coast line is known to every power. We haven't modern high power guns to arm defenses if we had the latter. We have a first-class navy, what there is of it. There isn't much of it, compared with England's. We have one first-class battleship, and two others so near completion that under pressure they can be ready in a few months. We have one second-class battleship, two armored cruisers, one coast defense vessel, two monitors in commission and three others that could be made ready in an emergency in a few weeks. We have 14 cruisers of 8,000 tons and upwards, half a dozen gunboats and two torpedo boats. There are, also, a dozen monitors old style, left from the War of the Rebellion, which would be serviceable for harbor defense—if properly armed. To the war cruisers could be added auxiliary ships from the merchant fleet—as soon as we could get guns for them. And here is an element of special weakness. We not only have no guns for the American line greyhounds, but none for the lake marine. Nor have we a reserve of guns in case of disablement of even one of those mounted on our battleships and monitors. And, finally, it is said there isn't enough powder in the United States to-day to supply what navy we have for a week of active work!

   Of coaling stations, we haven't any. When our warships, singly or in fleet, parade the South Atlantic, they coal at British coaling-stations. As the radius of the modern fighting ship and ordinary cruiser is limited, this element of weakness is material.

   With coast defenses lacking, and a diminutive navy, the United States is also in financial stress. The situation all around almost parallels that of 1861, when the Democratic party was last in control. The treasury then was exhausted, the army was weak, the navy, stronger than our present one comparatively, was scattered. Under the leadership of the president who declares the possibility of war, the United States has been brought down from the pinnacle of industrial prosperity and financial strength, to the depth of industrial prostration and financial demoralization. The treasury is living on borrowed money now as then. The revenues are inadequate for peace purposes; and thus in every particular, save indomitable pluck and lofty patriotism, wanting preparation we challenge the strongest naval power among nations!

   ◘ Should the war cloud blow over, one good result of it ought to be to arouse the American people to the necessity of making our coast defenses perfect, putting an invincible navy on the seas, and providing coaling-stations wherever needed. But for our lack of preparation for war in these two respects, England would cringe like a whipped dog whenever we issued our ultimatum to her government.

   ◘ President Cleveland is much like the cow that gave a good pail of milk and then kicked it over. He spoke manfully, courageously and patriotically in his Venezuelan message. But in the financial message with which he followed it, he appears to poor advantage. The attempt to utilize the Venezuelan situation to force his peculiar financial views on congress will prove a flat failure. The idea that our present business condition can be improved in any other way than by increasing the income of the government by restoring or raising the duties on imports will be regarded by the House as a piece of lunacy and be treated accordingly.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

AS TO THE DFATH OF MESSRS. GALPIN AND TRIPP.

The Jury Very Quickly Decided That Tripp Murdered Galpin and Then Shot Himself.

   The inquest to inquire into the cause of the deaths of R. W. Tripp and George W. Galpin was continued at Fletcher & Blackman's undertaking rooms at 10 o'clock this rooming before Coroner George D. Bradford and the following jury: Charles H. Danes, foreman, E. J. Bockes, Henry Bates, Charles Munson, Elmer Chaffee, John Kane, Wells Niles, Henry Ellsworth, John Bristol, J. J. Lament and Samuel Miller.

   Elmer Chaffee resumed the stand and testified that he knew of the trouble about the hens and never knew of Galpin's making any threats toward Tripp.

Witness detailed a conversation held between himself and Galpin on the Sunday morning before the tragedy in regard to the legal difficulty between Galpin and Tripp over the hens. Galpin told witness he was not afraid of Tripp's shooting him as he had threatened.

   Mrs. Michael NcNiff was next sworn. She resides near the scene of the tragedy, and heard the report of the gun. She went to the road and saw Will Galpin who said Mr. Tripp had shot his father. I went to where Mrs. Galpin was and saw Mr. Galpin lying in the road. Mr. Bristol carried Galpin's body to the house. Did not see Tripp that morning. Knew of the trouble existing between the two men.

   Will Galpin, 17 years of age, eldest son of George Galpin, testified that after breakfast the morning of Dec. 18, 1895, his father hitched up and started for Cortland at about 8:30 o'clock. Was in the house when he heard the report of the gun. Heard his mother scream and when he got out of doors saw her going up the road; he followed and overtook her. Saw his father lying in the road just east of the shed. Reached his father, picked up his head and his mother held it up and told him to go for a doctor. Just as witness got there he heard a cap snap, but heard no other report of a gun. He also knew of the trouble existing between his father and Tripp. Never heard any words between [them] than since three years ago. Did not see Tripp alive that morning. Last saw him alive Tuesday at 1 o'clock P. M. when Tripp drove past the Galpin house going west. Saw Tripp's body Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock in the shed.

   John E. Bristol resides about a quarter of a mile from the Tripp homestead and on the morning of the shooting at about 8:30 o'clock was summoned to the scene by a daughter of Mrs. McNiff. Found Galpin lying in the road about three or four rods east of the shed. He carried Galpin to the house and placed him on a bed. Galpin's head was covered with blood and there was a large hole in the temple. Did not know at that time that Galpin had been shot. Last May heard Tripp threaten Galpin's life. This was in Tripp's yard. Tripp said Galpin's hens were bothering him and he had told Galpin to take care of them and he had his gun loaded and would just as soon shoot every one of them as to look at them, (referring to the family.) Witness made no reply to this. Thought Tripp was only fooling, yet whenever talking about Galpin he seemed a good deal stirred up. After carrying Galpin to the house he went over to Tripp's and found him lying dead in the shed. Mrs. Tripp said, "Will you pick him up and carry him to the house?" Witness told her to wait until the doctor arrived. Dr. Bennett arrived in about three minutes. Saw a hole in Tripp's chest, the clothing on fire and a gun lying near, also a stick in his hand. Helped turn Tripp over.

   Dr. C. E. Bennett was next called. He performed the autopsy on the bodies of the two men and his evidence was substantially the same as previously told in The STANDARD.

   The evidence was closed at 12 o'clock and the jury after short deliberation rendered the following verdict:

   We, the jury, find that George W. Galpin came to his death to the best of our belief from the evidence given by a gun shot fired by Rensselaer W. Tripp on the morning of the 18th day of December, 1895, in the highway near the home of said Tripp in the town of Cortlandville, N.Y.

   That Rensselaer W. Tripp came to his death, to the best of our belief from the evidence given, by a gun shot fired by his own hand on the morning of the 18th day of December, 1895, on his farm at South Cortland, N.Y.

(SIGNED,)

CHARLES H. DANES,

JOHN E. BRISTOL,

E. J. BOCKES,

JOHN KANE,

ELMER D. CHAFFEE,

HENRY ELLSWORTH,

WELLS NILES,

SAMUEL WILLIAMS,

CHARLES MUNSON,

JAMES J. LAMONT,

HENRY BATES.

Business Change.

   The City drug store, which has been carried on by the Second National bank since February last, has to-day been sold to W. J. Perkins, late of the firm of Cobb & Perkins, who will take possession as soon as the inventory is completed. Work on the inventory starts to-morrow.

   Twenty-three years ago the first of last February, Mr. Perkins began his business career in Cortland in this same store, as clerk for Isaac W. Brown and Geo. H. Arnold, who then composed the drug firm of Brown & Arnold, and remained with them three years, acquiring a thorough knowledge of the drug trade and preparing himself for the successful venture which in 1875 he engaged in with Frank H. Cobb, in the retail and jobbing trade in bakestuffs, confectionery, fruits, etc., and which has since grown to be the largest jobbing house in Cortland. Mr. Perkins, therefore, is now returning to his first love in business and to a line to which he is by no means a stranger. He was as popular as a young drug clerk as he has since been as one of the partners in a large business, and under his enterprising and energetic management this old established drug stand will be sure to renew its youth and increase its patronage.

   Mr. Perkins expects to open the store on Thursday morning, and will at once begin a thorough overhauling and refitting. His many friends will be glad to welcome him back to the ranks of active business again, and will wish him the best of success.

PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT.

A Citizen and Fireman Shows Why This Would be Advisable.

   To the Editor of the Standard:

   SIR—Has Cortland two score of firemen that it doesn't need? Should there not be a limit to the number of firemen admitted to the Cortland Fire department and a voice as to who is eligible for membership? Should a man over forty years of age be elected to membership? A man looking only for exemption of taxes or a man drawing a pension from the United States government, in fact any man who is not physically able and willing to perform the duties of an active fireman, should not be in the department. Are not thirty active men enough for any company in the department?

   All the heavy apparatus is now drawn by horses. I think it has been thoroughly demonstrated that thirty men in a company are all that are needed. One company in the department decided three years ago that only active firemen should remain on their roll. They politely asked their commuting members to resign.  Other members who were not anxious to respond to the tap of the bell were dropped from the roll. I can vouch for this company that its officers are instilling into the minds of their men that to fight fire is the first duty of the company and any member who fails to get this through his head will get fired from the company.

   Who pays for the support of the Cortland fire department? Not the taxable property, but the citizens of the village pay the bulk of the expense. Should they be called upon to support a larger membership than is necessary? Are not thirty uniforms enough to pay for? Should the citizens pay this? Does the fireman who has no taxable property to reward him for his services want to pay this? I can assure you that this class of firemen are largely the active workers in the department and the liberal donators for its support.

   Lastly, does the taxpayer want his brother taxpayer exempt from five hundred dollars assessment when he is so good a fireman that he doesn't know the chief of the department—which is actually the case in one instance and not a new member either. What say the people on this subject?

   Is it not time to equalize the membership of the companies in the Cortland Fire department and thereby reduce the ranks to the actual needs of the city and save uncalled for expense or else along with our other improvements have a paid fire department?

   A CITIZEN AND A FIREMAN.

BREVITIES.

   —New advertisements today are: A. S. Burgess, page 8; F. Daehler, page 8; The Century Co., page 6; L. R. Lewis, page 6; Stowell's, page 6.

   —Word has been received in Cortland of the death at Reading, Pa, last Friday of Mrs. William Dunlap, formerly of Cortland, after fourteen weeks of intense suffering.

   —The children of the Sunday-school of Grace church will have a service on Christmas eve at 6:30 o'clock followed by the distribution of gifts from the Christmas tree.

   —Joseph Jefferson plays in Syracuse Friday night and in Ithaca on Saturday afternoon and evening. He will probably pass through Cortland on his way to Ithaca on the train which passes here at 8:48 and which connects with the E., C. & N. train for Ithaca at the junction.

   —The excursion train to Ithaca Saturday night, Dec. 28, with the party to hear Joseph Jefferson will leave Cortland at 7 o'clock, immediately after the arrival of the passenger train from the West. The excursion rate will be sixty cents for the round trip. Tickets good only on the date of sale.

   —The associated academic principals of the state of New York and the state council of grammar school principals will meet in Syracuse on Thursday and Friday. The first named organization will meet at the High school and the other one at the city hall. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Charles R. Skinner will deliver an address. Important matters will come up for consideration.