Rev. Fred T. Collins
Bitterly Opposed to League of Nations. . . Takes Occasion to Condemn League of
Nations at Sunday Morning Service. . . America for America, Says Mr. Collins. .
. Would Lock the Doors of Immigration and Throw the Keys Away
Rev. Fred T. Collins, the vigorous and able pastor of the
Ahoskie Baptist church, speaking from the pulpit last Sunday morning, announced
that he was unalterably opposed to any agreement which would draw America
closer to European Nations. The League of Nations, soon to be adopted by the
Peace Conference at Paris, was condemned by the speaker. Before asserting
boldly his opposition to this proposition, he made it clear to his audience
that he felt little in measuring thoughts with the president; but, further
stated that the League of Nations, in his opinion, should never be entertained
by American statesmen.
His proposition, in its premises, laid that this country was
now facing a decision between the principles laid down by George Washington and
those promulgated by our present President Wilson. “It is Washington or
Wilson,” said Mr. Collins. He was convinced that this country should choose the
advice and teachings of the former. He was not too kind to the modern
statesman, who he pictured subsequently disregarding the will of those who
placed him in position to represent them in politics. He declared this way the
present day lawmaker disregarded the express wishes of a free born American
citizenship.
Politically speaking, he said, this country was going at a
pace now that was either destined to result in slavery and bondage or it would
develop into the spread of Bolshevism in the United States. Taxation, he said,
was becoming so burdensome and the country was being plunged so headlong into
excessive debts that slavery would be the final outcome, or, the common people
of this country would react to the extent that Bolshevism would reign here as
in Russia today. Although, he said, “I hate the principles of Bolshevism” yet
he stated further that it was partly brought about by oppression akin to what
this country is destined to place upon its people if present tendencies are an
index to what the future will bring.
His words indicated his stand for a “closed America.” He
said “shut the doors of immigration, lock the doors, and throw the keys away.”
He would have America settle her own affairs. He would have her keep away from
Europe; have nothing to do with European politics. Scorn any agreement that
would have the American army and navy go across the waters to foreign lands to
fight. He stated that he did not believe American soldiers should be shipped
across the sea to fight for foreign lands. They, he said, should never leave
this country. Their fighting, according to Mr. Collins, should be done at home,
and in home defense.
For this part of his Sunday morning discourse was a preface
to the presentation of the Million Dollar Campaign for the Baptist Educational
Schools in North Carolina. Although the preface had to do for the most part
with politics, his appeal that followed was met with a good response by the
???, the church members. Over a thousand dollars was subscribed, and a
committee was appointed to solicit further contributions.
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