Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-07-20

character Of our govornment Ask the chris
tan philosopher whence our greatness, and his
answer is different. While he admits the things
just enumerated, he admits them oaly as means
n Gods hand. He knows that il is God who
turns fruitful land into baTenness for The sins
Of the inhabitants thereof He is well assured
that the divine providence extends 10 nasions-
that Jehovah mlelh among the nations Of the
earth and giveth them 10 whomever he will
While then we stand, as we do, on this the an
niVersary of our birthday, and see our territory
sweeping across a whole eontinent--our sails /
whitening every ocean-our flag respected IN
every port--our ministers accredited at the
courts Of the leading nations Of the eaFIh-our
land an asylum for the oppressed, model for
republics, and the home Of the wandering-well
may we adopt the language of The patriotic Jew
and say, "He hath not dealt so with any ma
tion."
But is there no dark spot visibel Is there
no cloud TO be seen on our nations hor'
zonl Is there no spot even the size Of mans
hand that seems to betoken coming storm3-
We should watch with incessant vigilance lest
our very prosperity engender the seeds Of our
ruin. fit is righteousness that confers great
ness on nation the continued practice of right
eousness is necessary to perPetuate that great
ness.
A practiced eye can certainly discover some
things that are layorabe-sOme things that
betoken unhealthy symptoms in our national
constitution. Let us in this connexion look at
some ofthese.
First. The prevalence Of skeptica sentiments
If the idea we have taught be true--thas Gods
providence is closely connected with the rise,
progress and overthrow of nations, then the dit.
fusion and belief of infdel sentiments must be
offensive to God and direct stroke at our ma
. ,onal welI.being. And it requires but little
observation TO perceive that skepuclsm is now
prevailing in our country. thousand infdel
minds are employed in celebrating the moral
poison. thousand pens are employed IN ii1'
ting it up to The taste Of the multitude; iniusng
. il in diluted state into the novel; the lnhde
D tract and the chronological essay. thousand
$ hands are employed in giving these productions
e to the world in a cheap form through the ns'ru
!. mentality of the press-and ten thousand boys
and girls are engaged in hawking the immora
}. and perncious issues Of the press through tn
!. land. They meet the traveller in every stag
office, on every steamboat, and in every railroad
car. Thus this moral miasma is difused.
IS bad leaven that is thus being dispersed thrO
Q society. In proportion as raIion turns TO skeP
n tcism it turns from God. As fast as it verge
q TO infdelly it verges to ruin. Had all tn
J. youth and aged of the land within the comPas
;. ofmy voice as you are, would faithfully war
n them against the use of the light, fro'hy
,e imaginative issues of the press that are ser
n. over the land as thick as the locusts with whic
ii we have been infected. They are the channe
|. through which society is likely to become i'm
re preenated with poison as deadly as that of tn
4. Upas tree, although of a different characterl
,d second dark feature TO which would brie
m lv advert is Sabbath desecration. This IS
Il. evil often noticed in public addresses; and it
he one that ought often to be noticed. Scarcel
90 auv national sin mas been more signally rebu
Il. ed in the orderings Of Gods punitive Judg
~. mep,s than this. Look at the history OF u
~. Jews. Contemplate that people carried IN
ov E,aptiyity--,heir beautiful temple demolished
N. their fruitful fields and vineyards in state
m. barrenness-and the land given up to comPa'
,is tive desolation. And all this evil was broug
do on that people that the land might ENJOY
w Sabbatbs. Thus does God vindicate the lns
+" tuition of the Sabbath and proclaim his dlsPlt
MP sure at every infraction Of it. Our own natl
Ii. has much to fear in reference to this very poi
,ve While it is gratifying to know that on some
We our public works there is some regard iof
or Sabbath and that conventions of good men
nod often called for the purpose of promoting its
tied ter observance-still tits painful to see that
7s. express law of heaven is 50 slightly regarded
nal nav, that it is so directly opposed and tramp
I'M on, and that too in high places and by 'h'
rec. whose duty it is to promote the observance
ose every thing that tends to advance the na'lo
Ory good.
self Another unfavorabie symptom is grow
,ne spirit Of insubordinasion. There is 10 'hs
see a lamentable increase of laxi'y in family
ugh cipline. Perhaps mistake in this natter b.
b. fear do not. 1t is too manifest that ther
orth a remissness in family training that augurs
ash. " for the future. The family is the nurs
.ntic ortbe State. 1t is the first of all societies
ut it the foundation of all. One of the first less
land a child should learn, is subjection to the WI
ired. those who are its superiors in knowledge
our n,;ss;on tn dulv constituted authority is n