Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-10-18
WHOLE NUMBER, 1898.
Religion Of RsVOlationarY Msa.
BTLLMARrIEE.

KSoE-I sigh when I think of is--thst
hitherto The French people have bsea The Issss
religious Of all the naiOns Of Europe. sIts
oecauss the idea Of 0od-whIeh arises from al
he evidences Of Nature. and from ths depths
'f reflection, being the prOfoundest and weight.
est idea Of which human intelligence IL eapa.
ble-and the French mind being the most Fsp-
d. but The most Superficial. the Hghtest. ahd
most reflective Of all RurOpean raess-sbs mind
ha' not the force and severity necessary 70 car.
y far and long the greatest conception Of the
hamau uuderstsndingi
Isit because our governments have Glwsvs
taken upon themselves to think for US, 70 be,
isve for Us and to pray for rs his because
We are and have been military peOpIs. SOl-
led BY kings, heroes, ambitious
men. from battlefield 70 battle field, making
cOnquesss, and never keeping them. ravaging.
dazzling charming, and eOrruptng Europe
and bringing home her manners, ,viees brngsry.
lightness, and impiety Ofthe camp 70 he Gre.
side Of the people
/ know not, but certain 4 Is, Fthat the nation
has en- immense progress to make in serious
thought il she wishes to remsin free. II We
look at the chaEAetsn, compared as regards
religious sentiment, Of the great nation of Ru.
rope, America, even Asia, the advantage e
not for rs. The great men Of other countries
live and dielOOking at the spectator. or, ct most
ct pOsterity' ..rs.s.s rt a
Open the history Of Ameriea, the .histors of
France read the great lives, the great deaths,
the great nsrtyrdOms, the great words ct he
hour when the ruling thought Of Life rsEeah
itself in the last words Of the dying and CON-
pare. - -.4....
Washington and FrAnklin fought, suffered,
and ascended and descended in their political
life, always 10 the name of God, for whom shey
acted, and the GberatOr of America died, con.
6ding to God The liberty Of the people And bis
own soul. .-A., s---
Sidney, the young martyr Of . patriotism,
guilty Of nothing but impotence. and who died
to expiate his cOun!ry'a dream Of liberty, said
to his jsilOr-'I rejoice that I die innocent 70.
ward the king. but victim, resigned to the
King on High. to whom all my life is dus.'
The republicans of CrOmwslI only sougb.
the way Of God. even in the blOcd Of battles,
Their policies we're their faitL-their reign .
prayer--their death psalm. 0ns hears. sees
feels, that God was in all the movements of
these great people. @ l. .....s
But cross the sea, traverse La Maneha. .eoms
to our times, open our annals. and listen to the
last words Of the great political actors Of the
drama Of our liberty. One would tAink that
God was sclipsed from the soul. that bis name
was unknown in the language. History win
have the air Of an atheist, when she recounts
to pOsterity these annihilations. rather than
deaths, Of celebrated men'in the greatest year
of France The victims only have ; God. the
tribunes and vittors have none. .. t...-
Look at Mirabsau on the bead Of death
Grown me with hOWers,' said he; 'intoxicats
me With perfumes. Let me die at the sound
Of delicious music word Of God or Of
bis soul. Sensual philOsOper; he desired only
supreme sensualiam, Lass vOluPtuOusnsss In
his agony. i.... -.--..
Contemplate Madam Roland, the stlOng-
hearted woman Of the revolution. on the ear.
that conveyed her to death. She looked conf
temptuously on the besOsted people who kill
ed their prophets and sybils. Not glance Io-
ward heaven. Only one word for the earth
she was quitting Oh, EdbertyP
Approach the dungeon door Of tbs GirO0-
dina. Their last night is banquet, DE only
hymn, the Marseilaise
Follow Camille DesmOnlins TO his execution.
A cool and indecent pleasantly Of the trial.
and, long imprecatiOn on the road. to the guilIO-
tine, we're the two last thoughts q this dying
man on his way to the last tribunal.
Here DantOn on the platform Of the ssafold.
At the distance Of a line from God and eternity
i have had a good time OF it. let one go 10
Sleep Then to the executiOner-'YOu viii
show my head TO the people. il Is worth the
.rOubler-HIs faith. Annihilatio \. bis last sigh.
vanity. Behold the Frenchmsn Of this latter
age. -
What must one think Of the religious sehd-
ment Of free people. whose great figures seem
thus to march in procession to annihi&tIOn and
to whom that te rrible mInister--death hself.re,
oAIIs neither the threstenings or promises Of
God.
The republic Of these men without God hAs
quickly been stranded. The liberty Won via
60 much heroism and 50 msch genius. has MOI
found in France. . conseisncs 20 shelter Il. :
God TO avsnge IT, q people to defend \ against
that atheism which has been called glory. ~
ended In soldier and some spOssale EepsbIieaAs.
trayestied into courtiers. An asksistie rtpahlk
csuism cannot be heroic. When you teFfiiy &.
- a a Il. IL L.