The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-03-25
VOL. XII.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

. duO OAfLotiduy NHDee name We
could not properly here bring forward, on q re.
cent day said, in select circle l begin 10
doubt whether Christianity has future in tia
world Why so7' asked one present, in sur.
prise at such an sugury from such quarter.
Because he replied, neither in Indis, nor in
America, nor anywhere at all in Europe. doe7
sny of the Governments called Christian i
do not say, do what is right-but even afFsc,
and pretend to take the right, as understood
and discerned by itself, as the law Of action.
Whatever it was once, Christianity ia now in all
the great concerns Of nations a mere eoclesi.
powerful for mischief but helpless
and useless for good. Therefore, begin 10
doubt whether it has future; for if it canno,
become anything better than it is, it has no
right to future in Gods world"
Enthusiastic reformers are apt to become
impatient at slow processes. They cannot
await the gradual correction of evil through
the almost imperceptble growth of a sound
public opinion. They forget that progress is
tedious and difficult, not because the agencies
of reform are imperfect, but because the sub.
jects of reform are impractieable. Truth s
powerful, but error is stubborn. Christanit7.
the highest and most authoritative form of
Truth, cannot operate on man, as wind upon
water, or steam upon locomotive. The in.
animate mass yields to the force applied to it,
and moves as directed. Man, as e free agent.
may resist all moral appliances, continue g.
norant, amidst light brutal, amidst all the hu.
manities of life. Truth has no absolute power
over him-he is not a machine. The Arts and
Sciences exert humanizing and elevaJing in.
huence on mankind; the education of the
masses promotes their comfort, their welldong
and well.being. Shall we dispense with these
agents, because human nature still remains
perverse, human institutions are imperfect,
human Governments too often regardless Ct
the law of right? Shall We say that they "bave
have no future" that they have 81 no right to
future in Gods world" because they are no
better than they are, because they are not SO
fruitful of good as we could wish them to be-
Christianity is belief in God, and in Jesus
whom He has sent, and conformity in heart
and life to the precepts Of Jesus. If its reform.
atory efforts have not been felt in all the world
it is because it has not been proclaimed in ell
the world-snd whose fault is that? II its re.
formatory influence, where it has been pro-
claimed, is limited, whose the fault? Is Truth
to be blamed because men disbelieve it, or re.
fuse to conform their action to it? You might
as well blame God for having 80 constituted
man that he can resist the Truth. That is
strange philosophy which declares that a pure
system of faith and practice has 81 no righi to
future in Gods world" because al men will no.
embrace it and live up to Il. The distin.
guished foreigner quoted By the Rericu
would have Christianity substituted by some
agency, which, acting by an irresistible power,
would compel individuals and governments to
think and feel and act precisely in obedience to
its mandates. Had God intended to govern the
world in this way He would not have made
man a free agent-in other words, BE would
have created no being in the image Of Him
self.
1t is not worth while to grow impatient, to ez.
aggerate the prevalence ofevil, or depreciateth9
working of good. Of nearly six thousand years,
during which, according to the popular idea,
the human race has occupied the earth, Chris.
tanitY has bsOH operating fer "a less period than
two thousand, and, so far as we can see, IL des.
tined to operate for ar indefinite period to come.
He must have read History to little purpose
who denies or questions the incalealable prog.
ress thus far of mankind under It's influence
the elevation of the masses, the Disappearance
of barbarous customs, the increase of comfor,
intelligence, refinement, the growth Of humane
sentiments, the establishment of Justice as the
foundation of International Law, the develop.
ment and recognition of Human Brotherhood
as the characteristic Element of Modern Civil.
zstion.
We can detect no indications of waning
strength in this great agency. All other forms
of religion are becoming lifeless, powerless for
proselytism, or dying out in atheism. Christi
snity alone has life and aggressive energy. The
nations which recognise ii rule the world, and
are marching on to possess it. The civilization
to which it has given birth and form is irresis..
IDLE, and its domination in every part of the
earth is only question of time. Governments
acknowledge its maxims, and act upon them,
just so far as their subjects are christisnized,
and can make their opinions felt in the councils
of State. So far from the proposition being
true that they not only do not do what IS
right but do not even affect and pretend to
take the right, as understood and discerned by
themselves as the law of action" the reverse is
true. The Governments of Christendom, under
the influence to greater or less extent of Pub.
lie Sentiment, often do Right, prefer to do
Right, other things being equal; aud rarely, If
ever, engage in any action which they will I'D.
NIT to be wrong. In fact, the 6rst effort Of a
responsible, respectable Govern ment is, to prove
that its policy is right-it claims to take the
Right, as understood and dscerned by itself,
as the law of action" In ali controversies be-
tween Christian Governments, their appeal is to
international Law, the basis of which is the
Law of Right, or the Principle, Whatsoever
ye would that men should do you, do likewise
to them" In ancient wars, private property
was despoiled, and the vanquished were en-.
shaved by the couquerors. In modern, private
property is respected, and the conqueror who
would dare to drag into captivity the People Of
the vanquished nation, would be deemed
under the law of nations.
Modern nations have united to put down Tie
African slave trade, on the ground that it is
Urong and an outrage. The English, French,
Dutch, Danish, and South American Govern.
ments, have suppressed Slavery, because their
People believe it violation of Right and sound
policy: they have taken taken the Right as
the law of their action. The same Idea is NOV.
ing the Russian Government against SerfdOm.
France and England united aaainst Rnssia.