The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-11-18
NEW SERIES-NO. 572

the sword, and that unbelievers and inf
dels must be put to death as . matter of
duty. Let me quote to you a passage
rom the Koran: "When ye encounter
the unbelievers, strike off their heads,
until ye have made q great slaughter
among them, and bind them in bonds,
and either give them a free dismission
afterwards or exact q ransom; until the
war shall have lain down it's arms" This
is gospel exactly suited to the temper
OF the times, and it is unlucky for our
consistency that no such passage can be
found in heNew Testament.
The morality of the New Testament is
TOO bright ard good
For human natures daily food.
When the occasion arises where it is
really needed it is laid aside, like Sunday
coat on working day. If a man should
go before Republican audience, and pro-
pose to settle the question between US and
our enemies, the rebels, by the applica-
ton of the teachings of Jesus of Nazereth.
he would be received with tempest of
vituperation and execration, and indeed
be lucky if he escaped without personal
violence. Verify Christ is again crucifed
among US, not indeed between two thieves.
but between two passions of hatred and
revenge.
1t is indeed melancholy fact that the
Christianity about which we talk SO much
and write so much, for which we build 50
many churches and support so many min
listers, has passed so little into our lives
and conduct, and especially so little into
government and politics and the rules
which regulate the conduct of States.
And when say it is melancholy fact, l
mean it not as vague, rhetorical express.
sion, but mean to say that much of the
calamities which have desolated the earth
and afflicted mankind-and especially of
the wars which have left these hideous
legacies of public debt under which every
state in Europe is groaning-can be traced
back to the fact that kings and princes
and rulers of the earth have paid no heed
to the rules and precepts of Christian
morality, but have given the reins to that
class Of qualities and motives which the
Gospel discourages and discountenanoes.
"Pride goeth before destruction, and a
naughty spirit before fall, - is not a mere
piece of sentimental twattle, meant for q
school-boy's copy-book, but q vital truth,
which history confirms on every page.
True humility" says Burke, els the low.
but deep and firm foundation of all real
virtue"
BURKE on CoNOlLIATION.
l have just quoted sentence from
Burke. While meditating on what Ishould
say to you tonight, have turned for in
splratlon and suggestion to the speech of
that lllustriOus man on conciliatiOn with
America. delivered in 1916. think this.
on the whole, the most beautiful speech in
the English language. It was written in
the flush and glow of the authors manhood.
before disappointment and opposition and
pecuniary embarrassment had unturned
the strings Of his sensitive and impassion-
ed nature, and made him morbid, irritable
and querulous. The dark side of the cloud
had not been turned towards him: the
future was bright with the orient colors of
hope. How full of wisdom it is of sound
practical craftsmanship and how full, too.
OF benignity, sweetness and gentlenessi
1t is a vernal landscape, where all is
Gloom, and verdue and balm of light,
The spirit. of that speech is expressed in
a well known passage found in it, which
was indeed the keynote to Burke.s whole
public life. call government, indeed.
every human benefit and enjoyment, every
virtue and prudent act, is founded on COM
promise and barter" He proposed to con-
ciliate the Colonies by giving up the griev-
ance of which they complained, the right
OF Parliament to tax them, and to allow
them to contribute to the common neces-
sites of the Kingdom by the grants of
their own legislatures. He told the House
of Commons that such people could not
be subjugated by force, and ought not to
be so subdued if they could. As the mother
country was strong and the Colonies were
weak, it was more honorable and more
safe for proposals OF accommodation to
proceed from the former. But the Parlia-
ment and the people of England were deaf
to the voice of this wise and good and
great man. "No terms with rebels"
"entire surrender" unconditional sub
MISSION" were the watchwords of that
day as they are now. And what the end
was we all know. Had the policy of that
speech prevailed, the revolution would
have been postponed for a generation