The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1868-06-03
Fjr the Sentinel.
FJr the Sentinel.
tBT REQUEST
THE D1Egers oF civilization.
By ". a. URoCHART.

7
| in mists and clouds, and the morning squail
| Of revolution, it may seem to such an one
! like one long summer forenoon, serene and
| brightning upward TO its meridian with the
| prophecy Of an afternoon Of mellow glory,
and sunset Of peace. But to one who
| drops below tue surface of things, aud seeks
! to penetrate the causes Of human actions,
our national day is no suhmer holiday, but
clouds hang n,utteriug about its horizon,
the lightning crinkles in and out of their
dark folds, and the rising wind shakes the
peighboring tree, and tells US that mighty
elements play into our Summer beauty and
prosperity, and terrible tornadoes and
! hurricanes are born beneath lucid skies like
| these. Indeed, all the problems Of society
grow more complicated aud formidable, az
we introduce new and potent, though beneti-
cent agents into them, such as general
Education, Freedom, franchise. Equality,
Sovereignty and Christianity. Once it was
only like this two and two make -four; new
it is quadratic EQUATION, linonieal the
Drum, the Calculi ana the Meehaniquo
Celeste. To boast, therefore, or dogmatise,
or prophesy, dre pcne of them very wise or
appropriate things for nineteenth century
man to do America, Freedom, Ciyiliza-
tive, empirical, experimental, not conclusive
and determined quantities. The unknown,
and awkward X has still go to be worked
out the be t way we can, And 1t Will be
all the better for US ii we knit our hrows
somewhat stelnly over the amazing calcula-
ton while longer, and seek TO master iis
profound clements and its novel result, be-
fore we cry to confidently or prematurely,
"Isurekal' a. h
Especially does il becomes us seriously to
consider that we live in a new world, have
a new kind of government in operation,
new fusion of races and nations and that it
would be most remarkable if under such
circumstances, some unexpected eonsequen-
ces did not turn up, and the predictions OF
the most sagacious heads be put to con
fusion or to naught. Worse fortunes or
better may befal US than we have yet con
icctured in our widest imaginings. We
may have f0ndy conceived that If we stir
the Declaration of Independence, the Spell
ing Book, the slate, and the Geography IN
to rur national conelomcrate it will uiti-
mat" itself necessarily in free, intelligent
and happy nation. n! that, and no less,
80 more. But what if the Declaration of
Independence would not conscnt 10 be stirr,
cd in that way? Whdt if tie boiling hqud
floats it off as scum-foats off the New
Testament for season as a scunl-2rowS
lactious, rebelious, and Mormoaizesp and
barbarzos? Merely saying good words vii
not make good people or calling them free.
will not save them from the rankest kind Of
despotism and oligarcy. We have had
some shrewd touches already, that should
admonish MS that we have vary critical,
difficult and rerplcxing comLla:lon of pow.
ers to deal with in AmC rican society; anf
that while other nations show with tolerabln
certainty what they can he and do, IN our
all is afoat The clements are too
large and various, and surprising to admit
of the widest Yankee guessing. We know
one thing; we know that the Lord reigneth;
that is about all re do know with assurance
in the question Of destiny. We snail yery
likely be great deal worse, AMI very likey
too, great deal better as nation and asa
history than We have any idea of of: ant
we shall surprise the world by showing how
new and unexpected human lltc always ls
in this world.
1t is usually thought, and very likely tru-
ly, that the effect OF civilization is 10 en-
hance mans intellectual and moral power.
But is that all pure and solid gold? All
is good; all knowledge is power.
But the wider you extend your periphery,
the more points Of attack $ou expose to the
enemy Temptations, there
fore flow in apace with every new victory
Of freedom, every nYasion into error, and
every hitch forward Of the reform. We
are not arguing down modern Improvements,
but we are. announcing the peremptory and
ur escapable condition on which we gain
even the best fought battle.
The condition of the barbarians is in same
respects safer than ours If he is poorer in
the means of a true and refined existence,
he is exempt from some Of its Circean al
lurcments. The relations of life are simpler,
and all are not cut aud trimmed as if by rote.
The temptations of business, politics, and
literature, of society, come in with civiliza-
ton and they complicate every social ques-
ton with new and inextricable dangers.
Now, in this perilous destiny. what can
save US? What can give right direction
to the advancing forces Of our country aud
age? What shall impart conservation tu
the new capital of Intelligence, science,
commerce and materialism, Invested in our
civilization? Wherewith shah republican,
ism cleanse its way?
In saying that the relig igion Of Christ fur
nishes the only available safeguard, we
wish to be understood in no commonplace
sci nso. The religion Of Christ, as ccre-
mony ss a creed, as a dogma, oras an emo
ton, cannot mt ct and satisfy those immense
and exigent needs. 1t must be more than
that; and yet these are the most salient
forms in which it is put forth by the great
Churches, Roman Catholic, Calsinistic,
Methodist, as the salvation of the world.
Clergymen seem to be afraid of good work.
They warn their people Of then, as if they
thought they were dangerous. Now let VIZ
once for al, that only the real
solid spirituality of The go pei can save the
soul, or the race. The fossil Of
a doctrine, however tenacously held, the
Of ceremonies, holding to ].
pattern creed, agitaling the sonl with few
burning emotions, and passing throughs
rapid revival process all this apails nGth-,
ing if the soul Of man is not brought into
living End permanent obedience, harmony
and love with the Divine VIII There II
no way Of shamming d religion, 50 that il
will wors likes genuine article, Oxygen
cannot be made to do the work Of Nitrogen,
and as little can ecclesiastieisn, or priest
craft or sectarianisni, however they may
chrlsteu themselves with holy and orthodox
names. alsNers the ends Of pure soul
and soul nourishing spirituality
STEuBESyILLE. O.
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