The New York herald., 1870-05-08
Material and Moral Aspocrs Of Profes-

tautism.
Every system of religion is in It's nature
dual; it has material and u moral aspect.
With some the form sr takes precedence. with
others the latter. Professionalism, the latest
form Of ChriIIianity, presents these phases to
the world in very striking degree. Looking
at it materially we fad that the world has
never had system Of religion that has
progressed SO rapidly in physical greatness
and power Three hundred and fifty years
ago it had no material standing among men
1t was the religion of but few persons, who
professed it in secret places-in deserts AMI in
mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
1t is now the religion Of the leading nations OF
the world-Amerlca, Eagla ID, Prussia ana
North Germany, Scandin avia and other por-
tions Of Western and Csntr Il Earope. 1t is now
the religion Of courts and princes, and is pro-
tossed by abo 1t one hundred AID Gfsy millions
OF people in both hemispherss. Three centu-
ries ago these nations had no material or
moral standiny, and some of them existed
through sufferance aud some had no existence
at all. Look at them now. The wealth OF
the world is in their hands. And this is cspe-
cially true Of Great Britain and America,
the mother and daughter OF modern Protes-
tantism. They are to-day the commercial car.
riers for all nations. Tney are emphatically
the merchants, the manufacturers the bankers
and the shopkeepers of the earth. They
own and work the productive mines Of coal
and iron and the precious metals from
which the nations Of the world draw their
supplies. The homes Of mankind are heated
with English or American coal. Their ships
are built with timber from American forests
and iron from British and American minss.
1t Is true that Russian aud South American
forests furnish large amount of ship timber
and precious wood; but even this is converted
into articles for human use largely
by the skill Of English and Ameri-
can mechanics. The cotton and wool
of American and British colonial plan
tations and pastures clothe to great extent
the civilized people of the world, and our
granaries supply them with food. Protestant
ism has given the great Ango-Saxon Ameri-
can people their .pre-eminence in material
point of view. Professionalism has made
Prussia the superior of other and larger
European States. Professionalism has given
Sardinia the controlling influence in Italy, and
has enabled Switzerland to maintain her
autonomy for centuries, though surrounded
on every side by foes. Professionalism, though
of very poor sort, has enabled the other
nations named to maintain an independent
position among European States.
But the material greatness Of Professionalism
is more apparent in the application Of these
elements in the annihilation of space and time,
and the elevation of mankind, than in the
mere possession Of them. The application Of
steam as a motive power has made coal and
iron more important than they could possibly
be otherwise, and has brought remote peoples
almost within speaking distance Of each other.
British and American steamers plough the
oceans, and British and American iron binds
the distant nations of the earth in one com
mon brotherhood. The United States has
about forty-eight thousand miles of railroad
traversing the several States, while England
has about eighteen thousand. The wealth of
in India, China and Japan, in Mexico and Cen
trail and South America, and in the islands of
the sea. British and American gold, has also
almost encircled the earth with telegraph
wires, and the Pacific Ocean cable to China
and Japan is another of the movements OF
mankind for closer unity and family fell
lowship which should be encouraged. The
time will come when we shall be glad to
have for neighbors and customers the millions
of Asia and Africa, and by continuing our
liberal policy towards them now we may secure
their friendship hereafter. 1--we traverse their
rivers with steamboats, and their highway Us
with locomotives; if we show them that we
are desirous of holding communion with them
through the telegraph and the printing press,
they will reciprocate our kindly feelings and
become our best and most steadfast friends.
1t is well understood that the precious metals
have been going for ages toward India and
China. where millions of dollars worth has
been boarded up. By and by the balance O
trade Will turn III our IaVor, anu al tnis Roio
| and silver, together with much more Of native
| wealth, will flow back to our Golfers. But our
policy must be unseldsh, else we shall drive
| them to seek other markets. The United
| States now holds the most acceptable and
| foremost position among civilized nations
toward the great Asiatic empires. They re-
| spect and honor us, and there is no good rea-
son, If we act wisely, why we should no
speedily open up direct trade with the Eas
by way Of the Pacific Ocean, which shall b
worth millions of dollars annually to our mer.
| chants and manufacturers.
It will be understood that the moral stand
ing of nations in this age depends greatly
upon their material status. Hence those ele
ments Of material greatness that we have