The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-02-29

Church IN a Free State. This idea-a
reality here, is becoming such to many
nations. Separation Of State and Church
is soon to be an accomplished fact in all
Europe Still more than this is neces-
sary. A pure religion is impera:ively
required Christianity furnishes this.
1t is the basis of all our. prosperity, and
our Influence for good to other nations.
God promised to set Israel on high bove
all nations, if they4sobeyed him, if they
fulfilled the conditions OF such, an exala-
nation. | do not really believe In mani.
fest destiny-that it ia inevitable our
future will be all we mag desire. There are
conditions for all kinds of success for
nations as we'll as individuals Niebhur
said with his usual penetration-''N No
nation can be great, unless its people are
unselfiah, manly and noble Said John
Bright, No amount Of prosperity ,of good
laws, of. commerce, of harvests, or of intelli-
&c ICE. viii be 4 benefit if its people are not
virtuous and moral. But how shall we
secure these. The great John Foster
desirious of. and expecting great change
in the social system of the Old World,
was anxious to discover that conservative
principle, by which society can be kept
together, when crowns and mistress shall
have no more influence. And he says
| that the only conservative principle must
| be, and is Reltgionl The authority of
God His Revealed Will! and the IN
| fucnce of the teaching of the ministers of
Christianity. Daniel Webster, in one of
| his grandest orat1ons said : "What would
be the condition Of all your families. of
all our children. What would become Of
| their morals, their excellence. their puri-
| ty of heart and life, their hope for time
and eternity! What would become of
all those thousand ties Of sweetness, be-
neyolence, love and christian feeling, that
now renders our young men and young
maidens, like comey plants growing up
| by streamlet side-the graces and the
grace of opening manhood-,of blossom
ing womanhood? What would become
| of all that now renders the social circle
lovely and beloved? What would be-
come of society itself? How could they
exist without Christianity"
Washington in his Farewell Address
to the people Of the United States said {:
"Of all the dispositions and habits
which lead to political prosperity, relig-
ion and morality are Indispensable sup
ports. In vain would that man claim
| the tribute of patriotism, who should
| labor to subvert these great pillars Of
human happiness, these frmest props Of
the duties Of men and citizens. And let
US with caution indulge the supposition
that morality can be sustained without
religion. Whatever may be conceded to
the influence Of refined education on
minds Of peculiar structure, reason and
experience, both forbid US to expect that
national morality can prevail in exclusion
of religious principle.
And He whose name is above any
! uaDe, VINO IOuCiletl tUG nOuntdluS
and they smoke who holds the waters
in the hollow Of his hands," to whom
''the nations are as drop in the buck
ct, who speaks and it is done, against
whom there is neither counsel nor
might" the Aymiqhty has said, Right
eousness exalteth nation, but sin is a
repi zach to any people" and ''the nation
and kingdom that will not serve Him
shall pesish yea, those nations shall be
utterly wasted" God speaks to US to-
day as to Israel Of old. "And it shall
come to pass, if thou shalt hearken dill
gently 20 the voice of the Lord thy God,
to observe and to do all my command
monts, that the Lord thy God will set
thee on high above all the nations of the
earth"