The Hawaiian gazette., 1873-12-10

them as noiselessly as the sunshine, and
they live and grow and achieve personal
distinction under il, in unhindered free
dom, and yet that same government has
all the strength aud crushing power Of the
avalanche, at any point where opposition
or rebellion arises This perfect freedom
and yet this cohesive strength could not
exist but for the character and intelligence
of the people. And need say that this
intelligence and character are comeli.
ness that God has put upon our country
Does she not owe them to the Christian
religion They are fruit Of Christian
ity. 1t was in the hearts of Christian men
that her common schools and colleges had
their origin. 1t is because the Christian
religion has moulded her institutions and
given spirit 10 her life, that her every
child, however poor, has the facilities for
an education, and that all her people re-
joice In free thought aud speech, and that
the fruits of science are plucked and en-
joyed by all, and that the humblest occu-
patton is relieved by inventions, and that
highest learning and skill come down to
help the commonest laborer, and that
knowledge and improvements send their
blessings through all departments of soci-
ETY., assisting, enriching and elevating all,
and that out of every rank and class rise
up the literary and the learned
1t is the nature of the Christian religion
to enlighten and to stimulate the mind
with love of truth and desire to know.
Its aim is to teach, to educate all Its light
shines for all 1t opens the treasures of
knowledge for all 1t says to none, this is
| too high for you you cannot understand;
it will be better for you not to know. 1t
puts the key of learning in every ones
hand and says to all, come, be wise, think
for yourself Christianity is thus the ami
mating principle of our modern civiliza-
ton, so characterized by research and dis
covery and general knowledge, and in this
way it is that our free schools, our gen.
eral intelligence, our open paths to all
learning and attainment, our clear and
comprehensive grasp of principles and
events, are the Lords comeliness, which
He has put upon us. The genius, the
spirit, the aim of our government accords
with that of Christianity in this, that
every person, the artisan, the laborer, the
housemaid, every one of whatever class
or color, should be educated, enlightened,
and receive the fullest personal develop
ment. Anything that would be check
on the freest and most general education
it regards as a blow ON the public safety
and prosperity. 1t looks upon ignorance
as its peril and upon knowledge as its
safeguard. America can conserve her ma
tionality and government only by the
general enlightenment of her citizens.
So too 1t is the nature of Christianity
to make men free. 1t would lead every
one to act and live under a sense of in
dividual responsibility 1t would break
every shackle that binds body or mind,
and would give to every one the most en-
larged and perfect iberty-not a liberty
of lawless license, but of liberty under
law-freedom TO choose and act for ones
self and yet responsible And this is the
very spirit of our country's freedom. 1t
is the very genius of her government to
develope a manly freedom by throwing
man on his responsibility. She calls on
every one to think and choose for himself,
and she leads every one to feel that his
country's welfare rests in part upon him.
She regards every man as q man; and |
she can act out her true spirit only |
as she removes all unequal restrictions
and let's every one become what he /
may, giving to European, African or
Malay, equal rights and privileges She |
cannot consistently cherish any prejudice |
of race. She tolerates no caste. She pro-
vides for no aristocracy, and the foreigner
that comes to her shores to be a citizen,
soon stands shoulder to shoulder and heart
to heart with the sons of her soil.
But further still we rejoice in our coun-
try's beauty to-day, not only for her gen.
eral intelligence and entire civil and reli-
gious freedom, but also for her pure Chris
tianity. She is comely in this Her church
es are many and strong. Her praying
men and women are power throughout
all her borders. The sun of righteousness
shines with unobscured light for every
heart and home. The whole land is full
of the knowledge of God. There is of
course much unbelief, but there is a pre-
vailing and pure Christianity. And the
many Christian homes and congregations
where God is honored and His presence
felt, and His grace is richly poured out, are
really a browning glory of our country.
We thank God to-day for her spiritual
beauty.
But finally, while we thank, we would
slso, as the President recommends, pray.
We would pray not only for her continued
but for her increased purity.
We know how her system of education is
lssailed. we know what influence from
abroad would disrupt her free schools and
make dim her lamp of knowledge. We
lnow how she is exposed to the vast
chemings of selfish men, and how her
oranges multiply in resistance to unscru-
'ulous monopolies. We know how her
cry ife's blood is in danger of vitiation
rom political corruption and venality.
We see with fear the sad decay of the
onor and truth of public men who have 6
zen her banner-bearers, and we look with
larm upon the increasing want of conf
ence in her lawmakers and judges and
xeeutive officers, and at the cupidity and
aste to be rich, which possess her bust
ess men and because of all this we are
be more deeply impressed with the fact
hat her welfare, her safety and greatness,
re inseparable from the intelligence, the
urity and virtue of her people. Religion
lould leaven her masses yet more tho n
oughly. The standard of Christian life
lould ba 1iffed vat hiohar Honor apd