Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-07-15

And let uB Wi4nDantiOn indulge the Bupp0eitioi
that morality can be maintained without reh
gion. Whatever may be conceded to the infiu
| ence OF refined education ON minds Of pecnlia
structure, reason and experience both forbid u
TO expeot that national morality can prevail h
the exclusion Of Religious principles" 2
How very unlike. alas the Language Of tn
dsy Whfls Waahington's suoosssoFu have In ev
sry iaseasos q. already stated Cfor which VI
ought 10 b. thankfuD paid some homage x
God, yet No look In vain anong them for any
IKE prc@.nsnes g!vsn g an argument in favoi
And wAsn - dssosnisto the lower grades oil
ohisess lsgislatiys O. judicial, how perfectly
fearful 10 the sRht oe tho sinfulness that per
yadss them an NO more cynic, blaming fsI
tho ample pleasure Of blaming, and unduly Ok
aEsssatang the evil OF our knss. Iaa m hum.
BILE and unworthy ambassador Of Christ and
pssaching IN His name. I.dssirs not only for Hi
eS Das sus ss9 3cs ~ pssns ysssE, s eSs 49, shi,
usdsftahs - people 70 do shouh be underta
ken in His name. relying upon His oountenance
and aid, and purposing TO magnify His honor.
Filled with this desire, and oonscous Of how nv
own conduct would fail to be acquitted of wrong.
doing 10 the judgment Of the all.holy Lord
fences which We - Republic are daily commit
ting against His plainly revsaled statutes.
suppose that no true patriot would fail to
endorse, at least in general, the sentiments CON-
taiued in that well-matured and unanswersble
Declaration which this Day in 70 was promul-
wide (and fear growing) tendency nowadays
70 press to tho EXTREMIST verge q possibility,
the principles Of liberty and Independence then
90 briefly and yet 90 boldly enunciated. And
IN nothing is this tendency no palpabie as in
matters Of religion and coincidence. For where
~ IN matters Of politics there are certain re-
strictions imposed by the Constitution and LAWS
which cannot be disregarded with impunity,
there is nothing claiming to bear only spiritu-
a. OF religious character which may not be pub
cred, doubtless, an infringsmens upon the ina-
lenAble rights Of citizens were the Gov
eminent to interfere with the teachings Of some
Of these creeds and platforms. A storm
Of scorn and Threatened violence would be his
portion who would undertake to obtain such
Legislation. And yet my own mind is perfectly
clear upon this point, viz that many Of these
very ao-called religious doctrines and the AZ
soclations which sock to make them popular are
20 manifest!y fraaght with mischief to the com.
mon wea! that it 10 part Of patriotism, the duty
OF Christian statesmen, the instinct Of sslf-pre-
servaton, to iDterpose any and every iuBt and law
full in their way before they have obtained
such . held upon the thousands who stand ready
for any thing th It 10 novel. or which COMEDIES
easily with Il cir natural wills and appetiter, a.
to jeoI ~ li1e ths very life Of the nation. 10.
ed not tell you Of the almost countless
tsms which starting In our Eastern and Middle
States aud staying there long enough to involve
their adherents in al manner of nfidelity and in
dinerehce, have travelled to the Western States
and Territories, 10 defle their virgin soil with
their pernicious dogmas and practices, nor need
remind you Of tho powerful and defiant attitude
for many years assumed in the very heart Of our
country by the adherents Of the loathsome
doctrines Of Mormonism. And to-day while we
are sending our ,self-denying and coursgeo
missionaries TO teach Christ's Gospel to China and
Japan We arc Threatened with an intro
duotion into our permanent population Of
thousands from these very lands. who come de-
their heathen and idolatrous systems and OBJ
servances. Thus while We arc endeavoring to
christanize China aud Japan. they are doing
what they can to heathnize Amerca.
an undue prominence, but l tell you, dear breth-
ern, that with the present legalized license in
religious concerns, the consequent laxity in
morals, the divided state Of Christlani.n, 49,
ipozdinstp- -taai-yes out9zM honey and Office,
the low and almost meaningless qualifications
which We require Of those who mako and ad-
minister oar laws, and the prevalence Of na.
tional pride and self -oomplacency which would
persuade us that our country can endure almost
everything before it can be permanently injured;
Il tell you that with all this staring us in our
eyes, l think we have great reason to appre-
bend that We care but little for that righteous
ness which alone exalteth nation, and that We
have no greater fear Of that sin which il re-
prosch to any people.
believe have great love for my country,
and can adopt with but change OF name tho
words OF the poet Cowper-
"America, with all thy faults
l6vs thee still, my country;
And while yet nook III LETT
Where thy minds and manners mAy be found.
Shall be constrained to love thee.'
1t is because love her that would have her
made aware OF her faults and seek TO remedy
them before they become her ruin.
= 81. kkx.k T I,.u t,,at l1aa NJ
glorious opportunity she has for the fuldllment
OF misson which to us seems TO excel IN
grandeur and beneRcence anything that has yet
been entrusted TO any nation OF the world. l
know, toe, her capacities for its accomplishment.
Marvellously favoursd by natural gifts and en-.
dowmonts, peopled with men Of intellect, and
heart, and energy from all the races Of the
earth, she stands ready to do, ~ 1t would
appear, Whatever 10 exacted OF her.
But, brethren, She can only iui-
by acknowledging, observing, and maintaining
those principles OF TRUTH and order, and holiness
which have their source from God, and the grace
needful for their suprsmacy can come alone
from Him. Based upon any other foandAuon
and lasting greatness and nobility will ere long
bring naught but empty disappointmens and
unAvailing lamentations
Be IL our part then, my dear fellow citizens
and brethren, to strive to conform each one his
own soul and life TO the known will Of our hsav-
enly Father IN all things. Then by the consist
ency Of our word and example, we may 30 re-
commend everywhere throughout the land our
faith in the one only Father and Saviour and
SaDctifier As to give peace and Joy to all within
her borders and 10 make her an enaign for all
the surrounding nations, upon which may be
read from afar the instructive aud cheering
legend, " Blessed are the people whose God is
| the Lord Jehovah, and blessed are the folk that
| He hath chosen to Him to be His inheritance "
|