The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-07-19

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The world should be at Peace,
And iC Wen would show their
might,
let those who make the quarTeIs be
The only ones to Fight.
The Pan-Presbyterian council is so
called not because OF its rusticity, Pan
having been the foremost of rural del
les to whom the author of the
Georges did especial reverence. On
the contrary, this grand council, which
sat many days at Edinburgh, Scotland,
and has just adjourned to meet in 1880
in Philadelphia, was constituted of
the profound thinkers of Presbyterian
Churches in all quarters OF the globe.
Men Of greater learning, in one direc-
tion, or acuter logicians and moralists,
were never convened. Their purpose
was to give solidity and unity to all
forms Of Presbytcrianism. All Of these
scholars, devoted to Greek and Orien.
tai and Hebrew literature, are said to
accept the apothcsm Of Lorenzo Dow,
"Yon will and y0u wont;
You'll be damned II you 30
And be danced II you don't
or course this is not a just defini-
ton of Presbytcrlanism, and we only
propose to say of the extraordinary as
sembly that il has done infinite good
in liberalizing the worlds opinions
and in promoting the unity of Chris
tian churches and Of the nations. While
one Of the most admirable scholars and
orators Of the great council was speak
ing on the fourth inst, he alluded to
the political events VIC are accustomed
To celebrate. The great concOurse, as
one man. rose to their feet and asserted
unmixed admiration for the republic
can institutions of America.
We were reminded by the
enthusiasm { these learned and good
men, thus aroused and illustrated, that
however little we may prize the cor
rupted institutions OF tho United States
the intelligent aHd virtuous and philo-
snphical representatives, of the Presby
terian Church know how to value the
broadcast civil and religious liberty
kaown among the nations. We forget
how free We are and how euslaved are
the freest of European peoples. These
good churchmen, in Scotland, in an
ancient capital, governed by the most
generous of sovereigus and parliaments,
when reference was made to American
freedom, unlike that of all nations,
rose up and shouted joycusly in re
sponse to the speakers laddatiOn of
American institutions. Patriotism is
well pleased when it wins such tributes
aa this from such men, in such place,
convened to discuss moral rather than
political facts, and PresbyterianIsm has
surely made us esteem our country
more and approve more earnestly than
before its peculiar Constitution and
laws. These elders and preachers
wurftI- . foremost scholars, addicted to
logic, to the theories of John Knox,
and to giving the devil hard knocks
after the manner of John Calvin. These
scholars and orators. while making
their church an unit, solidifying its
forces and reconciling its diverslties,
exert political influence which must
be widened and strengthened by each
denomination of Christendom. Gov
ornamental unity is compatible with |
theoretical diversity, and churches |
first, and then the nations, will have |
their pan-political convocations, and |
If there be many nations there must be |
fewer governments. Wars now pro-
gressive must be the last. Debts and |
taxation and standing armies must |
make universal peace the univer-
sal law. America leads the |
way. Our armies are the people; in |
Europe they are born of the toll and
poverty Of tax-burdencd populations. |
Against all these woes of States and |
Kingdoms protests were uttered Incl
dentally by the scholarly and honest |
patriotic Presbyterians at Edinburgh. |
What these Christians have done, Us
representatives of different branches of |
church, must be done or or later |
by representatives of the nations, and |
men begin to believe that railways,
steamships and telegraph have wrought
a degree Of unity leading necessarily
to thorough changes in the relations of
States and Kingdoms to one another.
Armies must be destroyed on battle |
fields or dissolved finally for want of |
money to MAINTAIN them and par. politi. |
cal councils will follow in the foot
steps OF these councils Of the churches. |
AS the churches led the way to war be.
tween the States in America, ii seems |
that these same churches, restoring |
their own perfect worldwide unity, |
will lead the nations in their footsteps |
aud finally establish universal peace.
THE ENrIeIsy1rs oR NUN pam