Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-07-17

out law, and there has never been 0
law-loving people without religion
: While ours has been the most tolerant
Of all nationalities in freedom of faith
} and has justly maintained the inviola
bi.ity of conscience, it is none the less
; q Christian government and not only
civil liberty, but our revered Christian
civilization, have been on trial for q
century in the republic OF the New
J World.
1t was the profound moral convic
tion and the pervading sanctity ol
Christian precept and example among
the people, which have ever been call
ed into action to retrieve politital de.
moralization in tho past and they
have come in terrible omnipotence
when degeneracy has Knocked their
teachings and dared them to battle. II
was upon the broad foundation of Chris,
tian civilization that this great struc-
ture of free government has been rear
ed it was by its purity and devotion
to right that the Revolution was won
and it was by its stubborn faith in the
eternal years Of justice, that the nation
was re.dedicated, by unmeasured be-
reayement. to reqeperated freedom. IL
is the one bulwark of safety for the re-
public. IL has its affairs in the homes
Of the land, and from thence it can sue
cessfnlly grapple with every form of
decentralization. With its vitality main.
tanned by the people, there can be no
social sores to blunt the sensibilitles OF
virtue there can be no departure from
Integrity in tho everyday transactions
of life without stern reproof; there can
be no venality in public places without
speedy and relentless retribution there
can be no contempt for public morality
or for law in the leaders Of men, with.
out the avenging blow of public REPRO
baton, and the crimes which now
flaunt their shocking deformities and
fostering scars before the nation, from
the high places solemnly devoted to
honest authority, would hide from the
whitening scorn of an honest and SOW
ereign citizenship. Such has been its
mission for two thousand years. 1t
has touched no land without making
men better than il found them. IL has
strugpled through the conflicts ofcount-
less foes and al times has seemed 70 he
effaced from tbe world but like tho
nure mountain stream that il lost in
he sands Of tho ;nbosnitahle Main II
re.appeared in renewed purity and
freshness II has hattled with igno.
rance with sunerstition with intoler.
ance but the darkest ages througb
which Il has passed were never
without i,s golden lines Of nrom.
ise or its bonefnl discinles From the
sunset side of the waters n, tbe Pacific
il has steadily ooursed its wav tbrouob
barbarism and onltured unbeiiet reced.
inc or advancing as the battle.axe Of
The infidel or nas,an was victor or van.
orishod and "a snIendor of Tho sootJar
aonrisbed or decaved. and now Il noin,s
hack from ;ts grsndest temnlo h tbe
now world N every enlightaned c,v;li.
zat;on no ia worsbiners
II has comnloted the c;rcle of tho
globo its beneficient nrogress liberal.
iy;nn and nnr;fv;na as 4 escanad tho
doopiv- rooted nseinaices Of formnlated
darkness, until the seed Of the May
flowers was strewn on the virgin soil
of our country, and nurtured by tho
blood OF matchless heroism and denial,
to ripen the most perfect Christian
civilization ever reared bv man or
blessed bv heaven. IL has thw follow.
ed the god of dsy from, the eastern to
the western seas. dotting its paths
with churches and colleges and schools,
difusing civil and religious liberty
broadcast as II hastencd the star Of en-
pire westward, until it has borne back
to the cradleoi the human race, whence
it started, its richest chaplets proclaim
ing tho peace and good will it has
given 10 mankind. Here in this great
republic was its holiest altar here its
broadcast liberality here its noblcst
freedom; here its sublimest achieve
ments in the elevation and advance
ment of citizenship; and here must be
its future reign of surprising grandeur,
or It's overthrow in the tempest OF hor-
rors. As well pluck the sun from its
blue.arched dome above us and hope
for the light of day, as to efface our
Christian civilization and hope for the
perpetuity of free government. They
arc twin.born rulers OF our land they
have ever been united in shaping the
illustrous records we have written, and
if death shall lay its hand upon either,
they will not be divided.
This ia the field this the battle. the
future scholars statesmen teachers
and leoders must accent and unon Won
IN whom tbis painfnl picture and ibis
earnest anpeaI are presented must
come tho shock of the conflict | beg
that Won will not misunderstood Il |;
That Won will not underrate the power
Of tbe foe nor hesitate 10 mail vour
breasts and brighten your spears for
the onset. And | beg. also. that YOU
will moi slsirmisb with its outposts,
while lis main forces shall be unrcsis,
ted in The work of destruction From
tho nations canital and from other cen.
tres Of power Won will sec its blotted
fac hung ont to challenge attack upon
its leaders but thew are only the bloom
of tI,o thistle that has been planted and
watered and ripened bv the deoenera.
cv of A Christian people. The enemy
Is around and about YOU everywhere.
IL ia in the home, in the social circle,
in the political conclave. in the sacred
desk, in every channel of human effort.
The real authors of the crimes which