The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-10-12

4 of the Supreme Ruler of the Universe.
!" The powers that be are ordained of God,
and whose resisteth the power, resisteth
the ordinance of God" Hence it is that
the honor that is due to the Chief Magis-
ltrate, whether he be King or President,
is coupled by st. Peter with the fear of
lGod. Hence it is, also, that IN our COM
munion service after the rehearsal of the
Commandments, and our prayers, that our
hearts may be inclined to keep Gods laws,
we pray that we may faithfully serve.
honor and humbIy obey the Chief Ruler Of
the nation, in God, and for God, duly con-
lsidering Whose authority he hath. Whence
comes it that in an age which boasts
lof its enlightenment and education beyond
Iall preceding generations, men can be
found with hearts so dark, so impiously
bold, so alienated from the principles Of
loyalty which are the foundations of order
and public safety, as to stretch forth their
hands against the Chief Rulers of Gods
people. The civilized world had scarcely
recovered from the shock of the assassina-
.tion of the Gar of Russia, before the
President of the United States fell at tue
hand Of an assassin. 1t may be that the
spirit of Nihilism and Socialism was not
directly implicated in the death of Garfield.
But it is to the doctrines that have been
lopenly taught by Nihilists and Socialists
that we must trace the bunting Of the edge
of those fears which would otherwise have
restrained the murderer Of Garfield from
his wicked deed. 1t is now made clear
that lot crowned heads alone are in danger
from the evil spirit that is abroad, for these
spirits of anarchy will tolerate no govern
meut, and respect NO governors who will
not be subservient to their will and do their
bidding.
Whence comes it that an evil so gigantic
should rear its head in this nineteenth CEN
stury? We may not be able, wholly, to
answer this question. But is it not the
case that it has been assumed that now, in
the manhood of the world, we can afford to
let slip the.lessons that were needed in its
childhood? In the zeal of the present age,
for intellectual education, multitudes have
grown up without any incubation of those
positive truths of religion which our fore
fathers SO steadily instilled into their
children. Happy will it be, if warned by
an event that puts the world in mourning,
the nations realize that religion is the
foundation of all order and authority upon
earth; that without the fnal sanction of
revelation, the sceptre of the RfArs will
INSPIRE no sense of reverence or awe, apart
from the force which is behind it. For if
there be no moral governor of the Universe,
earthly authority has no sanction from
above, and rebellion ceases to be sin.
Surely we shall not miss the mark if, in
4 the death kneli of President Garfield, we
hear the voice of God calling men back to
the first principles of religion as the founda-
ton of order aud public safety. A mere
sentiment of religion will not suffice instead
of the plain, decisive teaching of the will of
God. If the conscience of the nations be
not trained in obedience to that will, and in
the embrace of the truth of God, no cult
walton of the intellectual will supply its
place. For man is a spiritual as well as an
intellectual being. He is gifted with
spirit capable of holding communion with
His Maker, as well as with q brain for
mathematics and bookkeeping. 1t should
be the work of education to train the spirit
in the knowledge and love of God, as well
as the mind in philosophy and science.
1t is not by the advancement of learning,
but by the training Of tho spirit, that we
shall raise barrier to the commission of
crime. The highest wisdom attainable is
the fear of the Lord This is the only wis.,
dom that can restrain the turbulent pas
sions of mankind. And if in their search
for wisdom the nations of the earth place
the pursuit CT this wisdom in the forefront
of their public education, then this fear of
THE Lord will be the root from which will
grow the honor that is due to all who are
Invested with authority on earth. What
depth of wisdom there is in that exposition
lof the 9Th Commandment which some may
count antiquated-" My duty is to honor
and obey the Chief Ruler of the nation, and
lall that are put in authority under him."
Anticipated they may be. But they are
words which the world can never afford to
let go, and which no lovers of their country
should cease to inculcate and teach, until
THE citizens are 80 imbued with these prin-
'ciples of order, that the seeds Of those poi
Isonous herbs of anarchy, or socialism, OF
Iany of the other forms in which hatred of
government is manifested, will find no soil
in which to grow.
And SO may He who is directing all
things according to the purposes of His
Will, and making all things subservient to
His own eternal counsels, cause the tragic
death which is so universally deplored to
turn to the advancement of the Kingdom
of His Dear Son upon earth, in checking
the tide of evil, and bringing men to the
heartfelt acknowledgment Of the truth
enunciated nearly 1000 years ago, that ''to
fear God and keep His commandments is
the whole duty of man.