Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-12-09

1
! consciences of the millions. 1t is
gaining power over their movements
as governments. In England and
! her colonies and in our own great
| Republic, especially, the influence is
such that the administration of JUS
tice is powerfully affected by tile
| christian conscience of the people.
The Divine word, in these and other
lands, stands Gods sentinel bugle in
hand, to alarm when moral danger
threatens | know that in all these
| Christian lands there is much still
that is grasping and corrupt. Yet, /
assert that no nations not eminently
influenced by Divine truth, could
have kept from blood during many
of the complications OF the last few
years. The late arbitrations at Ge-
neva, Berlin and Washington, con-
stitute the most brilliant examples
of the ascendency of mind and con-
science over passion and thirst for
| power witnessed for centuries. Such
examples of mutual forbearance are
in the highest Sense acceptable to
God. They tend powerfully to ele-
vate the human race.
| In the last generation the ameliOra-
| tons Of Christianity rs to war, have
| been vast and increasing. The leaVen
shall work until our own and other
nations shall revolt ut the idea of war
save as necessity for national defence
| or life.
Ii is III the providential dealing of the
Almighty that these nations, first edu-
Gated to the Gospel conception of ma
tional honor and right, have to-day the
most potent influence of all peoples
over the rest of mankind. To-day their
language is heard on every sea and ut
every center. Freighted with large in
telligence and far-reaching christian
thought, its utterances stir every port
and every capital on earth. Its seeds
of Gods right-hand planting are Strik-
inc deeply. They shall fill the earth
with harvest of Justice and peace.
To-day, my friends, the peer of any
people. there is less than ever reason
for us to fail OF true Justice, in our
dealings with other nations. War may
not always be the worst state OF things
but no war should be entered on where
national safety and the maintenance
Of vital right may otherwise be secured.
Calmness and honesty and truth, ut
this time of the worlds history, have a
fair chance. The maXims Of Tallyrand
and his MAN of destiny are fast pass
ing with their resultant rapine and
blood. Those of the Man of Nazareth,
'sPrince Of Peace" are taking grip on
the conscience of the race, harbingers
of universal good.
In the Misunderstanding sure to
come with the nations near our borders,
the calmest and best thought and con-
duet of our most God-fearing and JUS
Z I,..- Rr Ynn1nn fHhnIp
hearts should beat with sympathy for
those really oppressed. Their minds
should be clear, and their courage sui-
ticient to discern between those really
under the yoke and those whose mise
ries come largely from priest craft and
rum. Their hearts should be brave
enough to resist the clamOr and intrigue
of those who are always eager to grow
rich from the fat contracts and plum
behring's of war and who are ever ready
to plunge the land into its horrors. I'm
all wise measures such statesmen Will
be sustained and the nation advanced
in honor before the world.
3. One more idea embraced in such
conduct OF government as will secure
the favor of the Almighty and the good
Of the people is The Maintenance of
purity and Gods principles Of Justice
in dealing with the internal affairs of
the nation.
There is very important sense in
which government is ordained Of God;
as permitted and made necessary by
linn as the Agent Of the people TO re-
press evil and foster good. To maintain
this Divine ordaining ii must keep
faith thus with its citizens. II should |
do nothing to violate the great princi- |
pies OF the rights guaranteed to the |
people. "Of the people, by the people, |
for the people" it should always seek
the good Of the people. ! mean by this |
term people" the orderly, upright, |
yirtuous people, not the ''rOughs' and |
vicious. 1t should seek the passage of
no laws yiolative of the principles of
right and truth rs held by them, de-
rived from Gods revealed word. 1t
should aud in the passage Of the laws
necessary to check such violations; to
develop the love of good order and good |
morality, rising to the broad platform
Of the Holy Book, the true fatherhOOd
Of God and brotherhood Of the races.
the true rights of man and well being
of society as whole. II should never
he guilty Of the crime OF educating the
people in wrong by placing on the stat
hitchcock laws tending 10 vice and dis
order. II should have good care that
the statutes are righte0usly maintained |
for the equal good of al classes.
Al self-seeking ON the part Of Rulers, |
while letting down these great priuci- |
pies, is obnoxious to the Most High. |
Truth and justice should be kept in |
force with high and low, rich and poor. |
the white man of the dominant race |
and the man of darker hue, his brother |
before God, whether from the Congo Of |
the darl, continent, the yellow Sea Of |
fl0wery realm or the forest of the far |
West. God loves ali the children He |
has made The persecution and mall |
treatment Of neither Negro, Chiuaman, |
Irish cmigrant, German, nor Of the Red |
man, ab0riginee ofthis great continent, |
is pleasing 10 the Divine Father, how |
ever sections and political masters and |
hoodlums may clamor and threaten. |
The licensing Of vice, whether lotteries |
and gaming houses or houses Of sin, or |
for the manufacture and sale Of poison |
1 81 I,.srt