The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-30

his wonderful works to the childrcn Of m"n
Religious feeling was looking where Religions
sentiment abOuudcd and he laHeuted she HO-
sence Of heart-piely IN the presence OF the
splendidly elaborated religious crremuHlui5 or
his race. David knew as did his far less pous
son and successor, that piety is the chief eie-
ment in a sOund and hcalthul ma ural hfe OF
in the language Of that son thar Righteousness
exalteth nation''-1nd that ouly-whtie 'sin is
"a reprOach to any people
II has always seemed TO me special work OF
SolOmon's practical wisdom that in the TIM OF
the spleudOr and power Of his empire, ia that
era when Tsrael's glory eliminated aud her sun
stood in the zenith OF coudless skies that he
should have perceived 80 clearly that he real
greatness Of Israel lay not III her national
wealth and gave no assurance OF per
manence of power, but rather thar 1t lay
in righteousness and in the fear OF the Lord.
Now, this assertion that only righteousness.
that Is lofty moral sentiment and correspond
ingly elevated moral character, exalts nation
to its place of power and keeps 1t there, Is
certainly true of the application of the state
ment limited to the character Of the righteous
ruler. Two years ago the civilized world laid
its tributes of respect upon the bier of Presl-
dent Garfield, and this nation was conscious OF a
more extensive influence, and of n wider
sovereignty because OF his conspicuous integrity,
his genuine maulineSs and his Christian prlu
ciples Soon after his death the American ban
ner carried through the streets OF London
on the occasion of great civic procession, and
the bands played our national airs IN the palace
yard, an honor never before accorded TO any
foreign people to ourselves, hut directly
traceahle to the influence of the late President.
The righteousness Of the ruler eXalteth the
tended to lift us 10 the place where we stand
to-day, and the memory OF Abraham Lincoln
will be sacred and elevating to the last genera
tion of American citizens.
It needs to he frequently iterated that right
eOusness in tie national council chambers as
surely eSats tine nations they represent "a us
honesty, dupicity, political intrigue and trick
cry and diplomatic chicanery debase it. A large
share of the of Europe, If not all of them
are the results of unrighteousness in the ma
tons that wage them, aud who are set by Prov
ldence in this way to punish each other The
prolonged existence of Turkey is a violation of
righteousness, aud England will probably have
to stand the cost ana suffering of another war TO
atone for the brilliant folly of Lord Beacousheld
in the matter of the Berlin treaty. The text
teaches us that the guarantees of national permd-
hence are TO be looked for neither in the present
favOra BILE circumstances of the nation. nor in
the power of its armsments, nor yet altogether i'll
the character or It's institutions for Institutions
change but they are to lie 9Ought for in tue moral
earnestness and the religious life Of the citizens,
not in anything merely outwardly and adveut-
tlOus, but within. The peOple the nation,
and what they are it will be.
Our Institutions have not been tested as Eu
ropean institutions have been and are now
being tested. Something OF the social
conditions which exist in Europe
are already a source of urOube-a plague, il not
yet per-in our large cities, and it most Ger
tanly is not these lazy, immoral, beer-guZ1ling
and irreligiGus classes that are to be depended
on to develop our industries. The sturdy arm
of the Puritan not more muscular than his
faith in God, or in the moral character that
suited from that faith Lord MacauIey argued
that our republicanIsm w0uld 90 down beneath
the weight of excessive population and the con
sequent pauperism. no not think he sustained
his position. From the lessons of history one
may certainly not fear any worse evil to befall
repuhlicanism than the wars and revolutions
which have stained mOnarchical Europe with
blO0d-lt is the question as to the people then-
selves. The Philistines are not yet upon our
American Samson, and in the meanwhile he oElV
needs to keep the great vow of his conservation
to God, to stop fOoling with sin, to keep sharp
eye on the alurin2 Delilahs Of his own house,
and he may defy them when they do come,
To-day the vast armaments OF Europe are
signs of weakness, not of strength. The social
lstic rebound against Russian despOtism has no
promise OF good i'll it. 1t has less regard for
Righteousness ana morality and the rights of
man than the men who, unfortunately for Them
selves, constitute the Russian government.
Socialism is every way as bad, or worse than the
tyranny from which it would escape. The test
of national permausnce is as little to be sought
in the intelligence, wealth and general refine
menU of the people as it is in their outward cir
cumstances, their powerful armameuts, or their
peculiar institutions. The word emphasized is
righteousness. Are we at this hour in posses
sion of this guarantee OF national permanencel
| am pessimi tic prophet of evil, yet | think
it not unnecessary or unwse to lift up the voice
of warning in the presence of so much sabbath
DISSERTATION, the secularizng tendencies of the
times. the corruption in business and political
circles, and in view OF the general dsrust of the
judiciary, which leads to the not infrequrnt eX-
ercise of lynch law. The powerful and law
detylng liquor interest Is II menace Unat we dare
not overlook whenever we take an account Of
these things.