Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-10-27

both sides there came forth to confront each
other valor and determination and
strength such as the world never saw. And
what but determination could result from
the contest when Philip Sheridan and Stone
wall Jackson rode in from opposite sides
and Nathaniel Lyons and Sidney johnson
swept in from North and South and
Grant and Lee,
the two thunderbolts of war, clashed each
other. But we are in peace and prosperity
to-day. 1t was not earthly courage that
settled the combat, but the upper forces Of
the contest. The battle of Lookout Noun
tan was said to have been fought among
the clouds, but higher than that were the
horses and chariots Of fire come from God
to save the American nation.
In 1876, at the close of national cleo
ton, famous for its devilish ferocity came
the darkest hour in American history, for
the election was in dispute and revolution,
not in sections, but in every town and city
and neighborhoOd Of America was immi-
neut, and the peril was that New York
would clutch New York, and Washington,
Washington, and New Orleans, New Or
leans. Some said Mr. Tilden was elected,
some said Mr.. Hayes was elected. And
fh3w neat se.SG1rc z-aHigerssf massacre
some of US have guessed, but God only
ksows That this was avoided, ascribe
not to the honesty or righteousness of red
hot infuriated politicians, but to the upper
forces of the text. There were chariots Of
mercy the wheels of which were not heard
and the fash Of which was not seen, but
the mountains of the North and South and
East and West were full of them, and though
the hoots did not clatter, the cavalry of
heaven galloped by.
That God is on the side of the nation
argue from the five last harvests and from
the last quarter of century, epidemics ex-
ceptional, and from great religious revivals
and from enlarged churches, and from
continent blosoming with reformatory insti-
lutious, and from the education which
promises to turn this land into paradise
where God shall walk in the cool OF the
dav. And though have in two previous
sermons set forth the baneful threats of evil
that would capsize and demolish American
institutions, see so many regiments ofhelp
wheeling down the sky that my eremiads
turn into doxologies and the Good Friday
of the nation crucifxion becomes the Las
ter morning of
Its Resurrection.
Of course God works generally through
human instrumentalities and this national
betterment will come among other things
through scrutinized ballot box. The law
of registration has made illegal voting
almost impossible in this country. Former
ly droves Of men would wander around from
election poll to election poll, voting here
and voting there and no one challenging
or the the challenge amounting to nothing
because on such sudden notice nothing
could be proven against the scoundrels.
Now every voter in well organized neigh
borhoods is bounded on the north and south
and east and west by the Seyerest scrutiny.
The rolls Of registration have already been
made up for nearly a week, although the
ordeal is yet nine days of. must tell my
name to the registrar, how old | am, how
long have resided in The State and how
long in the ward, and if I misrepresent by
fifty witnesses | shall be shut out from the
ballot box. If a man shall have bet on the
election he, by law, is also shut out. One
step further needs to be taken and no one
be allowed to vote who has offered bribe
or accepted bribe for voting. whether the
bribe lie free drink or payment of cash,
the suspicious cases compelled to put hand
on Bible and swear to their honesty, and so
the sacred chest of the nations suffrage
will be still further redeemed.
God Will Help
US by an aroused moral sentiment. Morals
and immorals have never been so canvass
ed as now in any presidential campaign.
Men, who all their lives have been stealing
rom the public crib are deno"acing dis
honesty on the part OF public officials and
people with two or three families Of their
own are preaching elegant sermons on the
seventh commondpent Yea, the great
subjects of temperance and drunkenness
are forced upon the public mind and for the
inst time the temperance question is telt IN
political contest, and prohibition, which
was Joke when four years ago Neal Dow
ran for the Presidency is no longer a joke,
but tremendous question which hushes
the cheek Of the nation and agitates the
land from Lake Erie TO Mobile Bay, and
four years from now will decide who shall
be the President Of the United States. The
long, loud hysteric laugh at fanatical re-
formers has caught in the wind pipe and
turned to paroxysm Of strangulationr and
the stupendous questions OF national 80
briefly are getting to be heard respectfully
and deferentially at the ear Of the state leg
islature, at the bar of Congress and at the
bar of the United States Senate, and a
voice omnipotent is going to be heard roll
ing from the heavens, running across the
continent and back again, saying to these
rising tides Of drunkenness which threaten
to oYeYwhelm home and church and nation
Thus far shalt thou go and no farther, and
here shall thy proud wave be stayed. /
have not a shadow of discouragement as
large as falls from the house Hys wing.
Ny faith is in the upper forces Of the con-
test. If you would pray more and then
rub your eyes out Of the sleep Of indiffer-
ence and wash them in some clear, cool
water fresh from the well of Christian re-
form, It would be said to you as to the one
in the text, The Lord opened the eyes Of
Young man and he saw, and behold the
mountain was full Of horses and chariots of
fire"
Eeund About Elisha
When the soldiers of Antigonus, the war
rior, were afraid because their own army
was SO small and the army of the enemy
was so numerous, and the afrighted soldiers
were expressing their fears to their general,
he cried out with great vehemence: How
many do you reckon me to beF And while
We admit that the forces arrayed against
our national welfare are very great, l ask
yop in making an estimate Of the resources
Of righteousness how many do you reckon
the Lord God Almighty to be. The Lord