The Portland daily press., 1888-12-01

then they would shut in in very threaten
ing manner. In the afternoon there was
little drizzle followed by brisk rain in the
early evening. The churches were well
filed in the morning and the following top
les were discussed by the pastors:
CIVIL GOVERNMENT ORDAINED OF GOD.
Rom. Kill, 1. "The powers that be are or
the First Parish church. Our Thanksgiving festival
SAID he, Is often described as a harvest festival,
q thanksgiving for the fruits Of the earth. Yet in
tact II was from the beginning, and is now, day
for the remembrance OF Gods mercy and loving
Kindness as shown In every way; in our creation,
N N o our preservation and in all the blessings Of
us In the gospel of our Lord often the subj sct
OF thank offerings on this as on other days.
The passage which have read from the Fpis
tie to the Romans dwells particularly upon lie
blessings OF social organization and civil govern
ment, and 1t is with reference to that theme
powers that be are ordained Of God" Whether
we accept PauPs statement as made In his apos-
tonc character, an authoritative utterance; or
and not by commandment" It certainly is a state
ment borne out by human experience and in con-
i%CImity % with the results Of thebes human thought.
The civilized man Is the most truly natural man.
The more perfectly the government Of nation
tulf1ls the just ends OF government, so much the
ment develope and display their natural powers
and attain the position OF a true humanity.
Even the animals beneath us have and must
needs nave their laws, position and power to en-
force them; much more is the exercise o such
powers an essential to the prosperity Of men; and
TO be considered part of the plan Of the Crea-
tor.
We occasionally hear men speaking with strong
disapproval of Paups doctrine that the powers
was absurd for Paul to say that, at the very time
when the Roman emperors were miserable tyrants
and when raul, himself, described the emperor as
antiChrist and the man of sin. But such Objec-
tors forget that there is vast difference between
an emperor and an empire. Even the most abso-
lutte monarchy has some unwritten constitutional
limitations. Inc Roman empire survived the dis
grace and death of many emperors survived by
virtue OF the wise and strong constitution which
had been the growth of centuries, and which sur
yiyed for centuries even the infictiOn of Nero.
Paul In the text is not referring TO the monster
VINO disgraced the Imperial throne, but to the
lldges and oincers who in every town and village
of the empire endeav0red to carry out the prnci-
pie OF the civil law established In the code which
remains to this day the most glorious among the
Paul on more than one occasion, and even Paul's
Master once appealed for protection. The words
OF my text DO not announce the divine right OF
ot aW 'ne rSey SSne dassre Egt Of
governments are established In consequence
of the generalization OF God. And whether we
take darker or brighter view of the condition
OF man upon the earth, l do not see how any in.
telligent observer can deny that governments are
one I q the powerful agents IN improving the con
ulton OF our race III lifting US out OF darkness In
to light The tumultuous passions, and blind
moral enthusiasm of men would war with each ii
hopeless series OF alternate victories and de
Ieats, dld not the reason and Judgment OF mel
frame laws for the protection of all rights, ant
form strong governments to enforce those laws
When speak Of the necessity of a ST ong govern
ment, do not mean government which gives It:
oincers an arbitrary power 10 enforce their Owl
views; mean government which has powel
sufficient 10 enforce the laws, which the deliberate
judgement of the majority has decided are jus
and equal laws. And so strong Is my feeling o
the necessity and the value OF such government
that, 10 this very day. feeling of reverend graft
tude arises in my heart toward every man. ant
each man concerning whom learn that he wa
one OF those who defended the integrity of ou
government In the great struggle OF hye and TWEEN
There are, Of course, various factors that com
blne to elevate mankind-relgion, science, litera
ture, art and the arts. all combine and are essen
tlal In the production at high civilization. Blu
for each and all OF these factors 1t is requisite tina
there should be liberty under law. Despotic in
or by an unprineipled LeIghbor, o.
by a misguided and excited crowd o
neighbors, is destructive to every upward move
ment OF man. The perception Of this fact lead,
men 10 the establishment of constitutional govern
merits. The king says Gulzot. is justice Of ih'
keep the peace, TO prevent any persons in th'
Kingdom from interfering with the natural right
q Others Freedom Of action In any and every di
reetlon In which it does not interfere with an
Diners rights, that is the great object I,
De desired by the people; and they establish gov
ernments in order to help themselves, attain thi
end. l repeat it that the object which a govern
ment makes the final purpose Of its action is L
protect the freedom OF the individual TO do wha
ne VIII, provided he does not infringe upon tn,
rights OF other men. Some OF the recognized du
ties Of the government may not appear at frs
right 70 come under this definition But remotely
Stnat Is ~ the last analysisl they rest upon tha
basis. The public veal requires that end, public
liberty, protection from crime and from mistaken
infringement of each others rights; that end car
be secured only by a firm government resting
upon the loyalty of an intelligent well Informed
people; and thus the State is bound 10 provide
LOT the educaton OF the people; not only for the
education of the mass of voters; but fol
she higher education of those who are TO bt
Leaders IN tne highest departments Of engineer
ing, navigation, commerce, manufacturers, thu
learned professions and sta temanship. We al
have common interest IN the welfare of the
whole; and 1t is for the interest of the poorest
and most illerate man. as well as for the richest
TO nave our mechanics, manufacturers, engineer.
and architects, our lawyers, doctors and clergy
our Senators and Representatives, educated In tht
most thorough manner That education not only
gives them ability to serve the public more wise
iyi put it usually makes them appreciate more
highly the blessings of strong government. The
revolutions OF lo48 10 Europe and of 1861 in oul
eTinpOg eT i ~ ib Were marked by TemaIka6l
universities; through the professors and student.
pressing into the ranks of those who would defen,
libe ty under law.
The production of high civilization Is slow
process. Why the world and human nature
should have been adapted to each other, in sucl
way as to allow so many errors and what Il
worse so many sins: why mans victory over tn,
world and over himself should be attainable onl,
lnrougn such waiting centuries of toll, that is
problem too vast for our human powers. We SCI
abundant evidences of the wisdom and the good
ness OF God, to give us full confidence that all Il
see and understand the reasons for every aetiof
and appointment OF any infinite wisdom. per
tect solution OF the whole problem Of the universe
eanno. reasonably be expected by any being o.
limited capacity; but every consideration lead.
us 70 regard the existence of God OF unerrinl
wisdom and inexhaustible love as the only key
possible for man.
The production Of high civilization is a SLOW
process; and strong and stable civil govern
ment Is oue OF the essential conditions for any
measure OF success. Therefore / hold it one o
the great reasons for thanksgiving In this cOuntry
tnat we nave FORM OF government so firm anC
50 enduring. IL has already lasted for Longer
| than Its illustri0us founders dared to hope.
owes It's excellence partly TO its intrinsic quail
ties, and partly 10 the peculiar blood OF those who
| have hitherto predominated in our nation. AmonI
its intrinsic excelency is that peculiar series o
DIVISIONS by which the whole country is divided
into states each sovereign in ITSELF and each Stat
| divided, some more and some less perfect,
into smaller political divisions. Another elemen
Of stability lies in our system Of written constitu
tons, whereby permanence and also prominence 1
given 10 the great fundamental principles of lib
| erty under law. IL is because Of the importanc
and sacred majesty OF a written constitution, tina
regret so deeply that the people Of this common
wealth few years ago inserted inlo their cOnstl
tuition, petty clause concerning special artiel
| Cf commerce. II tends to destroy all pOltica
| loyalty to law,
The production Of higher civilization proceed
among us, IN some respects very slowly. and ye
| when we make a careful and unprejudiced surye
/ of the condition of things amOngus, and c0mpar
1t either with that Of other nations, 0
| with that OF our own thirty, forty, or fift
| years ago, We may well thank God an
| take courage" There are great evils among
| still, great dangers threaten us, great problem
| confront us. But in very many directions we hav
| certainly made great advances. In 1861, tw
men, one in blue, the other in gray, met in Virgin
| the South, asked the one2 Well, replied the 9th
err we only want that man may have the lIbert
| OF expressing his political opinions in every par
hung, or treated with aly sort Of personal yioenc
| for so doing. This was In 1851.
| Now, when we remember that In 1881 a ma
| had not that liberty, in full extent, even in ou
| there is some prospect that in 1891 the libert
/ will be enjoyed throughout the whole country
| That tyranny OF the mob which would forbid
| man liberty of uttering his opinions was one
| our great dangers, but Is rapidly passing away
/ The danger which now looms up before us IS tina
| OF tyranny which would forbid man frOf
| choosing His own occupation, and changing
when he wishes SO to do; or from selling hi
i goods to whom he pleases, and at what price h
| pleases. The government may sometimes wsel
| Interfere by import or export duties, with trad
| between Its own citizens and those of other couI
tries who are under different laws. But IL eanno
| wisely or justly interfere with trade between II
own citizens themselves, except in the way OF pre-
/ teetng from fraud, theft or other wrong. Niue
less should any combination of its citizens, whetl
| er of capitalists or of laborers be permitted I
| perVert the wonderfully beneficent power of AS ,(
citation into an instrument OF Interference with tn
| commerce OF other citizens. The very rapid aC
vance OF the SOCIAL condition Of nearly all casse
| in our country during the last twenty-five years
| philantrcphists are again proposing schemes b
| which TO bring III the millennium IN q DECADE