Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-10-11
JUST SO.

/ ObOL SOs
If, as the greatest of all poets has
written, ''there is divinity that shapes
our end. rough hew it as we may" why
limit the controlling influence to indi-
vidual life ? 1t requires no greater exer-
else of faith to believe 1t true of nations
as of individuals. And come to think of
it, we believe that the idea of government
being under the guidance of the Supreme
Being is tenet in most of the religious
creeds, and, accordingly, days of fast
ing in calamitous times have been ap-
pointed and observed in this country, and
thanksgiving days are annual occurrences.
If God has nothing to do in our national
affairs and in our governmental matters
why have su"h days? Why confess to
Him, or pray to Him, or give thanks to
Him?
In all troublesome times such as war
the great question has always been on
whose side is He ? While many who study
history say, with Napoleon Bonaparte,
that He is always "on the side that has
the heaviest artillery" the thoroughly or
thodoX say He is always on the side of
right. But in great conflicts, people
differ so widely as to which side is right,
as to confuse those of little faith; and
cause them, not inirequently, to say the
belief in the Divine Being deciding the
fate of battle is relic of barbarism.
We ali remembcr that in our late war
with the south, people of thesame denom-
national faith, believed God was on their
side according to where they lived. Those
south of Mason e. Dixon's line claimed He
was on their side while those living
north of said line generally believed He
was on their side. Both sections of the
Union prayed, confessed and gave thanks
to the same Being, and took pleasure in
believing He was fighting their battles
AT least they loudly said so.
But war aside, what have we to say on
the question OF politics? Has Ged any
thing to do with our American politics2
If He shapes individual matters, it fol-
lows logically that de has something
to do with our affairs when united
socially, politically or " otherwisely.h
Aud this lends to the very delicate and
difficult question as to the side He is on in
our national politics. But whatever
trouble we or any one else may have in
solving the problem, in view of the re-
spectivc claims of Democrats and Repub-
licans, and they are quite as conflicting
as we're those put forth by both the north
and south during the war of the rebellion
whatever trouble others may have in
reaching conclusion, there is one man
at least whose faith admits of no doubt.
Capt. John G. Nightingale, of Alexan-
dria, Va, who is not only among its
oldest citizens, but the oldest Democrat
Of that region, and whose political prog
nostications and weather prophecies are
all made upon certain signs in the
heavens. in recent interview, said +:
" think the cause OF the heavy loss of
life by water and the extraordinary loss
of property by fire in this country during
the present year is due entirely to the
fact that the Republican party is in con-
troll of the nations affairs. There never
has been Republican administration
within my recollection that has not been
attended by great loss of life and prur. /
srty, and the great Ruler of all things
has never failed to express his indigna.
tion of Republican control on inaugura-
tion day by giving such day for the |
ceremonies as would make even a Ian
lander ashamed of the party.
1.-THE country has always had bad wealth |
or and bad morals under Republican |
rule, while good weather, peace and |
plenty have always followed Democratic
rule. This is no idle fancy, but cold
fact, ard you can put this prophesy |
down, that the Lord never has and never
will smile on the Republican party.
"The present administration received
its warning on the last 4th of March, and
# you have been an observer you have no.
ticed the terrible public calamities since
lis advent Just think of the Johnstown
Hood, Seattle and Spokane Falls fires. the
Jronln murder and the Tanner episode. |
ell you that unless the Democrats get
control the country will go to ruin.
egret to say that Harrison's Administra-
ion will continue as it has begun, and the
country must suffer-"
Now, then, 90 to ye bOasting fellows of
he great God.and morality party.
ease your vain claim of being the salt
III naFfh