The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-02-10
WHY WE ARE DRIFTING.
The Dangers That Threaten Cur
Free Institutions.

America, why should I not love thee2
For nearly half century have stood
amidst the grandeur and greatness of
thy free institutions. drinking deep at
the fountain of liberty, whose source
can be traced to the throne of the
mighty God and Father of the human
race. Day after day, month after
month and year after year have we sat
and watched the rising and setting sun
that has made glad the homes of the
free.
In the midst of all this light and
glory we sometimes are led to mourn
over the slain. and we ask. Why is it
that men forget that so rich an inherit
ance can only be perpetuated by a
mutual spirit of love and good will
The past history of the world proves
beyond doubt that no government can
continue intact unless it be maintained
in purity. The triumph of one party
over another, whether it be political or
religious, is bound to create chism and
resort TO methods that will sap the
foundation of all that is good and pure
There has ever been disposition
among men and nations that has led to
excess in all things, and this nation is
not an exception. Men have, and do
now, find plausible pretext for every
overt act.
The mind strives to find the cause Of
so much that is in open conflict with the
Christian system and our National
Constitution, and III view of the purity
of all that is truly American, no proper
excuse can be offered for the corruption
and party influence that strikes at our
national honor and is weakening our
ability to perpetuate lin purity the
prime Piles of republican form of gov
ernment
What force has Christianity upon our
national life2 We are, to great degree,
nominal Christians and nominal Ameri-
cans. Christianity has a vitality only
in pra ctical application. The vitality
of our nstional institutions can only be
seen and felt by OR individual perse-
verence in defending the same. The
national heart sends out its protests
against corruption and usurpation.
Yetthere is force enough among dema-
gogues to stifle public resentment.
So that step by step innovation ana
defiance of law are being fastened upon
our national life. American citizens
are being deprived of their dearest
rights in the presence of our national
government.
Republics in every age have suffered
more from internal division than from
outside attacks. Are we not as ma
ton travelling rapidly away from the
spirit and genius of its ounders? We
forget all in our blind pursuit of wealth
and party interest. Our Christian
affairs are being besmeared with IN
Christian hate and sectional strife.
Modern Christianity is a system of in :
stalments to God. There is no union
or peace except by the erection of par
tition walls. So is it in politics, in
spite of our grand and God-ljke govern
ment. We cannot refrain from refer
ring to (excuse the title) young Mr..
Bisnarok's idea of civilization. He has
told the world that his little job in
Samoa is in the interest of civilization
the notion that the supporters of King
craft have about such matters.
May there not be other designs in the
colonizing schemes of modern civil
izers? 1t would at least, be a very con-
venient thing to have place of safety
for navy and one or two hundred
thousand men as menace to this ma
ton. There has been such a thing as q
war for conquest, so that the American
people may just as web be convinced of
the fact that the governments of the
old world with but few exceptions)
have no very great love for free institu-
tons.
State paupers are not always nice
about how things come.
The Joy and peace that follow good
government are our only apology for
speaking in its defense. One grand
song of love should be heard through
out the land that would drown the dis
cordant notes OF anarchy and political
spoilsmen, in our interest for all that is
good and pure in government.
Our firm conviction still continues
that this government will remain until
the stars, our national emblems of light
and peace to all nations, will be abb
sorbed in the glory of an eternal day
and the bringingin of eternal righteous
ness; when the tabernacle of God shall
again be with man. VERITAs.