Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-11-25
REV. DR.. 7ALMAGE.
The Eminent Brooklyn Divine'S Sun
day Sermon,
Subject: "Ihe Truth About Russia.

Among a most reprehensl0le crew feter
here paints by one stroke the portrait or
those who delight to slash at people in au-
thority. Now we all have right to criti-
else evil behavior, whether in high places or
low. but the fact that one is high up is no
proof that he ought to be brought down.
1t is bad streak of human nature now, as
it was in the time Of the text a bad streak
of human nature, that success of any kind
excites the jealous antipathy OF those woo
cannot climb the same steep. There never
was David on the throne that there was
not some Absalom who wanted to get 1t.
There never was Christ but the world hal
saw and hammer ready to fashion a cross
on which to assassinate Him.
Out of this evil spirit grow not only indi-
vidual but national and international def
amation. To no country has more injustice
been done than to our own In days that are
past. Long before Martin Chuzzlewitt' was
printed the literature Of the world scoffed at
everything American. Victor Hugo, as
honest as he was unequaled 10 literary
power. was so misinformed concerning Amer.
lea that he wrote: 1.-The most singular thing
is the need Of whiting, with which all
Americans are possessed. 1t is such that on
Sunday they give the sailors little bits OF
wood. because il they did not they would
white the ship. In court at the most
critical moment, the judge, whiting, says:
Prisoner, are you guilty. aud the accused
TRANQUILITY responds, whiting, i am not
guilty -,
Lord John Russell called us "a bubble
bursting nationality" But our country has
at last recovered from such carlcature, and
there is not street in any city OF Europe
or Asia where the worl America will not
WIN Difference. But there is sister nation
l.. 81 ~ bo uOinO
through the process of international DEAN
alton. There is no country on earth so mis-
understood as Russia, and no monarch more
misrepresented than its emperor. Will 1t
not be in the cause of iustics if | try TO set
right the minds OF those who compose this
august asseniblage and the minds Of those to
whom, on both sides of the ocean, these
words shall come? If the SANDER of one
person is wicked, then the SANDER OF one
hundred and twelve million people is one
hundred and twelve million times more
wicked.
In the name Of Righteousness, AMI in be-
half of civilization, and for the encourage
ment of all those good people who have
been disheartene1 by the standardization of
Russia, now speak. But Russia is 50 vast
a subject that to treat it in one discourse is
like attempting to run Niagara Falls over
one mill wdeel. Do not think that the very
naked courtesies extended me by the en-
peror and empress of Russia have compi-
Hentei me into the advocacy Of that en-
pire. for l shall present you authenticated
facts that will reverse your opinions, if they
have been antagonistic, as mine were re
versed.
| went last summer to Russia with as
many baleiul prejudices as would make an
avalanche from the mountain Of fabrication
which has for years been heaped up against
that empire. You ask how is it possible
that such appalling Misrepresentation OF
Russia could stand2 / account for it by the
fact that the Russian language is to most
an impossible wall. Malign the United
States or malign Great Britain or Germany
or France, and by the next cablegram the
falsehood is exposed for we all un ierstand
English, and many of our people are familiar
with German and French. But the Russian
language beautiful and easy TO those born
10 speak It, is to most vocal organs an I'M
pronouncable tongue, and IL at st. Peters
burg or Moscow any antl-RusSlan calumny
were denied the most of the world outside OF
Russia would never see or hear the denial.
What are the motives for misrepreSenta-
ton? Commercial interests and interna-
tional jealousy. Russia is as large as all
the rest o. Europe put together. Remember
that nation is only man or woman on
a big scale. Go into any neighborhood OF
America and ask the physician who has
small practice what he thinks Of the physl-
clan who has large practice Ask lawyer
who has no briefs what he thinks OF the law
yer who has three rooms filed with clerks
irving in vain to transact the superabundant
business that comes TO him. Ask the minis
ter who has a very limited auliencs what
he thinks Of the minister who has over
flowing audiences.
Why does not Europe like Russia? Be-
cause she has enough acreage to swallow all
Europe and feel she had only half a meal.
Russia is as long as North AMI South America
out together. But" says some one, do
YOU mean 10 charge the author and the lee
turers who have written or spoken against
Russia with falsehoojp By no means. You
can find 10 any city or nation evils innu ner-
able if you wish 10 discourse about them.
said at st. Petersburg to the most emf
nent lady OF Russia outside Of the imperial
family, "Are those stories OF cruelty and
outrage that have heard and read about
true@ She replied: "No doubt some OF
them are true, but do you not in America
ever have officers Of the law cruel and out
rageous in their treatment of Offenders DO
YOU not have instances where the police
have dubbed innocent persons: Have you no
instances where people in brief authority
act arrogantlygn | replied Yes we do"
Then she said: why does the world hold
our government responsible for exceptional
outragess As soon as an official is found to
be cruel he Immediately loses his place
Then | bethought myself, Do the people in
America hold the Government of Washing
ton responsible for the Homestead riots or
for railroad instructions, or for tbs torch
of the william that consumes block OF
houses, or for the ruffians who arrest rail
train, making the passengers hold up their
arms until the pocEe are picked? ny,
then hold the emperor OF Russia, who is as
impressive and genial man as have ever
looked at or talked with, responsible for the
wrongs enacted in nation with popula-
ton twice as large 10 re nbers as the mill
ions of America Suppose one monarch IN
Europe ruled over England, Scotland, Ire
land, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Aus
tria, Norway and Sweden.
Would il be fair TO hold the monarch re-
sponsible for all that occurred in that
mighty dominion? Now you must remem-
Der that Alexander the Third reigns over
wider dominion than al those empires put
together. As a nation is only man or a
woman on big scale, let me ask, would
you individually prefer to be ju igei by your
faults or your virtues? All people except
ourselves have faults.
The pessimist attempting TO write your
biography would take you in your weaker
moods, and the picture OF you on the first
page Of your biography would be as you
looked after some meanness had been prac-
ticsd on you and you were tearing mad /.
Now, as / am an optimist, l give you fair
warning that il ever write your biography
i will take you as you looked the day your
dividend came in twenty per cent. large.
than you ever anticipated, or the morning
on your way to business after your frs
child was born, or the morning after your
conversion, when heaven had rolled in OF
your soul. The most accused homunculi o.
all the earth are the pessimists, who
whether they judge individual or nationa
character, and whether they WELD tongu'
or pen, are filed with anathematization
and who have more to say about the frecklel
on the cheek Of beauty than OF the sunrise
and sunsets that hnsh it,
Ii is most important that this country
have right ideas concerning Russia, fol-
among all the nations this side of heaven
Russia is Americas best friend. There has
not been an hour in the last seventy -fiv'
years that the shipwreck Of free institution
in America would not have called fortS
from all tue despotisms Of Europe ans
Asia a shout OF gladness wide as earth ant
deep as perdition. But whoever else failec
us, Russia never did and whoever else wa,
Aot,hffrsI R.ruefo hen