Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-11-26
-RB4,.-.DR.. -4ALAkgB.
The Eminent Brooklyn Divine's Sun.
day Sermon.
subject. .rhs Truth ADou. Russia"

F.. Among most reprehensibie crew Peter
here paints by one stroke the portrait of
those who delight to slash at people in au-
tI1ority. Now we all have a 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 bad streak
OF human nature that success of any kind
excites the jealous antipathy of thoss who
cannot Climb the same steep. There never
was David on the throne that there was
not some Absalom who wanted to get it.
There never was Christ but the world hal
saw and hammer ready TO fashion cross
on which to assassinate Hin.
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 Chuzzlewittn was
printed the literature of the world scoffed at
everything American Victor Hugo, as
honest as he was unequaled in literary
power, was SO misinformed concerning Amer
lea that he wrote: "fhe 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 tbs most
critical moment, the JUICE, whiting. says.
TRANQUILITY responds, whiting Il am not
guilty.
Lord John Russell called Us "a bubble
bursting nationality But our country has
at last recovered from such caricature, and
theI e is not street in any city of Europe
or Asia where the word America" will not
n Difference But there is a sister nation
on the other Size of the sea now going
through the process of international de am
of There ic NO Np artll mis-
understood as Russia, and no monarch more
misrepresented than its emperor. Will it
not be in the cause of justice il | try to set
right the minds OF hose who compose this
august assemblage 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, an in be-
half of civilization, and for the encourage
ment of all those COOL people who havs
been disheartenei by the standardization of
Russia, l now speak. Bat Russia is 50 vast
a subject thai to treat it in ono discourse is
like attempting to run Niagara Falls over
one mi waeal. Do not think til 1T the very
naked courtesies extended me by the en-
peror and empress of Russia have conp,i-
mentei me into the advocacy of CSat en-
pure, for / shall present you authenticated
facts that will reVerss your opinions, if they
have been altagOniStic, as mine vera re-
yersed.
l went lat summer to Russia with as
many bale!ul preju 1iceS as would make an
avalanche from the mountain of fabrication
which has for years been heapei up against
that empire. You ask how is it possible
that such appalling Interpretations OF
Russia could stands | account for it by thu
fact that the Russian language is to mot
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 Understand
English, ami many of our people are familiar
with German aud French. But the Russian
language, beautiful and easy to those born
to speak it, is to most vocal organs au IN
pronouuca6ie tongue, and IL at st. Peters
burg or 33oscow any anti-Russian calumny
were denied the most of the world outside OF
Russia wouli never see or hear the denial.
What are the motives for misrepressnta-
tioni 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
big scale. Go into any neighborhood OF
America and ask the physician who has a
small practice what he thinks of the physi-
clan VINO has large practice. Ask lawyer
who has no briefs what he thinks Of thu law
yer VINO has three rooms filled with clerks
trying in VAN to transact the superabundant
business that comes 90 him Ask the minis
ter who has a very limited aulience 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 meal.
Russia is as ,ong as North an South America
put together. But" says some one, do
you mean to charge the author and the lee
turers who have written or SPOKEN against
Russia with falsehoo5' By no means. You
can find in any city Or nation evils innu nsr-
able if you wish to discourse about than,
/ sail at st Petersburg to the most emf
hent lady OF Russia outside of the imperial
family, Are those stories of cruelty and
outrage that l have heard and read about
true? She replied: mo doubt some of
them are true, but do you not in America
ever have officers Of the law cruel anl out
rageous in their treatment OF Offenders Do
you not have instances where the police
have c'ub5ed Innocent personss Have you no
instances where people 10 brief authority
act arrogantly" | replied, Yes, we do"
Then she said why does the world hold.
our government responsible for exceptional
outrages2 As soon as an official is found to
be cruel he Immediately loses his place."
Hell DSluDuSllI NY sell, 10 LHS peOIiS III
America hold thu Government Of Washing
ton responsible Tor the Homestead riots or
tor railroad instructions, or for the torch
OF the william that consumes a block o.
houses, or for tie rutiIns who arrest a rail
train, max ng the passengers hold up their
arms until the poe setS are pic6e1? Why,
then hold the emperor of Russia who is as
impressive and genial a man as hive ever
looked at or talked with, responsible for the
TsrTp Tod NTH Tlo-
ton twice as large in numbers as the mill
ions of America! Suppose one monarch in
Europe ruled over England, SC )tan !, Ire
iant, Franc, Germany, Spain, Italy, Aus
tria, Norway ami Sweden.
Would it be fair to hold the monarch re-
sponsible for all that occurred in that
mighty dominon2 Now you must remem-
Der that Alexander the Third reigns over
wider dominion than all tnoss empires put
together. As nation is only man or a
woman on a big scale, let me ask, would
you Individually prefer to be ju iged by your
faults or your viru as? 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 so ne meannssi had been prac-
ticsd on you and you were tearing mad.
Now, as am an optimlst, give you fair
warning that il | ever write your biography
| will take you as you looked the day your
dividend came in twenty per cent. larger
than you ever anticipated, or the morning
on your way to business after your first
child was born, or the morning after your
conversion, when heaven had rolled In on
your soul. The most accused homunculi of
all the earth are the pessimists, who,
whether they judge individual or national
character, and whether they WELD tongue
or pen, are filed with anathematization,
and who have more to say about the freckles
on the cheek of beauty than of the sunrisss
and sunsets that flush it.
1t is most important that this country
have right ideas concerning Russia, for
among all the nations this side OF heaven
Russia is Americas best friend. Tnere has
not been an hour in the last seventy five
years that the shipwreck Of free institutions
in America would not have called forth
from all TIE dasaotisms of Europe and
Asia a shout OF gladness wide as earth and
deep as perdition. But whoever else failed
US. Russia never did, and whoever else YVES
doubtful, Russia never was. Russia, then an
old government. smiled on tbs cradle of our
government while yetin its earliest infancy.
Eppress Catherine of Russia in l776 or
thereabouts offered kindly interference that
our thirteen colonies mig ht not go down un-
der the crusltes of war.
Again, in 1873, Russia stretche forth to-
ward US a nerciful hand. When our dread.
full civil war was raging and the two thuu-
der clonds of northern and southern valor
cashed, Russia practically said to the ma
tons of Europe, ''Ksep your hands off ami
let the brave men Of the north and the south
settle their own troubles" 1 rehearssd
some OF those SC mes to the emperor last
July, sayinr, You were probably too
Young to remember the position your father
took at that time" but with radiant smile
he responded, ''Oh, yes | remember l re-
member" ami there was an accentuation of