Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-12-25
WHEETING REGISTER. SUNDAY. DECEMBER % 1892

ings that were called in the churches Il
discuss the demand of the scoundrel, who
was not above making war on old mer
and women and helpless children-whC
thought it chivalrous to destroy by fire
the home OF the widow and orphan.
Methinks l can hear the curses hurled
across the water at the Liverpool and
Dunmore, the British ships that men
aced the thriving young city with theil
guns.
But the inhabitants refused to yield
to the demands OF the coward Dunmore,
and they sent him defiant reply. be
might lombard and he might burn, but
he never could subdue the spirit OF the
proud Virginians.
And so came the dark scene which
ushered in the patriot year, 1776, that
New Years call, Of smoke and flame
which made six thousand persons home
less and put an ineradicable blot on the
British cause. Not much OF merry
Christmas that one.
UNwELCoME GIFTS.
II was the Christmas season, though
not quite on Christmas Day, that the
Richmond Theatre was burned while
packed with auditors, and 1913 OF them
persisted in the flames, including the
Governor of Virginia.
1t was on Christmas Day, 1881, that
Stephen Girard lay dying in Philadel-
phia, that strange philanthropist who
did not believe In Gods highest virtues.
Was there peace and good will in his
soul that day of the birth OF Christ?
1t was on Christmas Day that Old Sal
amander ran the forts OF Mobile Bay
and helped to settle the questions OF the
fifties by the argument Of the sixties
the argument Of force
Ask the old soldiers to turn back the
eyes OF memory to some OF the Christ
mas days which they passed when the
land was red with blood Of fratricidal
strife, and tell you il they cannot re-
member some very sorry ones. The Dag
of peace was not day of famous bat
ties. but around it are clustered men,
cries OF privations and suffering and sad
ness for the dead and pity for the
wounded, the shadows of which it has
taken more than quarter OF o century
to lift.
COLUMBUS OF THE PRESENT.
We began on retrospect with the first
immigrant who ever knelt in prayer to
God upon the soil OF the western world.
Come with me to Ellis Island this pres
ent Christmas and let US look at the i'm
migrant of to-day.
What do you think Of him as a whole?
To what conclusions do you come as you
study men who may be the milllonaires,
the office holders-anything and every
thing but President when he has
seized the opportunities OF the future?
Is he a welcome Christmas present or an
unwelcome one?
Come, nowl You have been talking
very harshIy about undesirable immi-
grants. Look into these faces and tell
me, If it lay in your power TO do so,
would you turn these poor people back?
Some OF you would, perhaps, the male
violent looking and wicked. But would
you make wholesale matter Of it this
Christmas Day?
Yonder you see a tiny baby lying on
the breast OF sturdy poverty, babe full
of grand possibilities If you will give 1t
opportunity. There is no room for it
across the ocean, but on the rich and
fertile bosom of America, there is room
and to spare, and it is command Of
God that we increase and populate the
earth.
TO WHAT END.
Would you drive 1t back to the over
crowded hives of Europe because some
political economist has figured that in 2
million years or so there may not be
enough bread to go around if the popu-
tion keeps on increasing as 1t has done
in the past? Would you?"
Hark! Across the water como the
sweet voices of the bells. Old Trinity's
chimes a-e singing glad songs that are
full of the spirit of Christmas present,
the Spirit of generosity, the spirit Of
peace, the spirit of good will to men.
AS the weary vOyagers turn their
heads to listen the tears come into eyes
unused to weeping. This is their Valley
Forge; this is their winter in the wilder
ness: this is the Christmas Of doubt,
some what lightened by their hopel But
in the gay clamor of the bells they read
promise of a brighter future and a
Christmas Day when they too will re-
joice.
For one. if they be honest and indus
trious, | bid them welcome
--c----