The Portland daily press., 1894-07-14

| all been benefited by it aud that though
| the government was fearfully swindled.
! Another legitimate Office of govern
ment is the diffusion of knowledge. 1t
may use its greater resources for this
end. Our government has done worthy
work of this kind. Witness Capt. Wilkes s
exploring expedition; Commodore Per-
| RVS famous visit to Japan: Lieut..
Lynch's exploration of the Dead Sea;
! great ships and officers sent off to oh
serve the transit OF Venus: the Smith
| sonian Institute.
| Government is essential to human well
fare, as it favors mans individual de-
velopment. An existence in the State, y
| this is an observation of Aristotle-is re-
| quired for the completion of his HUI
mainly, even although mans wants and
! vices did not render it essential to his
pr lection against himself. The great
mans thought has confirmation in our
words civilized and civilization. The
civilized man as distinguished from the
savage or utterly degenerate man is es-
sentially the civis, belongs to civitas or
State. and State implies government.
| The civilized man is one who lives un-
der legitimate civil rule. He cannot be
| civilized otherwise. An institution civil
lizing man deserves to be honored.
| Ill. Honoring the government in
wolves % obedience to it, The claims of
| civil government are valid. Nothing
can add to their rightfulness or impervi-
| BUSINESS. Obedience is therefore their
due. II government disregards divine
| ends and becomes oppressive and there
| Is no hope of peaceful and legal redress,
then disobedieDce and resistance are
| right. but all means must be exhausted
before this last step is taken. There
must be even years of patient suffering
before the fabric of an established gov
eminent is overthrow. There is scarcely
r. dnGtp atI ion, hi II,
must be many and great which justify
1T. SO long as government is rightfully
exercised, giving protection, encouraging
lawful pursuits, facilitating the nations
growth it has just claims upon the
SUBJECTS prompt and generous obedi-
ence.
(2.) Honoring the governments in
wolves it's amplest protection. This duty
forbids the enfeebling of government by
disrespectful and disloyal speech. It
was a law OF the Hebrew Common
wealth, "Thon shalt not speak evil of
the ruler of thy people," and it is not
done away with by Christianity. Peter
speaks in his second epistle of certain
unjust ones preserved unto the day of
judgment to be punished. " assumptions
are they, self willed, they are not afraid
to speak evil of dignities." There are few
among us, but have courage to do it,
and doing it do what is most certain
government.
Protection of government involves it's
cheerful support by means, and if need
be, by force. 1t is an old uwillingness,
that of paying taxes. 1t was rife and
strong in Jesus' day. A deputation
from influential parties once came to
him with the question, SIS it lawful TO
pay tribute unto Caesar?n You know his
reply. Jesus was himself taxpayer,
cheerful, honest taxpayer, and that,
too. when the government was foreign
and oppressive. His conduct and teach
ing are clear and decisive. Civil govern
ment is to be protected by the means of
citizens.
The obligation to protect rightful civil
government does not end with paying
taxes. If in peril, if in extremity, when
loyal words and loyal behavior, cheerful
payment of tribute, will not avail, if the
last solemn resource must be drawn
upon, then government, securing our
persons and property, protecting our
fostering and pepetuating the blessings
Of peace, if it be in peril, such interests
are jeopardized that their safety and
perpetuity are cheaply purchased at the
price of blood.
Protection of government involves ha-
bi6ual prayer for rulers. Prayer is rec
ognlzed in the divine administration
Men are to avail themselves of it. Ac-
cording to its use or neglect different is
sues will be. The Law is that men pray
for their rulers. When we are told to
pray for kings and for all that are in au-
thority. that we may lead quiet and
peaceable life in all goodness and hon
esty," and we do not pray for them
what right have we to expect anything
but corruption and conflict.
1t is function of Christianity to in
culcate the duty of honoring the govern
ment. 1t entered upon the function at
once. 1t exhibited itself as ample and
varied as the life OF man; it showed it's
salvation comprehensive as human re-
lationships. 1t is part of Christanity's
salvation to save men from imperfect,
wrong citizenship; to save men from
the peril consequent upon unsuitable
treatment of civil government. Here, as
everywhere else, it saves by effecting
right adjustment. The whole civic
Honor the King"-Honor the govern
ment. This precept it belongs to Chris
tianity to teach. TO explain, to uncover
its grounds, to expose the evils of disre-
garding it. Christianity EN- braces in it's
teaching what is now called civics. 1t
has it's doctrine of the State, of govern
ment. 1t holds distinctly that govern
ment is distinguished by power to COM
pei obedience. 1t IS not the distinctive
Office of government to give advice. Its
distinctive office is the use of power for
public ends A government without
power is an object of contempt 1t is
not, cannot, be honored. The first re-
qu,site of government is ample power
for the accomplishment of the ends of
government. This power must be mani
fest. Often the manifestation suffices
When it does not suffice the power must
he used. There is a growing doctrine of
government among us which certainly
is not that of the New Testament nor of
the wisest students. Government does
not exist to confer upon and secure TO
every individual subject all he wants;
all the money or land or learning he
wants. Government is power for gem
eral benefits, and chief benefit is public
security. 1t is high duty of govern
ment to make war, protect from invasion
and destruction. 1t is as high duty to
protect from internal revolt and destruc-
ton. 1t was this high, stern duty to
which the government gave itself during
the civil war. 1t is always governments
supreme task to protect itself that it may
protect the large interests it has in
charge.
Not to do this is self destruction. A
government which does not enforce its
will ceases to be government, and is