St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-06

hot dlficuit to Bee Where such deluslve
theories may lead. Ones own advant-
age becomes ones virtue, all liz good or
evil, according az 1t ls pleasing or profit
able to man, There is no higher, nobler
end.
1.-THE brightest lights which irreligion
has given to the world do not, of course,
encourage the indulgence In those vices
that the experience of mankind con-
dennis as detrimental to humanity,
They encourage virtue because its prao-
tice contributes to human happiness,
not because it's reward Is endless happi-
ness In better and nobler existence.
The advocates Of irreligion scott, with
lofty disdain, at the idea of reward or
punishment in future life, as an In
centive to virtue. But the highest in
cent1Ve that they can offer Is the re-
ward OF human approval in this world,
the satisfaction Of ones conscience, and
consequent short-lived worldly happi-
ness. How uncertain these rewards are
and how easily they elude the grasp Of
virtue, every thinking man well knows.
Honesty is not under all circumstances
the best policy in this world. 1t is, of course,
under all circumstances true principle, but
as q policy of advantage profit, it is often
conspicuous failure Virtue Is not always
its own reward; vice too often revels in
joy and unalloyed pleasure, short-lived though
1t may be, while virtue suffers in obscurity
and pain.
"1ngersoll defends the greatest crime Of
which responsible man can be guilty the
horrfd crime of suicide and his superstitious
disciples are dumb In the presence Of this
monstTous fend Of humanity's scaffold, his
hands red with the blood of welfare Harry
Hayward goes to the gallows with laugh on
his lips, defiant OF God and man, but encour-
aged in his sinful life by the rawlings of In
gersoll, who, in his madness, tells him that
religion is a lie, that God is myth, conjured
by designing priesthood, that all is over
when the grave is entered, and hence he
need not regret the dark deeds of a msspent
life, for the grave covers all there is and in
its silent bed, vice and virtue find alike sweet
repose in eternal night
The human mind conceive of nothing
In this world more destructive Of human
happiness, more fatal to humanity's welfare,
than the influence OF irrefigion. 1t tramples
upon the most ennobling impulses OF the hui
man heart, in telling man that he is in the
world without certain purpose. and that all
Is darkness beyond the grave. The uncertain
ty OF future life very naturally suggests to
every man to get all the 10y and pleasure he
religion, exists solely for human happiness
and joy. II this be so, whatever stands in
the way of such happiness as the heart Of
man longs for, must yield to the irnDerious
demand Of the human heart for pleasure
1rreiigion has no pity for human misfortune
no true sympathy for human sorrow, con-
suffer from the inequalities of our social
conditions. This life would be intolerabIe to
man, and this world the most accursed hell
to live in, if irreiigion were able to gain con-
troll over the thoughts of men.
But an all-wise Creator, who understands
the needs of the hearts He has made fills
them with comforting hope Of Justice and
mercy in q better and happier world. He has
planted in the heart Of man an Unsuitable
longing for immortality. He will satisfy that
longing. which heaven alone can fill. IrreIi-
gion has never been able to organize human
society. 1t contains not one single germ Of
life, not one element of progress. 1t may at
tempt to destroy what religion has erected
but it exerts a power for death, not life over
all hopes and aims of men,"