The Republican journal., 1896-03-05

as day after day we read the story that is
CHASTITY and pitiable almost beyond ex-
preston. Certainly as relates to you and
me, it is only when we are touched in some
particular personal---very., as recently through
that pathetic letter of appeal from an
Armenian brother to some of his friends
in this church and congregation, that we
are most deeply stirred and the horror OF
the thing comes to us afresh. SO long as
we feel ourselves impotent to do anything,
it is natural that we should be like the
man who stops up his ears to a hideous
out cry and tries for his own comfort and
peace of mind to be forgetful of it. But to
make charitable contributions through the
Missionary Boards and the Red Cross So
ciety and other appointed channels of re-
lief, though the response be quick and
generous, even that is unsatisfactory. DR..
Newman Smyth has put it tersely: lit is
not enough for the people either of Eng
land or this country to be content with
feeding the surviving lambs while the de-
vouring wolf is still ravaging the sheep
fold unclubbed.'' The responsibility of
the United States is not met by the exhi-
bition of sympathy and charity merely,
however sincere and bountiful this may
be. What can we do, what ought we to
do. as great Christian nation?
You will not understand me of course
as attempting to lay down an exact pro-
gram of governmental action. That would
be a piece of conceited assertiveness, in
view of the fact that the wisest and most
statesmanlike minds in our country have
been so much perplexed. But surely
there are some things that commend
themselves to our sanctifed Christian
common sense, which ought to be the con
clusion of the whole American people, of
these we think as principles, not as pro-
gram formulated in detail.
Our national Congress a few weeks ago
expressed it's adherence Of the atrocities
in Armenia in the form of resolutions to
be submitted to the powers Of Europe
bound by treaty obligations. For once at
least within recent days the Senate and
the House of Representatives have spoken
for all the nited States. You recall the
tenor of these resolutions. The earnest
hope was expressed that there might be
such immediate concerted action in Eu-
rope as to stay the hand of fanaticism and
lawless violence, and support was tender
ed the President in the most vigorous
action he might see fit to take for the
protection of American citizens in Turkey
and for the redress of any injuries in
"
this We say the heartiest "Amen'-it
saves our missionaries. But, alas it does
not save the Armenians.
| Now, for one, believe that even this is
not enough. The principles of Christian
brotherhood as between nations insists
upon the fultilment of a profounder re-
| sponsibility. We are our brother 5 keep
er-that is highest international law; that
is the positive demand Of humanity ! kin
ship. What can we do? At least. we can
| be 50 thoroughly in earnest, So elOQHently
insistent in appeal to England or Russia
or both, or all the great powers, that they
must hear us and act with us for Arme
MAS sake. Perhaps we cannot take the
initiative OF action; it may be it would
not be good governmental policy to inter
/ fere independently, however much we
might like to send our white squadron
flying across the Atlantic and through the
| blue Mediterranean on such noble crusade
as Medieval Europe in its battle for the
| Holy Land never knew. But if we were
righteously bold and brave, if we had
such holy strength and courage as God
can give to nations, as well as to individ-
uals, in great crises in the conflict with
the power of darkness, do you not think
we could make faltering, cowardly, Chris
tian Europe rise to the discharge of its
tremendous duty? You know what one
Jealous, inspired Christian man can do in
a community of hundreds or thousands of
his fellows. What might not one Jealous,
inspired Christian nation do in commu-
nifty of half a dozen nations?
! Does this seem mere theoriZing? 1t is
vain enough utterance, | admit, so far as
any practical good to come from it is con
| hat g ,,.,t
relief in freeing ones mind and possibly
! kindling a few other minds to soberest
thought and earnest prayer But, as was
| remarked, we are not dealing in programs.
| However, Just imagine this--lf our Chief
Executive should add ringing word to
what Congress has already said, and then
| if a direct proposition should be made to
/ the English government, pledging the pow
erful support of the United States in i'm
mediate, decisive doing, to blast once and
| forever this horror of horrors, backed as
any such action would be by the unani-
nous heart and conscience of the Chris
tian world. would it be all in vain? | be-
| lieve not. But as it is-there Armenia
| lies, one with us in the religion of oul
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, bleeding,
agonizing, dying. We cover our eyes, we
mutter a prayer, we turn away. This is
what all Christendom is doing to-day,
conserving to the death of the martyr.
And He came to teach us how to love one
another 1900 years ago.
Need present in other than the sim
plest summary form our second lesson il
Christian ethics? The brotherhood OF
nations truly realized means forgiveness
of injury and good feeling, but it means
so much more than that. Just as kindly,
CHART a BILE, generous disposition toward
friend or neighbor in the social relations
of the individual does not make the Chris
tian, but rather that spirit W hich shows
itself in self-denying endeavor for the
good of others-in service of them, in
personal sacrifice for them; so a Chris
tian nation is bound to be the helper, the
minister, the redeemer of other lands and
peoples. And in SO far as it is Indifferent,
as it fails to respond to the cry of distress,
to avenge the down -trodden and persecut-
ed, to succor the perishing, to that de-
gree its Christianity is only nominal, is
proven false and worthless.
And this now is our third and final les
son-it is a natural influence from the
specific application Of our second lesson.
"Resist not evil, the Holy One said. But
there is resistance to wrong doing which
is altogether right, which is commended by
Eol To hon horS 10 u,inlyo6 Tu,y + |,