Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-11-27
NOBLE SENTIMENTS.
Continued from page u

so that the plots ~ the consnirators of
disunion were foiled, and slavery and
secession crushed.
Looking back mon the perils through
which our nation has passed the peril
Of slavery. the peril o. disunion and
civil war, and the peril Of reconstruc-
ton. we are impressed with the convic-
ton that verify God had been round
about us for defense as the mountains
were round about Jerusalem.
Our nations founders had noble ideals
for its national life. They aimed to
secure the unhindered operation Of
those forces which make for the best
manhood. and which secure in largest
measure the happiness and comfort OF
the whole people. How far has its
development thus far met the expecta-
tions Of its founders? Let others speak
as to this. Matthew Arnold has said,
america holds the worlds future.
Her government is the only eventual
form Of government for all people"
Herbert Spencer has written TINS, 81
think that whatever difficulties they NAV
have to surmount, whatever tribulations
they may have to pass through, the
Americans may reasonably look for
ward TO time when they will have
produced civilization grander than
any the world has yet known" Mr..
Gladstone has written, america will
probably become what we are now. the
head servant in the great household Of
the world, because her service will be
most and ablest." Another says, "the
mission and dignity of America is TO
secure perpetual peace, through the
parliament of mankind and the fedora
ton Of the world +" The recent success
full termination of our nego iatons with
Great Britain looking toward the final
settlement of TIE Venezuelan boundary
must seem long step in that direction.
Pleased as we must be with these
tributes to the present glory and pro-
spective greatness Of our nation, we yet
need to beware lest the sense of the
vastness Of our resources does not make
of us boosters and braggarts One over
enthusiastic American toasted the
United States as bounded on the north
by the Aurora BorealiS. on the south bv
the Procession of the Equinoxes, on the
east by primeval chaos, on the west by
the day cf Judgment. Unfortunately
this incident has seemed to many, fairly
characteristic Of our people. Ultimately
America has less to do with huge di-
mansions. rich fields. fat herds, and
filled granaries, than with the free and
Christian institutions that are calculated
TO manufacture souls of a good quail
ity"
Dwelling in a land with such a his
tory and heritage, il must seem indeed
surprising that il should become neces-
sary to discuss plans for preserving our
free institutions and guarding our liber-
ties Yet such is the case. Danger
signs are not unknown. PortentOus
clouds darken our sky. In spite Of our
marvellous resources and our unexampled
progress. many thoughtful men among
us are giving expression TO dark fore
holdings as To the future Of our free in
situations. while Europeans have All
along predicted disaster TO the republic.
The direful words of the brilliant his
torian. Macaulav. are we'll known. "the
dav will come in the United States.
when the multitudes distressed by hard
times, will be called upon 70 choose n
legislature On one side is the states
man preaching patience, respect for
vested rights, strict observance OF
public faith On the other are dema-
gogues ranting about the tyranny OF
capitalists and usurers. / seriously APP
prehend that he people Of the United
States will in some such season Of adj
versitv do things which will prevent the
prosperity from returning; that they
will act like people who should in n
year Of scarcity devour all the seed corn
and thus make the next year not Of
s"@~citv Int of absolute famine. There
will be fear snoliation the spoliation
will increase the Distress the distress
will produce fresh spoliation. When a
society has once entered upon this down.
ward progress. thare is nothing 70 stop
it. Either civilization or liberty must
perish Either some Caesar or Ma
poleon will seize the reins Of government
with a strong hand, or your republic
will be az fearfully plundered by barba-
rism in the twentieth century as the
Roman empire was in the fifth; with
this difference, that the Huns and
Vandals who ravaged Rome came from
without; while your Huns and Vandals
will have been engendered w thin your
own country bv your own il situations
This prediction has been in the minds Of
many during the past few months
Some have thought the time rire for its
n -