The Louisiana populist., 1896-02-07
NATCHITOCHEs, LOUISIANA FRIDAY FEBRUARY T. 1896

strife, strife that has brought us as a
nation to the verge of political, social
and moral ruin, and for the establish
ment of that divine civilization based
On Gods one and only law of love. Z
Are the conditions under which we
continue to exist as nation in accord
with this great law OF God. Are we,
socially. morally or politically, actuated
in our conduct toward each other by the
law OF love? II so. we do not need to
pray this prayer. But 1t is not so. Take
up any department of our national or
social life. and the spirit of competitive
individualism will. be found to be the
inspiration of our national or social ac-
tions. In one form or another the same
selfish, competitive, industrial system
under which we at present live, has
| existed since the history of men began.
We have never had any other system,
and whatever of industrial wrong
exists, and whatever is socially wrong
must be charged to that same industrial
system which 1t was the nilsson of
Jesus to overthrow. Since there Is but
one kind of right, and lacking the prin-
cipal OF moral right, or, in other words.
living In disobedience to the one great
law, our moral sense must pronounce
against the civilization of the past and
present the verdict-wholly wrong. 1t
Is part Of the same system that des-
troyed the national life of the Jews;
that overthrow the Roman government;
that brought forth the terrors of the
French revolution; that twice drenched
our own land in blood, and that fur
nished the incentive for the crucifxion
Of the Son of God.
have no sympathy with that class
OF preachers who counsel submission to
the evils from which we to-day are suf-
fering. with our only hope of reward in
the life eternal. Jesus exhorted his
disciples to say. "The kingdom of
heaven Is at hand"-not a far away
thing, to the view of which distance
lends enchantment, but close by, near at
hand. And he tells them, when you
fray, say. Our Father. thy will be done
in earth'-not elsewhere-'as it is done
IN heaven" *t ~
1t is evident to me that the only thing
that stands in the way of the coming in
OF that time is our own wills. He sai6
to the Jew, Repent. He says to us, Re-
pent; the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
But why must our present Industrial
and social system be abolished before
we can expect the will of God to be
oone In earth as In heaven? n
For the reason that there is but one
kind OF right. Before men will obey
the law-the will OF God-they must re-
pent, must turn away from that which
is wholly selfish and which arrays
brother against brother. As individ-
cais and as nation we are socially and
industrially wrong and therefore NOR
ally wrong. We stand on the verge Of
ruin. Being socially and industrially
wrong we cannot be morally right; and
being morally wrong we are in no con-
dition to yield up or self love-the
love OF Ego-to the unselfish love or will
OF God. Before the coming of the king
dom of heaven to earth, there must be
great moral and social awakening.
There must be a national revival of re-
ligion on lines that embrace the ma
terial welfare of the human race in this
world. as well as its spiritual welfare
In the next. There mist be born within
us desire to see the VIII of God done
In the earth as In heaven, that ex-
presses itself not, only in the form. OF
words, but in social actions as well.
To little purpose do we pray, Thy
VIII be done on earth as in heaven" !"
unless we also work for that end. Our
part OF the work that must be done be-
fore that much desired time shall come.
Is as important as Gods part. God
works through human instrumental
ties, and II the human part fails. His
part will not be done.
What part have we to perform in
ushering In the new heaven and the
new earth? Looking back along the
stream Of our own time, we can see the
agencies that have been at work in
solving the problem of national ruin.
We can discover those political poll
cies that have brought the curse Of
upon our nation and ex-
IRENE poverty and destitution upon
those who have always been its brain |
and Drawn. We can trace the bearing
,f these policies upon our nations pro- |
yress and prosperity. We can search |
'ut those policies that have dethroned |
the rights Of a large class of our citi- |
sens to life. liberty and the pursuit Of
happiness. And we can declare SOL
smnly In the sight of God that we Will |
1ot longer support these policies. II
zach of US who are here to-day would |
oegin to do the will Of God here as 1t
. done In heaven, we would soon
zee such q revival Of the religion Of |
owe as would transform our part Of
he earth into garden of Eden. And
he influences Of the Spirit would not
top with US. but would spread its be-