Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-11-16
1beelin9 8e9ister
WHAT Brings PROSPERITY
In the Nation, the Theme Of a
Thoughtful Discourse
By the Rev. Samuel Schwarn, Of
the English Lutheran Churchill
is Not Free Trade or Protection,
Gold or Silver, but Pure and I'm
defled Gospel Religion.

Is Not Free Trade or PrOtecClOn,
Gold or Silver, but Pure and I'm
defled Gospel Religion.
Last night Rev. Samuel Schwarm,
pastor of the English Lutheran church,
delivered to a large congregation a very
eloquent and able sermon, taking for
his subject The Only Sure Foundation
of Continued National Prosperity 1t
was a popular subject and was well
handled. 1t created great interest and
received many favorable comments.
Rev. Schwarm said: The depression
of the last four years has led TO a deep
er and more careful study of social and
economic questions than ever before,
and a great many theories exist as to
what is necessary to national prOsperi-
". Some contend that the prohibition
of the traffic in intoxicating liquors as
a beverage would be the greatest bless
ing to our nation, and that there can be
no continued prosperity without. But
there are nations under MOhammedan
control. for example Persia and Turkey,
where there is no great traffic in intoX-
icating liquors as a beverage, and yet
they are not prosperous. So prOhi-
bition, while it might be a great help
towards prosperity, cannot be the only
essential thing.
Others contend that high protective
tariff is the one thing needful to con-
tinued national prosperity. But China
and COrea for ages protected them
selves against the inrOads of other ma
tiOns and vet they were not cOnspicu-
Gus examples of great national pros
perity. And we had a panic, followed
bv great depression in 1873, under a
protective tariff, and another in 1893,
while the nation was under a system Of
protection.
Others contend that free-trade is the
one thing needful for continued nation
al prosperity. But it would not be diff
ficult TO find nations that have adopted
this system that are conspicuous for
great prosperity. We have just passed
through a great national election in
which the kind and amount of money
became the suggested remedy for all
our national ills. The one side con-
tended that the thing we need above
all others is a settled gold basis OF
coinage. The other side contended
with equal earnestness and elOquence
that a free and unlimited silver coinage
was what is needed to restore national
prosperity. The decision for the pres
ent rests with the gold basis people and
many people are looking Tor an era Oh
unparalleled prosperity.
But it ought not be a great surprise
if they are more or less disappointed,
for there have been nations that have
been financially on a gold basis that
have. nevertheless, gone to ruin. Neb-
uchadnezzar's empire was called by the
prophet David. the Golden Empire, but
II perished. Croesus. the Lydian King,
was renowned for his wealth in gold,
but his kingdom was Overthrown.
While it is right and proper for ma
tions to risk for the very best possible
system of coinage. they should not for
get that national prosperity Is not en-
tirely bound up with either gold or Sill
Yer coinage. or both; that there are
some other elements that enter into a
nations welfare that are OF more I'M
portance.
There are still others who are con-
tending that our whole social system
is wrong. That the modern social sys-
tenn is based on competition, whereas 1t
should be based on association and CO.
operation: that there ought to be no
mine and thine. but simply ours; that
the means of production should be held
in common and operated in common,
and the products enjoyed in common.
There is no doubt that the intense COM
netitiOn of our times has caused much
suffering and injustice. but that is not
saving that the proposition OF the So
cialist would remedy all Ills. IL Is
more than probable that his DeautlIul
theory would end in utter confusion
and anarchy. SO long as man is con-
stituted as he is at present he Will have
10 have some stimulus to labor and
that seems to be found only in moderate
competition.
I have noticed a number OF panaceaS
for national ills but none or Whlch,
though they may at times be or great
Importance. are infallible remedies
Some nations have prospered for a
time without their assistance and 9TH
ers have persisted in spite OF them. is
there any fundamental law OF national
prosperity? If so. what is it?
To those of us who believe in the
Bible there can be no doubt in regard
to this. We have a clearly revealed
law for national prosperity and also
as clearly revealed signs OF decay. The
first fundamental law is obedience TO
God. by whom the powers that be, are
ordained God said TO Israel, out Of
whom he had made a nation: If We
walk in my statutes and keep my COM
mandments and do them; then l will
give YOU rain. and the land shall yield
her increase. and the trees of the field
shall yield their fruit etc But if
We walk contrary 10 me and Will not
harken unto me. I will bring seven
times more plaques upon you. accord
ing TO your sins" Here we have a de-
finite rule for national prosperity. Obey
ing Gods commandments leads to con-
tinued prosperity; disobedience, TO ad-
versitv and calamity. Obedience to
God and Righteousness in national life
can only be kept alive and fostered by
religion. Ii is the religious spirit that
leads the people to obey and serve God
and thus becomes the great preserving
and prospecting factor. For the ma
tons and kingdoms that will not serve
Thee shall perish; yea those nations
shall utterly be destroyed.
The history of the rise and fall Of
nations of Israel, Egypt, Assyria, Baby