The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-04-09
CHRISTIANITY OF NATIONS
A. EIsmpIIhsd In Their AttltudS Toward
caba, Armenia and Crete.

A. EIsmpIIasd In Their AttItudS Toward
Caba, Armenia aud Crete.
Denver News Of April 4: In consider
ing some modern historical develops
meuts the thoughtful mind cannot avoid
a wondering doubt as to the rightfuI
claim OF christendom to its title. While
no one VIII deny that every western ma
ton has a Soodly proportion Of mod
erately devoted Christians among It's
people, no one could with much truth
affirm that any one OF these countries
conducts its governmental policy as a
whole along Christian lines. The two
most glnrinS examples OF this lack Ot
Christian action in the present decade,
are, OF course, Cuba and Turkey. In
the first case Spain and America are
most to blame: In the second, the pow
cTs' OF Europe. Turkey we cannot ar
raign. for she does not claim 10 be q fol.
lower OF the religion OF love. To be
sure Engllshmen and Frenchmen and
others have held mass meetings and de.
tiared themselves Violently in favor OF
aiding the ArmeniAns and EuppressinI
TIE Turk. while in America we have on
various unofficial occasions held forth
in favor OF Cuba, but our governments
10 serenely on in a policy OF cOld-biood-
ed and diplomatic self-inteTest. And
when one pluoky little nation, like
Greece, makes an attempt TO stand up
for some OF the down-trodden people In
her ncIGhborhood, the greater Ro-called
Christian powers unite TO broW-beat
her into leaving III enough alone. The
question naturally arises, do no Christ
ian-heErted men ever take public Ohlce7
Are Christians confined 10 private citi-
Eens. or does the holding OF govern.
mental powers kill the Christianity IN
q man? In a nation such as ours the
people are responsible for their rulers.
SO that when the national policy Is
harsh or unworthy Il stlll represents the
VIII of the majority OF the people. The
Americas, both North aud South, were
coloniZed in the name Of Christ, YET
how many crimes against humanity
have stained the history OF each. Is 1t
impossible for q nation TO maintain IT.
self rs a nation and yet act as a body
Of humanity flowing Christians? Must
nations and corporations forever have
no souls? VIII we never as Christian
peoples pursue steadily the policy OF
overcoming evil with Good2 In nine
teen centuries the nations OF Christen-
dom have made several long steps for
ward in humanitarian and religious de.
Velopment; that must be joyfully ac-
knowledged But nineteen centuries
represent large number OF generations
Of men; roughly speaking, some fifty,
eight OF them. With the strong teach
lnEs Of Christianity each generation
should be able to make at least one de-
cent step In advance; but instead Of acs
complaining that, many a generation
has used those very teachings to hold
progress stationary or push II back. Our
nineteenth century has accomplished
several Steps forward, besides perform
ing some decided backward slides Al
last we have abolished technical slA-
very throughout Chrlstendom. but In
America political corruption has grown
30 rapidly as 10 make good people al
most despair OF the future OF the repub.
lie.
tits thankless task to pick Gaws and
show up failures, but after honest con.
EideratiOn OF international history OF
the last most evcntful century. how can
We Of Christendom lay good claim TO the
beautiful name we muster under? IN
I'll the Christian element Of each coun~
try has the Contplling power In the
government we should not call ourselves
Christian nations.