The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-02

the harbinger Of self-destructIon. II IS
this madness that brough. Egypt and
Greece and Rome into their graves, and
that has possessed Spain for the last
four centuries, that has found its vent
In her brutality, treachcry, injustice ana
inhumaniiy. Beginning with the inqui-
siti0n. and the autos-da-fe. manifesting
i,sslf In the expulsion OF the Jews Ia iia2.
IL has been seen In the treatment OF her
colonies by Spain Alternating their anec-
tions by her utter disregard OF all hu-
man or divine rights and laws, callous
20 human suffering deaf TO the pleas OF
justice or the despairing cries OF starv-
ing people she pursued her horrid way
TN they rose In revolt one BY one. ana
that tremendous DOMAIN has steadily
dwndled and fallen from her rapac!ous
and heartless grasp.
Possibly We Jews may look upon this
spectacle with more interested vision.
for II were not human 10 forget what
Spain has done 10 the Jews. Yet there
T. no yengeful vlndictlyeness I'm Jewish
hearts Spalns humiliation Is not alone
a triumph for Israei-it Is a triumph for
justice. for humanity, FOR God. II Is the
demonstration OF the basic principle Of
Israels faith, the supreme. all-pervading
and all-governlng Providence OF God
made evident in the lines Of human his
tory as II was written on the walls OF
Babylon's palace. when midst the sump-
tuous extravaganza OF his feast Belshaz-
zar read his doom, "m'nay, m'nay. tekel
upharsn." thou hast been weighed IN
the scales and found wanting.
SPAIN S RETRIBUTION
And the retroution Is made poetic by
the fact that the country, which Spain
gave unto 20 the world IN the very year
IN which she drove the Jews from out
her land Is now the one that Is about to
bring her 10 book. The four hundred
years are not so long in The sight Of Him
10 whom a thousand aeons are but as
watca In the night when the morning has
come. They are but the days OF grace"
in the divine economy OF the cosmos.
Spain Is to-day meeting the note which
her own 'nhumanlty has drawn.
But While Spain Is thus explating her
sins there Is an diverse side 20 the pic
ture that has is moral as well. Spains
successor TO much OF the territory that
slipped from her has been England. But
England's treatment has been vastly dlf-
feront II IS dominion that Is based on
justice and on the recognition OF human
rights. England. IN spite of a monarchlcal
form OF government. IS a treur republic
by far than France. IL Is true England
has seized much territory. but It Is no less
true that whatever England does take
possession OF she improves blesses and
civilizes. The impnging scepter OF her
sovereignty is like healing balm laid upon
the sores 0f national ignorance and bar
barlty The result IS readily apparent.
Where Spain lost. England gained.
where revolt and hatred animate Spanish
possessions. feaity and hlial affection are
rendered unto England as witnessed at
- H..H. sHfa 81
lied round her. like 6cvoted children up
holding and safeguarding a beloved
mother OF a truth those that stand at
the door Of the tabernacle OF righteous
ness shall live. while those who depart
therefrom shall die. God does destroy.
but not with angry passion, not in the
fury OF fearful wrath. but with the stead
fast calm OF sublime justice. that neith-
er hasteth nor halteth. nor regardeth the
face Of any. 10 be swayed from its course.
SOLEMN WARNING.
To US especially, friends. does this truth
come home with solemn warning. We in
deed have heen the annonted priests OF
God. and by him stationed 10 serve at
The doorway Of the tabernacle. Our law
our truth. our faith are the pillars upon
which the temple OF humanity Is uprear-
cd. That which has kept us through all
the years that have passed. through all
the vicissltudes and catastrophes Of our
history has been the fact that we have
never lett the doorway Of the tabernacle.
nor been faithless to the trust reposed in
US. Our perpetulty in the days that are
10 be will depend upon that selt-same f.
deity. We dare not leave Il lest we die.
IsraeTs unique position among the fami-
lies Of men IS due solely 10 that faith
which Israel has kept. that struggle for
righteousness she has incessantlv made.
Let it not be said. that we. in happier
davs and circumstances. are less loyal
than our fathers. less devoted priests
than they have been. Amen.