The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-12

investment of body and brains that he has
put into his industry. Alas! in that case
the sentiment Of justice, fear. is not 50
sensitive, Tor We are not so IN
terested in the manual laborer as
we are in the rich man, not so interested
In the great working world as we are IN
the people that we meet in what is called
the social world. 1t is not that we are un-
Just, but that our justice is narrow and
CONSTRUCTED; it needs universalizing. What
pertinent illustration we have had or this
inflrmity of the human race in these last
sad and glorious days of war. The apex of
heroIsm In our late war was supposed to be
reached in the adventure of the Merrimac,
IN the sinking of an American snip con-
frOnted with a thousand dangers in the
ton rose up and crowned that deed with
honor and applause, magnified the venture
and wrote it in large iliustrious letters in
the annals of its splendid and immortal
achievements.
But have you noticed that there is only
one name associated with this the most
glorious heroism of the SDanish-American
war? There was one officer on the Merri-
mac, HobSOn, but there were there that
ship also besides him seven companions in
danger Not many to remember. not many
to immortalize not many to crown; and yet
we do not now hear their names mentioned
Justice, traditional justice is large enough
TO honor Hobson. but not large enough and
not universal enough in its spirit nor demo-
cratic enough in its impartialty to crown
his seven companions, socially and profess
sionally less lustrous than he-With immor-
tally. Our patriotism, l fear, is touched
with snobbishness.
AS we as individuals. as members of the
glorious and illustrious church of Christ,
are loyal to our preparative work, so let us
pray that our noble Nation may be true in
these present times to its great and tre-
mendous obligations as member of that
vast power. the power of Christendom. The
world, 1t seems to me, is about to take
huge stride towards better things, to-
wards culture, order peace. l believe that
the next half century is to contain within
itself wondrous intellectual, moral, polti-
find the Occident vastly interested in the
affairs of the Orient; already we find
Christendom solicitc us about the solution
of the Turkish question; already we find
ergy, if semi-bar tarous in it's ideas. institu-
lions and life-Russia. the larges of the
tons. to a conference in the interests of
world peace. II seems to me that the tu-
ture is full of promise, full of great
prophecies for humanity, full of rich potsn-
tial blessings for east and for west, for
north and for south. And it should be our
fervent prayer that cur Nation should DO
its part towards giving free and easy move
ment to the forces of humanity and love
that are seeking now with ardent heart TO
take posses sion Of the world and rule 1t
with a scepter of btEignity and grace.
America must become, if not, as some
people fearing the phrase, and who dis
claims with passionate vehemence, against
it, a world power at least world helper
and a world lover. She stands at the part
ing of the ways; her career henceforth
may be strong ana vital out seiHSn anu
constructed; she may live unto herself
alone, but her solitary life will be as igno-
minious as solitary On the other hand, she
may go forth in the broad and the larger
way; she may feel for the worlds burdens,
she may take upon herself the worlds
cares, she may say to the far as well as to
the near, I have light, and this light Is
yours; have hope. and this hope is yours;
! have liberty, and this liberty Is yours.
She may choose either way, but only the
latter way, the way of austere obligation.
no doubt. but still the way OF the larger
the larger spirit, is the Christ way. And
this way America must go if she would
prepare the way Of the Lord.