The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-23
EXALTED PLACE FOR AMERICA.

AT the Vance Memorial church last
evening. the pastor. Rev. c. d. Austin,
delivered q Timely discourse. his theme
being, Has War Any S.Blessings?"
The reverend speaker maintained that
war was followed by certain beneficial
results TO mankind, owing to the chang
Ing md betterment OF conditions, but
Northumberland war except as a last
resort. and hoped for the time when 1t
would be a lost art.
Rev. Mr.. Austin termed war one OF
the greatest evils OF society, one which
We would remove II we could. War Is
a last md final necessity, and accepted
as tn. last and unavoidable condition.
The shock Of arms, however, puriles
tho atmosphere, SO to speak, Of moral
and national degeneration. War is
made on sin. a man making war on his
soul or self. and II q man can make
war on himself why can he not make
It on his n%elghbor?
In these latter days war is the result
Of commercial rivalry. One nation
strives TO Guido the other in the acqul-
s!tior OF new territory. In this name
they have expended millions and mil
lions Of dollars, building cruisers, torpe-
do boats and torpedo destroyers, until
way has become an art, and none can
tell where the improved warfare, as TO
its deadliness, will end. The European
powers cast Jealous and glaring eyes on
each other, and spare no expense to 1T
their nayies and armies with the most
deadly Of weapons.
Rev. Mr.. Austin In saying that war
made heroes, remarked that such was
no reason why nations should war, a.
heroes could be developed In times Of
pease. Among the excuses given for
war, he said. some one has said that
there are worse calamities than that
which come from war, which is neces-
sary 10 let shine out occasionally the
growth and vigor OF a people.
The United States didn't need any
war at present for its own sake. The
civil war was q dark chapter, but the
country was beginning to forget 1t.
There was a field for men to show their
sterner qualities. New territory, dis
$coveries in science, inventions, and les
sons in. beneficence were arpusipg and
engaging the attention of the people.
The nation wasn't degeneratlns, but go
ling gradually ahead. But the sense OF
humanity was awakened to q condition
OF affairs in q neIghboring island, and
the national sense Of consciousness
burst forth In the effort TO give the
light Of freedom to an oppressed people.
and Providence was evidently showing
Its hand.
The good results that flow from war
were shown in those which followed the
civil war, which taught the united COL
onies that they were set for human
light, liberty and progress, a nation set
q between two oceans, whose time has
come when the purpose Of Gods eter-
nifty has been shown for this favored
land And the only misfortune that
followed the revolutionary war was the
arrangement. or misunderstanding
that came to exist between the daughter
and the mother country, but happily,
England and the United States are
showing O disposition to come back to-
gether on the platform they should &C.
cupy.
There would be blessings follow from
this war with Spain. There Will come
a time when they will be shown. Not
the least will be the blessings OF lib
erty. and the opportunity Will show this
z country q truly great nation before the
rest Of the world. 1t will be n prophetic
sight even In the immediate future to
see the Red Cross Society nurses on tho
battlefield, attending the wants Of the
wounded, no matter OF which army. a
spectacle which Is prophetic Of the time
when there Will be no battlefields.
The time will come when there will
be no battlefelds. 1t will be when
Christianity rises supreme. Not now.
while each nation Is training immense
armies, building magnificent fleets, and
costly forts, adopting every invention
to perfect an invincible army and navy.
But the time will come when the ma
lions are keyed to the highest pitch, as
to warning facilities. What then?
Christianity with Its doctrine Of peace'
and righteousness will wipe away all
the armies and navies and bring about
the true and only victory for mankind.
No More Backward Looks.
?. .