Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-05

would fatter and deceive the people
by brave words, while the substance
of free government and American lib
erty was being bartered away for the
glittering prices held out by the fam
cied beauty, wealth and commercial
value of distant islands, yet TO be con-
quered. and when conquered to be held
in subsection outside of the Constitu-
ton by a large, expensive and perma-
nent standing army.
In conclusion, my friends, for / do
not wish TO weary you by long
harangue, an appeal has been made to
religion and progress; by this war We
are told Christianity will be propagated,
and the onward march of progress has
tened and encouraged. AS the Queen
of France exclaimed in the French
revolution: 'sOh, Liberty, what crimes
are committed in thy name!" so am
tempted to exclaim: ,'Oh, Religion.
what crimes are justified in thy name."
The Mohammedans carried fire and
sword through Asia and a part OF
Europe in the name of religion. The
religious wars OF Europe have been the
| bloodies tin the history of time. | am
old enough to remember that before
the late sectional strife the preachers
| of certain denominations went about to
and fro through the land blandishing
the fiambeau of political dissension and
civil war. And now we have bishops
clothed with the ermine of Christ HE
ing on the dogs OF conquest and with
sacreligious lips "cry havoc and let
| eli IN - lO1rr -.
religion! The constitution of the State
OF Virginia prohibited ministers from
! participating in the legislative branch
OF the government and the restriction,
| from our present experience, was prob
| ably right. | have never known a bish-
op yet to open his political mouth that
he did not put his ecclesiastical foot
/ in 1t.
We are also blessed with a class OF
| people who think they ride in the van
of Progress and accept nothing but
what is new and progressive 1t is
true that in old times the Constitution
| was good enough for us and met the
demands OF our people, but a new or
der OF things has transpired; and the
| progress OF the age requires that we
| transcend the Constitution and make
the will OF Congress absolute and SUI
preme in our newly acquired posses
| sions. Now let us inquire just a little
| into this pretension of progress. What
! do you mean by progress? The human
intellect in its upward march OF de-
velopment acquires increased control
over the forces of nature and makes
them more and more subservient to the
health, prosperity and knowledge of
mankind. This is called physical or
scientific progress. But is there not a
higher species of progress arising from
the development of mans moral and
spiritual nature? In other words II
does not suffice that we become wiser,
but it Is also necessary that we be-
come better. These physical agencies
are but the hand maids of truth and
unless they minister to her are but as
sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. "
| If / on the long distance telephone
utter a lie in New York, will 1t come
out the truth in Chicago? Or If in
Chicago, | contaminate the telegraph
wires with false message, will science
make it true when 1t reaches New
York? No, not at all. The progress
which leaves behind the eternal princi-
pies of truth and justice, may add TO
the temporary wealth of a nation but
not to its high standing. exalted repu-
tation, or permanent stability.