The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-19

wen as an individual. may array Itself.
an armOr made up Of honor, truth JUS
tiCe. purity ana charity. These are the
shields OF the mighty. These form the
celestial panOply which most safely
guards the nations life. Righteousness
ID the true palladium OF Kingdoms and
republics. II country could be found
lrwhere every citizen was animated by
high moral principle In all his transac
tions with HIS government and with his
fellOWmen: where private interest was
ever sacrificed to the public good;
whore devotion to the commonweal
produced mutual confidence between
man and man, and brought! together all
the elements OF strength and combined
them in one united EFFORT for the well
fare OF the whole' where Official integ-
rlty and private virtue were alike un-
spotted; where regard for each others
| rights. interests and happiness formed
the noble law Of q nations life, can any
one doubt that such people could en-
Joy u perpetual heritage OF prosperity
and power?
Righteousness Exalteth.
The wisest king who ever sat upon
throne has told US that righteousness
exalteth mutton. Not policy in gov
eminent, not fertility in soil, not salu-
brity OF climate, but righteousness.
Not fleets and armies and munitions of
war, but righteousness Is the only
firm foundation for the safety, honor,
happiness and glory Of nation. And
while this Is true, the converse Of the
proposition Is equally true Sin is the
shame the reproach, the ruin OF any
people; for sin is the fruitful mother OF
fraud. falsehood. selfishness, drunken
ness. treachery, oppression. corruption
and protilgacy; and these are the vices
which have dug the graves of the
our cOuntTy's honor against those sins
and evils. which always bring ruin and
desolatlon.
Moses. in his song, said to the people,
''asCrlbe ye greatness unto our God.
He is the Rock. His work is perfect"
We, too, can rejoice as people, and
aScribe greatness untn our God For
our government was established In the
broadest recognition of Its entire sub
ordInacy to the higher government Of
the eternal In theory, we never were
an infdel government; and. God help
ing us, we never will be. The baptism
in tenrs and blood Of our young giant
OF nationality, was Christian bRp-
tlsm. The trainers OF our constitution
recognized their Obligation 10 act, as
IN the presence OF higher than hui
man authority. And they did act us in
such presence. Protestant Christianity
is nosltlvely part OF our common law,
and part Of our constitution. The civil
law OF this land lifts Protestant Bible
in every Official Inauguration, and pro-
claims the Sabbath as consecrated to
God, alike In the halls OF our higher
md In the VsfYnnHf huf 4
OF the bOrderer Thus. recognizing
Gods authority as supreme over all
the nations on His footstool. Is not
God. then, the portion Of our Inherit
ance and cup Has He not maintained
our lot? Verify, my brethren, as free
and prosperous people. we owe some
thing unto God. Something?
An. me! how n1ighty-how great
should be the tribute which Christian
America rejolces TO lay at the feet OF
Jehovah! what has God done for US?
Alas. hive NO words for the argu-
meut. You know what He has done;
the whole world knows the story by
heart. Look at these United States as
they nppear to-day. Behold her broad
boundaries, and her humane and help
full hands. stretching out and extending
10 the islands OF the seas. Behold ner
gorgeous Scenery--her new and noble
civilization-the breadth and wealth OF
her husbandry--her mountains full OF
mlncrnls-the multiplicity Of her great
cItles--her seHboaris. the market places
OF "a world--her canvas OF commerce
whitening all ocpnns--her matchlesS
progress in manufactures and the arts,
and literature and science-the spread
of her mighty liopulatlon-the strength
and style OF her magnificent specimens
OF manhood. Look AT her with her
public schools and colleges. and semi
narIes, and universities. and with her
open Bible, and churches. and great
missionary societies giving the gospel
10 the world. Look nt her, the purcst,
the fairest, the most joyous, the most
hopeful the most magnificent uweillns
place for man on the face OF the earth.
And whence all thls7 Why. from
God. and God only "Ascrlbe ye great
moss unto Dur God, He Is the Rock. His
work Ia perfect" II Is Gods work, all
OF II: tile wisdom OF His counsel. the
work Of His omnlpotence. And tell me
then, II Won can, what should we rem
der az nation, unto God for all HIS
great mercies? What, what unto God?
Our great and glorious PreserNerl our
Rencfactor! our Rock In every storm!
orr great Shield IN every battle!
What, what unto God should America
render
Our Mission.
Fellow Christians and citizens, never
let us forget amid the proud and CRATE
full memories Of our origin and our
Young life. with what mission we are
chnrEed. what transcendant good Is
within our reach; what possibilities to
br rcalizcd or lost, and what immeas-
urable interests for millions yet I'M
born. ARE Involved With every reason
for conErntulatiOn and song and happy
memorial IN the pnst the great drama
NJ history n not yet complete, and We
are cnactinS now for our children. ~
our fathers did for us. one OF many
scenes which hasten or retard the great
contamination.
THANKS be To God for all that Is past
nnd secure already; for delivornnces
wrought IN the sea and the wilderness.
md for the largeness and wealth and
6nnortunity Of our national heritage!
Pisssed be- His name for more than
century az new things In new nation
for our flag. our Union, our NATIONAL
nv, for the magnificent ideas OF lib
/ prtv anil OF human right and progress,
which hnye been evolved into form
and action and fruit In this period OF
ptir existence Blessed be God that the
visions and yenrnlngs OF godly patriot-
ism at the beginning have not been
disappointed, but fully realized In the
happiness and freedom and security
ma honor Of our country. sought and
omen to tho oppressed ana weary OF nll
-. .,t-.-..,t =. far,t FnV. all tho TuDd