The Indianapolis journal., 1901-07-01

and went down. When such a vast empire
collapsed she left the world in darkness
for at least 500 years.
When life began to stir again after the
dark night Of centuries Spain was the first
to assume the lead. Her last act was at
Santiago, and she went down in disgrace.
France then arose. dictated language. Gus
toms. fashions and culture 20 the world,
but she, through lewdness and many evils,
failed Britain. from the time of Drake,
Elizabeth, John Cabot, William and Mary.
assumed greater and greater Importance
At length she became the mistress upon
the seas and built up the greatest empire
In the worlds history. You may say her
people are tyrannical grasping, avaricious,
bullies, overbearng Britain does not
wholly deny those charges. but say the
worst about her you may. could you not
the nations named? The never showed
such inherent virtue and stability as she
has She has ruled the best Of them all.
Now, there was a little nation a hum
dred years ago just coming into promi-
nence. She then had a population nearly
equal 10 that Of little Holland to-day. No
one thought that this land would ever as
sumo such a place as she has attained.
She has in one century witnessed the great
est growth in cities, manufactures, COM
merce. wealth and extent of territory. Our
country in extent ranks fourth among the
nfty-two OF the world; she ranks first in
manufactures: she has ninety billions of
wealth. Tar outstripping all other nations
and has become a great world power New
YORK handles now one-fourth more money
than London and the limit of things is
rot reached. Can our claim TO the Kingdom
or heaven be based upon our greatness and
power? Not according to Christ's teach
ings.
There must he righteousness. There can
be no right living without a right heart
The spectacle which we make to the world
Is not the best. Our cities are administered
after the manner of the heather; our peo-
pie stoop TO bribery; our political life is
bad; intemperance is a menacing evil; our
churches are not we'll attended: Sunday
has become day of dissipation; lynchings,
acknowledgements, swindles, bossism mar
our national life.
Say the worst we may. there are prob
ably but three or four nationalities. such
as the English, Scotch, Welsh, Germans,
that can, even with our sins, compare with
US In virtue. We must have virtue and
be righteous, or the kingdom will be taken
from us, and great will be our shame.
Would ii not be better, on the Fourth
of July, instead OF throwing firecrackers
about, firing cannon, sending UP rockets,
the laboring classes? Would ii not be well
10 say 10 the railroads, street-car COM
panies, the sweat shops. the trusts: Cease
robbing and expressing men, and give the
laboring man a chance; give the girls and
women who have TO earn their daily bread
a chance. After we have helped the op-
possessions and sent the gospel 70 other
nations. we may then fire our crackers and
light our bombs.
Our claim upon the twentieth century
for leadership and the kingdom of God will
rest in great part upon our spirituality
What we as a people and a nation need
IS quickening of true religion. We need
the power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.
When, with the grace of God, we are led
TO confess our sins and live according TO
the New Testament standard. we may then
put up our claim to this century. Unless
We see our evil and turn from II the king
dom of God will be taken from US.
Il hope the people who see the end of
this century will behold great cities with
parks, where there are arcades, grassy
banks, beds of flowers; l hope they will
behold monuments of greatness, halls Of
fame. piles of graceful marble and granite.
wonderful forms in colors, light and beau
~. l hope they will see the cross, like the
tower at the Pan-American exhibition.
streaming with light for the poor and
needy. glowing with the religious fervor
of a people without bigotry, without social
cancer. / hope they will see people great
In their integrity, justice, honor and spir-
ituality. Then our Nation, If IL Is such
as have described, will have the kingdom
and take the lead"