The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-10


government as ours, and hence the results
accomplished by US up to the 18th century
was nothing but preparatory work. The
nations of the present day have utilized
this preparatory work and founded their
governments upon a code which recognizes
God and his moral government OF the
universe, and mans responsibility IN
carrying out the designs Of this moral
government in the elevation Of the race.
And of all the nations we have established
8 government combining all the excellen-
cies of all others that have ever existed.
1t has for its foundations the indestructl-
BILE principles of true religion, human
freedom and general human progress.
THE United States are for this reason
destined to play an important and con-
spicnous part in the future history of the.
world. Isolated in the Occident, as the
earliest of the race we're in the Orient, she
Is to become the center from which light,
knowledge and civilization are to be diff
fused over the whole earth.
The events of the last half century have
been pregnant with world wide conse-
quences These have conspired to MAKE
us as nation Of far more importance to
the human race and its future history
than ever the chosen nation of God was in
the infancy of the world. More progress
has been made in science. the arts. dis.
coveries, and in all Intellectual achieve
1
ments, during the last century than had
been made in sixty centuries. 1t seems.
as If the human mind was suddenly re-
lieved from the incub bus under which it.
had labored for the ages. and with some
thing like inspiration entered into the vast
field Of the occult and undiscovered ele-s
ments Of nature and made them subservi-
ent to the phenomenal advancement OF
the race. Since the morning stars sang
together at the creation, the atmosphere
and all nature have had difused in them
the element of electricity, and yet is"
presence and utility escaped the attention
Of all the sages and philosophers of an-
6iquity. Tt was left for the christianized.
mind Of the 10Th century to comprehend
its mysterious power and nature, and TO
make it a potential and useful agensin the
practical affairs of life.
In the field Of discovery the mechanical
inventions Of the last half century have
reyolutionized agriculture and all indus
trial conditions, and furnished substi-
tutes fors the labor Of man which accom-.
plish all the wonders of the human viii
and intellect. For the ages, the principle
OF these inventions lay dormant in the
vast storehouse Of nature. and human in-
genuity failed TO comprehend it and make
it factor in progress and civilization. It
was reserved for the inquisitive intellect
of the 18th century, quickened By the in-
spring influences Of christianity, to ex-
plore this rich mine Of nature, and TO har-
ness the forces there stored sway in ma
chinery which has given an impetus to
the progress Of the world such as has not
been seen in any other era.
But in the development OF the princi-
pies of government the most rapid strides
have been made. It has been discovered.
az almosta revelation that man was not
made for governments but governments
exist for man. The idea Of the ancient
world was to organize political society
and enact laws to keep its subjects under
restraints, and to exact perfect obedience
as the only virtue of government. The
laws of; Caligula, posted so high that no
one could reach them, of Solon, ,Lycurgus.
Draco and all other lawgiyers were codes
intended only for the physical and intel
lectual development Of man. His moral
sense was repudiated and the education
of his moral nature entirely neglected.
He was treated as a creature Of time and
circumstances. and no account was taken
of his immortal destiny. In this consist
ed the pre-eminent inirmity of all the
monarchies and republics which existed
in ancient times. The decalogue. which
should be the foundation of all organized
political society, as promulgated by the
greatest human lawgiver the world has
ever seen, was ignored, and there was sub
stituted for this enduring basis the sandy
heather mythology For this reason all
these governments in time tottered and
crumbled into ruins.
THE ERA OF WAR SUCCEEDED BY ERA OF
COMMERCE.
Ever since the foundation of the civil
lied world the nations of the earth have
conducted their warlike expeditions
against. other nations either through
pure love of conquest, or from motives of
plunder. Within recent years, the civil
lied nations have begun to recognize that
these methods are not in consonance With
the principles Of humanity. Their con-
quests have as a rule been peaceful ones
during the past few years, made for the
purpose Of extending their commerce.