Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1903-03-14


tefian Church, Chicago
Chicago, March 8. In this sermon
the preacher shows that there are other
than commercial and financial obliga-
lions between nations and that Chris
tian America owes n debt. both in the
spiritual and philanthropic sense, to the
modern Greeks ard barbarians which
she now has opportunity to pay. Tho
text Is Romans /, II, Il am debtor both
TO the Greeks and to the barbarians."
A national debit 1t Is popularity un-
derstood to be a financial obligation
which government has pledged itself
TO pay. Sometimes this is contracted
in the interest Of single subject
About thirty years ago the English gov
ernment assumed a debt of over $Zo,-
100000 to liberate single man, Cap
tain Cameron, who had been unjustly
endungeoned by the king Of Abyssinia
in the rocky fortress Of Magdala. 1t
took six months for the news of the
outrage to travel to England, but III
less than eleven days afterward Brit
Ish army of $1,000 men, under General
Napier was on its way. 1t not only
crossed the seas, but also marched
terrible journey of 400 miles under a
tropical sun, until the troops reached
Magdala and battered down the for
tress and rescued their incarcerated
countryman. A civilized country Is
usually ready to begin any undertake
Ing. assume any financial responsible
ty. in order to protect its own from the
tyrannical clutches CT foreign foe.
Sometimes an extra financial obliga-
ton Is assumed by a government in
times of peace as well as In times OF
war A depleted treasury during the
financial panic of 1893 caused the pres
ident of the United States to issue
5000, 100000 worth of government
bonds. Some of these interest bearing
bonds were purchased by foreign cap
italists and others by American cit-
zens. But there are still other forms
! and causes of international obligation.
A government can owe to foreign lands
more than money. Such definitions as
we have given are right as far as they
90. but they are too circumscribed.
When the Hebrew Paul wrote, II am
debtor both to the Greeks and TO the
barbarians." do not believe he had
any idea Of financial Interpretation.
Referring TO Greece. he was alluding
to the Intellectual influence OF the Athe-
nian capital. which made itself felt
throughout the world. That city sway
ed the scepter In the domain OF intel
lectuality: IT ruled the world Of culture
with the sculptor's chisel, the poets
pei, and the Dcssosthenoan or0tofy Oi
n patriot rousing the people to wage
war against King Philip. When faui
spoke of the barbarians, Deileve ne
was alludIng TO the strength ana the
yirility which the world had ABSORBED
from the different provinces. AS
mou of learning he was indebted TO
those people to whom he was about to
! present Jesus Christ. SO today want
To sneak of Americas national debt in
q moral and spiritual sense as well as
in financial: want to show what we
should give back to the lands across
the seas in return for what we have
absorbed from them. consciously or un-
consciously. AS we balance our ma
tional books the debit side Of our ledg-
or must be cleared off. If we are ma
tIonally honest we are ready to pay
for what we have received.
We Have Borrowed Europe's Best
Our country has been the reservoir
for the best ard the richest blood OF all
Europe. a few years ago a noted irish
leader. now Il member Of the British
narl;amcnt. was addressing great
gathering of Irish Americans In Chica-
go. During his speech he made THIS
quggestive statement: You Irish-Amer-
leans congratulate yourselves because
cverv year you send over few thou
sand dollars to help US In our struggle
for home rule. But | want to tell you
that YOU are doing no more than you
ought to do America owes a greater
debt TO ireland than Ireland does to
America. America has not taken from
us money, but she has taken from us
what Is of more value than money
Her magnetism has come into our large
cities and villages and factory towns
and wooed from our shores the bes'
and strongest young men and young
women we had. She has taken then
away annually not by the scores anc
hundreds, but by the thousands anc
the tens of thousands; she has taket
away the strongest young men and wo
men we had and has left only the weak
lings-those who are afraid to start ou
in the new world. Meanwhile we, th'
stay at homes, must go on struggling
while our stalwart Irish = American
brothers and sisters are winning sue
cess in another hemisphere" VIVA
that member of the British parliamen
said in reference to Ireland can D.
said in reference to almost every coun
try of Europe. Go down to the grea
seaport towns of Norway anG Sweden
Germany, France, Italy, Holland ant
England and Scotland and ask thos
emigrants. those stalwart young fel
lows and those red checked lassies
where they are going. Everywher
you can hear the same answer: II
America. We are sailing for America.
Has America no obligation to NEE
when she has taken from other land
such foreign born leaders as Alexande
Hamilton to run her finances and Aga'
siz to read the records of her rocks an
Ericsson to save her navies and Jon
Summerville and John Hall to preac
In her pulpits and Andrew Carnegie
build her steel works and John "
Mackay to develop her mines an
= Thomas Moran to paint her picture
and DR.. Nicholas Sem to stand at be
operating tables and Franz slgei
eght her battles and Speaker Hende