The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-07-13

learning should be -~IcnopoliZed by
a few, and he arrays himself against
the plans Of Jehovah who would deny
intellectual training TO any part OF the
human race 1t IS 2 false civilization,
not a true one that coGntenances the
permanent separation OF society into
two distinct classes. the n encourag-
ed 10 improve the mind and the other
condemned to hopeless ignorance.
Equally false is that conception Of in
ternational politics which would make
the prosperity OF one nation depend
upon the exploitation Of another.
No n questions that Japan's in
fuence has been a beneficent one since
she has emerged from illiteracy and
endowed her people with public schools
open to all her boys and girls. The
transition from a position of obscur-
ity into a world power was scarcely
more rapid than he translation from
a menace into an ally. China is en-
tering upon a similar experience, and
| am confident that her era OF reform
Will make her. not q yellow peril, but
a powerful cO-labOrer in the interna-
tiOnal vineyard. In india. in the Phil
ippines, in Egypt and even in Turkey
statistics show a gradual extension OF
education. and | trust | will be par
dOned if | say that neither the arm
les, nod the navies, O vet the COM
merce of our nations have given US
so just a claim TO the gratitude Of the
people of Asia as have Il schOOlteach-
ers, sent many. of them, by private
rather than by public funds.
THE LANGUAGE OF FREEDOM
The English language has become
the vehicle for the conveyance of gov
ermental truth even more than for the
spread Of general information, for,
beginning with Magma Charta ind con-
tinuing through the era of the Ameri-
can Revolution and the Declaration or
Independence down to the present, no
language has been so much employed
for the propagation of that theory Of
government which traces governmental
authority to the consent of the govern
ed. Our own nation presents the most
illustrious example known to history
of a great population working out its
destiny through laws of its own MAX
ing and under officials of its own
choosing, although, | may add, we
scarcely go beyond England in recog-
niZing the Omnipotence of a parlia-
ment fresh from the people. II is
| difficult to OvereStimate the potency Of
this conception Of government upon
progress of a nation, and in turning
the thought of the world away from
despotism to the possibilities of self
government the pioneers of freedom
made Western civilization possible.
An idea will sometimes revolu-
tioniZe an individual, a community, a
state a nation wen a world. and the
idea that man posses inalienable
rights which the state, though it can
leny, cannot take away, has made
erect and claim their God-given
inheritance. While the era of con-
stitutional liberty is ever widening,
while the tyranny and insolence of
arbitrary power are every year de-
creasing, the leaders of the worlds
thought, not only the English-speaking
nations. out the other Christian ma
tons as well, have yet much to do in
teaching REVENGE for the will of the
majority and respect for the public
! servants upon whom the people bes-
tow authority.
MUST LEAD PEACE MOVEMENT
The Christian nations must <ead
the movement for the promotion OF
peace. not only because they are
enlisted under the banner of the Prince
of Peace, but also because they have
attained such a degree Of intelligence
that they can no longer AXE pride in
a purely physical victory. The belief
that moral questions can be settled tv
the shedding of human blood IS Il
relic of barbarism; to doubt the dyna-
mic power of righteousness is infideli-
ty to truth itself. That nation which
is unwilling to trust its cause 70 the
universal conscience or which shrinks
from the presentation of its claims
before a tribunal where reason holds
sway betrays Il lack of faith in The
soundness Of its position.
PAYS TRIBUTE TO ROOSEVELT
Our country has reason TO con-
! graduate itself upon the success of
President Roosevelt in Fastening peace
between Russia and Japan. Through
him Duh nation won a victory more
| glorious than a victory in war. Hing
Edward has also shown himself n pro-
mOter of arbitration and a large num-
Der Of members Of Parliament are en-
| listed in the same work. II means
much that the two great English-spelk-
ing nations are thus arrayed on the
side Of peace.
Il venture 10 suggest hat the
worlds peace would De greatly pro-
NOTED by al agreement among the
leading nations that no declaration Of
v-ov Shn-,lS ha moSa .,r.+t -Ia ~~b-~;c-
ion OF the question in controversy tn
an impartial court for investigation,
each nation reserving the right to ac-
cepI o reject the decision. The pre-
liminary investigation wolld in almost
every instance insure an amicable set
Element and the reserved rights would
would be a sufficient protection against
any possible injustice.
DIGNITY OF LABOR.
Let me 90 a step further and appeal