The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-11-22


seen the Messiah, and described
his person and kingdom, now
stands forth as the public rebuker
of the immoralities of his days.
But there is no change of style or
diction. He does not drop to vul-
gar familiarity, or Righteousness,
or epithet. He maintains his dig
nifty and his elevated mode of
speech even when dealing with
drunkards and drunkenness.
The extraordinary assonance OF
the eXordium can not be repro
duced in translation. 1t is fairly
mellihuent. But the jewels of the
hilt detract nothing from the keen
ness of the blade. In the proph-
cts fearless hand, this highfy-tem-
pered and richly traced sword lays
wide open the national heart with
all its wicked thoughts and evil
intcnts.
National opportunity and nation
al responsibility are graphically
pictured under the figure Of the
vineyard advantageously located,
planted with choice seed, protect
ed with wall and tower, and fur
nished with substantial wine-press.
National failure is portrayed under
the figure Of the favored vineyard
producing wild grapes. Retribu-
ton comes in the desolation of
the vineyard. And now Isaiah S
auditors feel the relentless grip of
the iron hand beneath the velvet
glove Of his diction, as he says.
The vineyard is the house Of
Israel. What the Divine Planter
expects from His vineyard is iudg-
lnent and righteousness. What
He gets is oppression and a cry"
This graceful, but skillful and
fearless arraigner Of public morals
proceeds now to specifications
under his general charge. He de-
nounces the prevailing rapaCity,
the inordinate greed Of those who
increase their landed estates by
foreclosing upon the unfortunate
whom they have charged eXtor-
tionate rates of interest. He ar
raigns those who, in violation of
the reversionary clause of the Ju-
bilee Law, illegally hold on to
their ill-gotten estates. With an
index finger of steel, he points out
the irretrievable ruin involved in
this violation Of the divinely in
stituted agrarian law.
The second specification is
drunkenness. The greed of money
is accompanied by greed for the
pleasurable sensations of intoxica-
ton. Men pursue it as they would
a remunerative occupation, rising
early and continuing late at it.
Others engage in it in a social and
festive manner to an orchestral &C
compartment. But both are equal
ly forgetful of the Lord.
Violation of agrarian law spoils
land; bnt violation of physiology
cal law spoils men. The prophet
woe against the land is fulfilled to
the jot. a land that once flowed
with milk and honey is now com
parativcly desolate, and its yield
ing power UNNECESSARILY decreas-
ed. But what is that compared
with the fearful ruin of men I'M
pending' The prophet sees an
endless procession in its descent tc
hell. 1t is glorious, multitude.
nous, pompous, and rejoicing pro-
cesslon; but on its way to hell
none the less. The harmless silk
en- cords of the first stages of inc.
briefly have grown to the size Of
cart-rope traces. But these drunk
en- wretches are, in a measure
oblivious to the fact that they have
degraded themselves to the level
Of dumb, driven cattle.
In the height of their drunken
audacity they profanely and unbe
lievingly challenge the Almighty
Let him come on with His judg
ments. We would like to see O
what manner they are" Their
moral senses are so utterly per