The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-07-05
Destiny of United States.

Destiny OF United states.
The English language has become the
vehicle for the conveyance of government
tai truth even more than for the spread
of general information, for beginning with
Magma Charta and continuing through
the era of the American revolution and
the Declaration of Independence down TO
the present, no language has been so much
employed for the propagation of that
theory of government which traces gov
ernmentai authority to the consent of the
governed. Our own nation presents the
most illustrious example known to his
tory of great population working out
its destiny through laws of its own ma
king and under officials of it's own ehoos-
ing, although, | may add. We scarcely go
beyond England in recognizing the omni-
potenee of a parliament fresh from
the people. 1t is difficult to overestimate
the potency of this conception of govern
ment upon the progress of 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 revolutionize an individuaL a
community, a state, nation or even
world. and the idea that man possesses
inalienabe rights which the state did not
give and which the state, though it can
deny, cannot take away. has made mill
lions of human beings stand erect and
claim their God-given Inheritance. While
the era of constitutional liberty is ever
widening, while the tyranny and insol-
ence of arbitrary power are every year
decreasing. the leaders of the worlds
thought not only the English speaking
nations but the other Christian nations
as well, have yet much to do in teach
ing reverence for the will of the major
ity and respect for the public servants
upon whom the people bestow authority.
Christian Nations Should Lead.
1.-The Christian nations must lead 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 de-
gree of intelligence that they can no long
er take pride in a purely physical vic
tory The belief that moral questions
can be settled by the shedding of human
blood is a relic of barbarism; TO doubt
the dynamic power of righteousness is
infidelity to truth itself. That nation
which is unwilling to trust its cause to
the universal conscience or which shrinks
from the presentation of it's claims before
[ a tribunal where reason holds sway be-
trays a lack of faith in the soundness of
/ its position. | venture. to suggest that
the worlds peace would be greatly pro-
NOTED by an agreement among the lead
ing nations that no declaration of war
should be made until the submission of
the question in controversy to an impartial
court for investigation each nation re-
{
decision. The preliminary investigation
would in almost every instance insure an
amcable settlement and the reserved
rights would be sufficient protection
against any possible injustice.
Appeal for Labor.
Let me go a step farther and appeal
for clearer recognition of the dignity
of labor The Odium which rests upon the
work of the hand has exerted a baneful
influence the world around. The the
ory that idleness is more honorable than
toil-that ii is more respectable to con-
sumo what others have produced than TO
be a producer of Wealth-has not only
robbed society of an enormous sum but
il has created an almost impossible gulf
between the leisure classes and those who
support them Tolstoy Is right in assert
ing that most of the perplexing problems
of society grow out of the lack Of SYM
pathy between man and man. Because
some imagine themselves above work
while others see before them nothing but
life of drudgery there is constant war
ring and much of bitterness. When men
and women become ashamed of doing
nothing and strive to give to society fun
compensation for all they receive from So
ciety there will be harmony between the
classes.
Lesson to Be Learned.
While Europe and America have ad-
vanced far beyond the Orient in placing
a proper estimate upon those who work,
even our nations have net yet fully
learned the lesson that employment at
some useful avocation is essential to the
physical health, intellectual development
and moral growth. If America and Eng
land are to meet, the requirements of
their high positions they must be prepared
to present in the lives of their citizens
examples. increasing in number of men
and women who find delight in contribut-
ing to the welfare of their fellows, and
this ought not 10 be difficult, for every
department of human activity has a fas-
cination of its own. The agricultural col
leges and industrial schools which have
sprung UP in so many localities are evil
dence that a higher ideal is spreading
among the people.
Ideal Christian Life.
And now we come to the most import
ant need of the Orient-a conception of life
which recognizes individual responsibility
to God; teaches the brotherhood of man
and measures greatness by the service
rendered. The first establishes a rational
relation between the creature and his
Creator, the second lays the foundation for
Justice between man and his fellows and
the third furnishes an ambition large
enough to fill each life with noble effort
No service which we can render to the