Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-20
WHY NOT BE HONESTY
[ washington Post

| IOStl
1t Is. of course, we'll known, an
old, familiar truth that, strictly speak
ing, there Is not Christian nation.
power, government or people on this
globe And if there be among all the
people of all countries one man who,
judged by his fidelity to the precepts
of the Master, is fairly entitled to be
called a Christian, neither his name
nor his habitation has been made pub
lic While it is true that the nations
called Christian are the leading pow :
ers of the earth. and that the story
of Christ and His religion has been and
still remains the most wonderful, the
most glorious story every told, yet 1t
Is undenied and undeniable that in
order to insure domestic tranquility
and preserve their territorial integrity
those nations feel compelled to set
aside Christianity, to employ brute
force, and to kill not only the heath
en-. but ",christian brethren. The
greatest of all human interests is
war. 1t absorbs more of human effort,
both intellectual and physical. and
more of human life than any other in
terest. Ana in spite Of the progress OF
ideas that make for peace, the cost or
war--of armies, navies, Notifications,
and pensions--ls on the increase. 1t is
deemed Indispensable to national safe
ty and honor to be prepared for war.
The sentiment that we must nave a
great navy is almost universal. AS
the whole tenor OF the Gospel OF
Christ is in sharp conflict with all this,
does it not follow that not only are
there no Christian nations. but that
anti Christian doctrines and practices
are the chief interests of the nations
called Christian? And IL 1t be admit
ted that the employment or organizer
brute force is an indispensable pational
necessity, are we not forced TO the
conclusion that it Is a patriotic duty OIL
government to persistently violate the
most solemn and impressive teachings
Of the Prince of Peace? Granted that
the human race Is trending upward
and that is true beyond question:
is uermitted us to hope that there wil
come time, long, happy time, when
human conditions win be such that
government based on Christianity VIII
he possible. II Is well enough to long
for the coming of those conditions, but
Ii is folly to assume that they are
here.
That assumption by Senator Bever-
idge. of Indiana, is what this article
is intended to consider. In an ADDRESS
to the Knights Of Columbus, IN New
York, last Friday night the senator
said: "A.merican institutions are
nothing more than the religion OF the
Master organized into the form or gov
ernnent" What we have said above
is quite sufficient refutation OF that
most widely extrayagant claim. IHe
senator went on to say that there are
inst three places where men are ana
always will be absolutely equal-in
American courts, at American ballot
boxes and before the altar OF the
church of God. Universal liberty OF
worship. universal liberty of the bal
lot. universal justice in the courts
these are the foundations from which
American institutions spring forth into
life" Except religious lib
erty. is not that VIGOROUSLY untrue!
When have we had, and when do we
wish to have universal liberty OF the
ballot? And how long Is 1t since we
equality in the courts? Is
it not true-is 1t not notorious-that
perjury prevails to an immense extent
in jury trials and that is always liable
to affect yerdicts? Does not ability to
employ a strong array OF the most
eminent lawyers put one litigant In a
better position than another when the
other is not well supplied with the sim
ews of war?
The Post is not pessimist 1t be-
lieves this republic faces bright fu-
turel Our SUCCESS as a nation in deal- |
ing with the problems Of the past af- !
eords good ground for confidence in our
ability to solve present and future
problems. But the Post detests false
pretenses.
If need be. let us flourish our "big
stick" but don't let US be guilty OF
it in the name Of Jesus
Christ For alleged divine justification
Of war we must SO back far beyond
the new dispensation; must cite the
horrid story of Joshua's campaign on t
the other side Of Jordan.