The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-04-26
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
The Curse of CoWardice.

This may startle some bit, but long
ago a man speaking for God, and by
the Holy Spirit, said ''cursed be he that
keepeth back his sword from blood"
The Lord delights in harmony and the
universal prevalence of benevolence and
He has made it the duty of all to cult
vate kindly disposition toward one
another. He has commanded that we
follow peace with all men. But it does
not follow that we are to maintain
peace with invaders Of our homes or
soil be they armed foes or social evils,
at the expense of prosperity, liberty,
life and everything that is dear; nor
that peace must be preserved when we
have it in our power to vindicate our
| rights and honor and secure justice to
ourselves and others. When avarice
would rob US of our possessions, when
ambition would despoil US; when the
lusts of men involve the nations in
wars, as they are doing continually;
| when tyranny would enslave the free
born and compel US to bow to the usur-
patton and the exercise Of arbitrary
power; when fiendish hatred would tear
from US heavens best blessing-our
religion when marshalled hosts of law
less bandits raid our territories to in
dulge in carnage and rapine; when enc
mics of order, morality, religion and
home s,ealthily creep in among US like
dynamite conspirators; when Bourbon
ism under the guise of political policy.
attempts to lay its bloody hand on the
helm of our ship of state; when enemies
of peace and order, under the guise of
personal liberty, (properly called IL
cense) destroyers of home and happi-
ness, like so many leeches fasten them
selves on our communities and by ne
farious traffic carry on their work of
destruction and death; when they dis
seminate disorder and evil, then what is
our duty? Are we to sit still or lie
supinelY while this work is going on?
Must we lie still and offer no resistance
while the assassin murders US? Are
we to cry peace, peace, when there is
no peace, or are we to sacrifice every
thing for what may be called peace.
but which is only high handed tyranny?
No, there are times when the God of
peace, by his providence bids US arise
and grid on the armor and go forth to
battle.
Then the sword becomes weapon of
God and war duty devolving upon US.
Nay it may even be a religious act to
engage in it.
towards and enemies will inveigh
against it. but the curse of God is upon
the coward and under such circum-
stances Gods word utters its curse
against him that keepeth back his
sword from blood.
Then the defender of his country and
home deserves the plaudits and honor
of his fellow citizens for he is doing
good work, he is engaged in a divine
mission.
When the resident soldiery in obed-
fence to the call of the civil magistrate
who, is the messenger of God, go forth
to quell the riotous demonstrations of
lawless mobs, the sword must not be
kept back from blood, and cursed of
God and.man be he who refuses to do
his duty. The Jews of old were har-
raised by the Moabites who were a
restless nation and by their treachery
and guilt were ripe for.execution.
Gods patience was exhausted and
the Babylonians were commissioned to
execute judgment on them, which they
were bound to do, and to do it faith
fully.
1t may be asked, are we authorized
to use the words of the prophet. We
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