Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-17
Dethroning God Destroys
DemOCraCieS, Freedom
Rests on Religion

Public attention is so absorbed by the
tremendous conflict in Europe into
which our country has now been drawn,
that other events receive less eOnsidera-
ton than thzrr Importance tustifies.
While the European world IS on fire,
We do not observe care fully much else
than the huge conflagration which RACES
before us.
Nevertheless. II Is not improbable
that the future Of mankind will be af-
fecte6 more by two other events. which
have come TO pass during the last few
years. than by the European war. II is
a simple and fsr-reaching fact that one
third OF the human race has passed from
under the yoke Of absolutism 10 the rule
OF republicanism since the war began
In China there are 4OO. 100000 OF people.
and almost without 8 Jar that immense
population has passed from an Oriental
monarchy 10 q republic during the last
few years Now Russia, the next most
populous country in the world, has
thrown off the rule Of the Romanoffs.
and undertakes the maintenance OF
free government With these republics
the Latin-American republics, and the
United States, most OF the world IS now
under q democratic form OF government
What is more remarkable is that in
both China and Russia the passage from
absolutfsm to freedom has been made
with comparatively little shock or jar.
This is perhaps true because republican
ideas have permeated the world more
widely than has been supposed. Some
years ago William T Stead published
a book entitled. The AmeriCaniZatlon OF
the World" and the main idea Of that
volume was that the infleunce OF Amer
lean institutions would prevade all ma
lions and bring 10 pass the democratiEa-
ton OF mankind. What seemed an i'm
possible dream when Stead wrote now
appears 20 be a .rapidly approaching re-
slity. The world is learning what free
dom means. and once the lesson is
learned all forms OF oppressive govern
ments will be thrown off
But let US not assume too rapidly that
the characterization OF the world viii
necessarily be blessing TO mankind
II may bring with it the most dreadful
disturbances and the most direful dis
asters II may be doubted that free gov
ernments are good unless the people who
make them have sufficient intelligence
and virtue 70 maintain them IN wisdom
and righteousness Unless nation IS
fitted for self-gOveTnment, its welfare
is promoted more by monarchical than
by 4 republican form Of government. In
proportion as the political tie IS relaxed
the moral tie must be strengthened. or
a people assuming self-gOVernmenl VIII
work only self-destruction- 1t is not
quite clear yet that China or Russia IS
qualified for self-government- II may
be even doubted that our own people are
perfectly qualified 10 preserve and per-
petuate the free institutions which they
have inherited from our liberty-loving
ancestors
Il is necessary for the maintenance or
republican governments that the peo-
pie think more Of their duties than their
rights, but IL IS the inirmity Of repub-
lican governments that they emphasize
rights more than they enforce respon-
sibfIitfes. II is doubtless true as an alb
stract proposition that the government
which governs least IS best, but this is
not true unless every citizen viii rule
himself wisely and virtuously. and
thereby need little governing. Hence,
republican governments 10 be safe ana
stable require that each citizen be more
careful 10 respect the rights or nus
neighbors than to assert too strenuously
his own rights For the production OF
a CiCLeuEN mus OaSpNSGA ~ AN60-N $50
rights of others and sacrifice its own.
a every rich and moral life is necessa-
~. without this moral life there will
Re under republican governments inev-
table conflicts between citizens which
will run TO riots and may easily termi-
nate in anarchy
This was the history OF the republics
Of the ancient world. and II must be the
history OF the modern world. unless the
modern world can supply a nooler NOR
al life than that which prevailed under
the republics Of Greece and Rome.
Anarchy is the outcome Of free gov