Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-17
By Bishop
Warren A.
g. O. 70 d Ter

most elevated character. And when
anarchy comes, the people tire of a
freedom which has become more OPP
pressive than monarchy, and then they
proceed TO make a king to rule over
them and suppress disorderly elements.
1t is to be feared that our people after
more than a hundred years OF repub-
lican government. are not sufficiently
unselfish to assure it's future. The gov
eminent is imperiled by the greed of
men of all classes. We now see men Of
the capitalistio class seeking to make
enormous profits out of the war IL they
can; and, on the other hand, We have re-
Gently seen the men of the labor unions
imperil the government at grave crisis
in its history by threatening strike
of nationwide etXent. 1t Is put fair to
say that the wisdom and patriotism of
the railway managers prevented most
serious situation: but the incident has
left upon the minds of the thoughtful
people a deep distrust OF the men who
took advantage OF the critical situation
TO show a readiness TO imperil the re-
public in order TO have their own way.
II is too clear for argument that no re-
public can stand when any considerable
number of its people are thus lacking in
patriotism.
With such manifestations of selfish
ness in our own country, the most ar
dent friends of free government can
not look with unmixed hopefulness up
on the rising republic of China and Rus
STA. The characterization Of the world
is going on, but the experiment is not
cheering IN view of the fact that the
intelligence and virtue OF the world is
not rising as rapidly as free institu-
tions are springing up. Unless a high
er mortality and a nobler spirit Of self
sacrifice can be propagated throughout
the earth, the spread of republican insti-
tutions means no good to the race, and in
the end will produce a reaction towards
dissolution. 1t cannot be otherwise.
And If free institutions in the United
States. South America, Russia and China
fail. then the last hope of lieberty for
mankind will expire.
1t follows from these considerations
that il is the highest duty of christian
men and the lovers of freedom to spread
the truths and infiuencve of christiaity
throughout the world speedily as pos
sible. This is the program of moral
preparedness which must be executed in
order TO promote the permanence of re-
publican governments among men. No
military, or naval, or industrial prepar-
edness can take the place of this pro-
gram OF moral preparedness.
A program of more intellectual pre-
paredness will not suffice. Mere intel
lectualism is as selfish as commercial
ism, and il is capable of the most OPP
pressive selfishnesS. Witness the case
Of Germany. Intellectualism has been
thoroughly tried in the German empire,
and by IL has been accomplished there all
that it ever can accomplish anywhere;
but what has been the result 1t has
brought forth a political hierarchy which
regards treaties as mere scraps of pa
per-" IL has produced mtlitarism as
barbarous as any which every exerted
itself for the destruction of men in
the most barbarous land and time; it has
produced a people ready to submit to
the commands of this immoral political
hierarchy and obey without questioning
this barbarous and relentless militarism.
Intellectualism has made Germany what
it is; but if the whole world were Ger
manized. gross darkness would I'LL the
earth and free institutions would disap-
pear from the planet
The American people are unfortunate
" pinning their faith to mere intellec-
tualism. The tendencies of American
educational currents is towards secular
ism and faithlessness. Our republican
institutions were framed by men edu-
Gated In UNCONVENTIONAL colleges. JEFF
ferson came from William and Mary col
lege when IL was a school Of the Episco-
palians; Madison came from Princeton
when il was palpitating in the ardent
faith of the Presbyterians; Webster
came from Dartmouth when it was fill
ed with spiritual life; and Calhoun was
in Yale during the great REVEALS of re-
ligion which prevailed in that institution
when Timothy Dwight was president.
Many of these men and their contem-
poraries may have been deficient in per-
sonal virtue; but they were never able
10 separate themselves utterly from the
high religious inspiration which came
to them in the days Of their youth Hence
their patriotism breathed the spirit of
piety. Can secularists, who have been
separated from religion and who de-
spise religion, preserve institutions
which sprang oft of faith and were
nourished by christianity?
The enlightenment of our people is go
ing on. in so far as mere secular ed
ucation can impart enlightenment; but
il does not appear that education is
making them more self-sacrificing or
more devoted to the republic. On the
contrary, this peculiar education Is Gre
ating Unsuitable ambitions and restless
discomfort. We see on every hand great
masses of men stirred by dissatisfaction
confused by doctrines which are only
half the truth and only half understood
bv them. These Ill educated men turn
out agitators of every sort, and threaten
public order whenever their personal
or class interests are involved
Not by intellectualism. nor by COM
mercialism, nor by anything except
morality and religion can a republican
form OF government be made perma-
nent The area of freedom can never
be wider than the area of faith. If
men -dethrone God they will destroy
democracy. This truth was we'll stated
by that brilliant Frenchman, W. De-
TodueviIle when he said, ''Despotism
NAV govern without faith. but liberty
can not How is it possible that So
ciety should escape destruction If the
moral tie be not strengthened in pro-
portion as the political tie is relaxed?
And what can be done with people who
are their own masters. II they be not
submissive to the Deity?"
A free world must be religious
world