The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-01
AMERICA IS THE GOOD
SAMARITAN OF EUROPE
Germany Disdains Charity; Her Policy
One of Destruction Rather Than
Construction.

Wilson was trying to lead America
back to the Christian ideal that would
save the world, that America was
willing to accept Germany's challenge
and prove her contention that the
German imperial government and its
allies were fighting for false ideals.
He took as his text Proverbs ! ABA.
Righteousness exalteth a nation; but
sin is a reproaCh to nations" He said
in part;
Several notable sermons have been
delivered this month by heads of great
schools Of learning. President Hadley
calls attention to the great truth that
the human soul needs a great ideal to
give 1t true devotion and indomtable
purpose. Only the power of such an
ideal can sustain, in determined ac-
ton, either an individual or nation.
No man can develop the best that is |
in him unless he had a vision of a /
great ideal. This truth makes Christ !
a power among men who know Him |
The Christ-life appeals with irrestst- |
able conviction to all who are of the |
truth Everyone that Is of the truth |
heareth my voice" My sheep hear |
my voice and they follow me" Lower |
ideals fail TO grasp the truth that is !
In Christ and the man fails to de- |
velop the soul that God committed to
his keeping.
As with men, so with nations. A
nation stands or falls by it's ideals as
well as men. It is an irresistible law. /
il is the law of Truth. No man or
nation ever yet violated this law with
impunijy. Penalty of a lost life lost
opportunity, a lost soul. is sure to fol-
low such denial of the truth.
The world is witnessing now the
conflict between two Ideals, one false.
i e.
trat powers Of Europe are trivng for
the ideal Of power, which has led
them into the lowest pit of sin, cruelty.
oppression, inhumanity. lust, murder
and selfish Indifference to the cry of
agony of those crdsned under their
iron heels On the other hand there
are nations in arms for the weak, to
defend the oppressed, to minister to
the starving and dying, TO save in
nocent children and helpless WON EN-.
to restore ruined cities and homes
and to give every man and woman
freedom. hope. courage. JOY and the
right 30 live. Which is right2 Which
Will succeed Which is the true ideal?
Which is OF God?
The teachings Of Christ show that
he who breaches loving sympathy for
the weak. and kindness to all men
makes friends who love In return
! With what measure We measure ii
shall he measured To you again Give
| love and we receive love. Give op-
/ preston through power and We re-
ceive hate. No man or nation sue
! ceeds in the long run unless conduct
j is grounded upon the principles laid
I down by Him who received the word
/ Of truth from tho Fathers 4 have
given unto them the words thou gavest
/ me"
President Wilson is leading our ma
ton up to the Christian ideal Of un-
selfish love and all that this love con-
tains. This is the essence Of Chris
tianity. Germany has challenged these
ideals. She has attacked the very es-
sence of Christian truth. III the
place of these glorious and heavenly
/ ideals she has attempted to set up
principles that are cruel false,
sensual. devilish and doomed TO Ger
tain failure. We do not need the daily
| newspapers TO tell us of the growing
! discomfort of Europe with the central
powers Their cause cannot finally
/ succeed. The world will not approve
such "A perversion of the truth.
Christ taught: Blessed are the
meek; blessed are The merciful,
blessed are the peacemakers; blessed
| are the poor in spirit, They are the
, children of God and they shall in
| herit the earth, Jesus taught again:
| All they THAT take the sword shall
perish with the sword" lie also
taught that hate would destroy its
/ possessor and that lust would carry
it's victim into a hot burning hell,
and that truth must be simple, pure
and inviolable. But most incompre-
I hensible of all to the German mind.
He taught non-resistance or evil and
love for enemies. We are TO call down
blessing upon these who curse us and
/ hate us Thus, and thus only, can we
become the children of God.
There never has been seen in the
world before such a spectacle of a
young and mighty nation rising to de-
fend the Christian ideals. The Cru
sades were very beautiful in some re-
spects. but the issue was not so clear
lily drawn as now nor the forces in
volved so tremendous II may be said
that the allies are fighting to save 70
. the world the principles Of Chris
tianity America has set aside every
material consideration. Her vast COM
mercial and industrial relations have
been suhordinated to the main pur-
pose of this conflict, Politics and
sectionalism have almost disappeared
Enormous treasure and the choicest
young manhood of the nation are free
| ~ offered ON the altar OF unsel1shness
Men and women by the thousand are
devoting their li%ss TO others with
all the deep understanding of that pro-
found truth Christ taught: Whose
ever will save his life shall lose it and
whosoever shall lose his life for my
sake shall find IL" He~who holds back
his life from unselnsh service foi
others will ind that the life ne has
f preserved is not worth the having
What IA contrast is this to Germany'E
/ position of cowardly self-assertion
8 Having begun the war after years OF
\ preparation in the sure hope that she
could compel her way to victory over
q every foe, she now places the whole
5 responsibility on the nations she has
g brutally wronged, and is selfishly
v lighting for peace to enable her TO as
O simulate the territory and people she
e has conquered. She permits America
TO be the Good Samaritan of Europe
I, with her Red Cross work and hel
q thousand charities. but she. herself
s will not touch them with one of hel
0 fingers" Destruction, not Construc
o ton, is her work and she stands judg
a ed by the world. -
n If men and nations will be saved
they must come back to the principle.
= OF Christ. His righteousness alone ex
r ats men and nations, and sin is a re
@ proach and will destroy the mightes