ore or less. He ot be helped to e have a place and so fulfil the law randizement of one y other nation wi ation justifies itself criminal for ind ons few are more at times. At one make a treaty of th Great Britain n favor of world* wide peace, newspapers and public men are quite sure to say that "questions of national honor should never be arbitrated." Why not? Civilization has abolished the duel, which was only men fighting for individual honor; why not abolish war, which is only nations fighting for national honor? A tariff whose schedules are arranged to make a nation a blessing to the world is right and desirable; but a tariff for the sake of making Cleveland rich at the expense of Sheffield, or to fill the pockets of Massachusetts millionaires, while the operatives of Yorkshire and Lancashire are impoverished, is inexcusable selfishness. A tariff is justifiable when it is a means of improving and enriching one nation in order that that nation may the better serve humanity; but a tariff which enriches one class in one part of the world at the expense of another equally deserving class in some other part of the world is a relic of barbarism. The same reasoning applies to national expansion. If America is, practically, holding Cuba, and actually governing the Philippines in order that anarchy may be displaced by peace and prosperity, it is performing a missionary duty; but if it is holding them in order that there 213 may be a bigger America, th little better than a national same is true of Great Britain India. A national savior is ea Great Britain has been a savi and to Egypt. In Egypt, s taxes, provided education, pro of religion, irrigated vast tra made famines impossible, safeg property, and guaranteed the people. Great Britain, under tion of Lord Cromer, save anarchy and barbarism, withou burdens. The course of Ame equally benign in Cuba and the The Christian nation, if such be, will never seek to aggrandi expense of any other people; balance the fiction of national the desolation and horror of wa the Golden Rule the basis of int as well as of personal ethics. Four propositions are now bef A Christian nation will be eith a representative democracy. Its legislation will be in the the people, and never in favor class, color, or condition. rica, then the nation ɔn, protected all form v before us: In it monopolies of the necessities of life, such as food, coal, water, air, light, will be impossible. Schemes to expand the state or to benefit individuals at the expense of other people will not be allowed, but on the other hand will be treated as crimes. Are any nations Christian nations? There are such only in name. And yet the horizon is growing brighter. Business and national life are becoming more generous and just. Disclosures of corruption and crime are only like wrecks that float on the sea. What are they when compared with the merchant marine of the world? Thousands of men are living double lives; but millions of others are loyal husbands and faithful fathers. All that is good in the Church is stronger than ever before. It is easy to see only clouds and to forget the sky beneath which they are sailing. Men are more honest, society is more virtuous, poverty less wide-spread, the rule of Brotherhood more general. This light shines all around the horizon. It is the privilege of each citizen to do at least a little toward making the Christian nation. No blare of trumpets is needed; only the inflexible resolution that affairs shall be guided by the ethics of Jesus. should be held sacred. We s receive the benefit of class denounce those who do receiv repudiate and abhor monopolie necessities of life; and we shou highest of all forms of patriotis exalts the nation in order that to the poor and the weak, ba hasten the sway of world-wide Such large-souled, big-heart self-effacing, humanity-loving cit endeavor to become; thus shall to build Jerusalem each in his favored land. |