August 18, 1898

“Notes” American Sentinel 13, 32, p. 501.

ATJ

CHRISTIAN character is not proved by profession, but by fruits.AMS August 18, 1898, page 501.1

THE devil is never so much a devil as when he appears the most unlike one.AMS August 18, 1898, page 501.2

IN every instance of religious legislation the devil argues to the world that God is a tyrant.AMS August 18, 1898, page 501.3

CARNAL warfare is by nature unchristian. There can be no Christian method of conducting it.AMS August 18, 1898, page 501.4

WHEN the eagle can become a dove, then can the United States become a Christian nation.AMS August 18, 1898, page 501.5

WHEN the State wraps about itself the mantle of religion, it becomes a wolf in sheep’s clothing.AMS August 18, 1898, page 501.6

[Inset.] The United States has been at war with Spain, and the American eagle has thoroughly demolished the Spanish flag. And strange as it may seem, this warlike bird claims to be a dove! The symbol of the United States Government clams to be the symbol of Christianity; in other words, the United States claims to be a Christian nation. It has been pronounced to be such by the Supreme Court, and the claim is maintained by statesmen and by the clergy; but can it be true? Manifestly not. The eagle is still an eagle, a warlike bird of prey, however often or loudly he may scream, “I am a dove.”AMS August 18, 1898, page 501.7

“The United States and the ‘Monroe Doctrine’” American Sentinel 13, 32, p. 502.

ATJ

THE effect which the victorious war with Spain, and the acquirement of colonial territory outside the western hemisphere, will have upon the long-established “Monroe doctrine,” is one of the questions which now demands consideration by the people of this country, and of the world. The United States having set foot upon the confines of the Old World, with the intention of staying there, shall the powers of the Old World still be prohibited from setting foot upon the territory of the New? Or has the United States, by the conquest of foreign territory, abandoned the position it has maintained respecting the conquest of American territory by foreign powers?AMS August 18, 1898, page 502.1

It is not difficult to understand what view of the question will be taken by the powers of Europe. The United States has been saying to Europe, You keep on your side of the world, and I’ll keep on mine. If not explicitly stated, the promise of the United States to refrain from any aggression upon Old World territory is so plainly implied in this doctrine, and so plainly necessary to give it a reasonable meaning, that there can be no question that it is an essential part of the doctrine, in the eyes of European powers at least.AMS August 18, 1898, page 502.2

Now, the United States has deliberately stepped over the line which it established by this doctrine, and notice has been served upon the powers of the Old World that the flag of this country is to remain flying where the fortunes of war have placed it. If Europe is given the like privilege of stepping over the line, the powers might be willing to accept the situation as offering a fair field to all parties. But—strange as it may seem—it is proposed here that Europe shall be denied the privilege which this country claims and has now exercised in acquiring foreign territory; it is proposed that the Monroe Doctrine shall be maintained against Europe just as strongly as ever. This is the sentiment of a portion at least—and it is to be feared a large portion—of the American people. It is boldly expressed in one of the most popular dailies of this city, thus:—AMS August 18, 1898, page 502.3

“The Monroe Doctrine stands more firmly to day than ever before.AMS August 18, 1898, page 502.4

“Why?AMS August 18, 1898, page 502.5

“Because we are better able to uphold it than ever before.”AMS August 18, 1898, page 502.6

To this language, of course, there can be but one meaning, and that is that this nation will do as it pleases simply because it has the power to do so.AMS August 18, 1898, page 502.7

By this sentiment the Monroe Doctrine becomes reduced to a mere boast of power. The question of right is eliminated from it, and the one element of might remains. It becomes another repetition of the old assertion that “might makes right.”AMS August 18, 1898, page 502.8

That Europe will acquiesce in any such arrangement is, of course, an unthinkable supposition. The powers will not be slow to insist upon their rights; and if this country, in the flush of victory and the dream of empire, shall advance to the bold position outlined in the above quotation, there will be plenty of need ere long for the great army and navy which is being called for as a proper outlay of the national resources. But peace and prosperity for the common people do not wait upon imperial ambition.AMS August 18, 1898, page 502.9

IF the legislatures of earth could pronounce against sin with all the force of the thunders of Sinai, it would but drive the people, as those thunders did, further from the Lord.AMS August 18, 1898, page 502.10

“An Unobscurable Fact” American Sentinel 13, 32, pp. 502, 503.

ATJ

IT is a fact which Roman Catholic apologists would gladly have hidden from the light, that the pitiable condition of Spain to-day, as revealed in her impotent struggles to maintain her place in the family of nations, is due more than to anything else to the Roman Catholic religion.AMS August 18, 1898, page 502.1

For centuries the government of Spain has been in the closest alliance with the papacy. The papal religion has been the religion of all the Spanish people. No person not a Catholic could secure any office under the government, or hold any position of influence among the people. The State is Catholic, the army and navy are Catholic, the people of all classes are Catholic, and all this has been so for centuries. The papal religion has had a free field; it has been without one rival. These are facts which not even the most ardent Catholic can deny.AMS August 18, 1898, page 502.2

What, then, has the papal religion done for Spain? Has it done anything for them? Has it had no effect upon the people and upon the State through all the years of their faithful adherence to it?AMS August 18, 1898, page 502.3

If not, what force has it, and of what use has it been to its adherents? But no intelligent person can seriously assert that it has not had an effect, and a most powerful effect, upon the people who have so faithfully practiced it. In the very nature of things, such an assertion could not be true. It is impossible that a person should make any principles a part of his daily practice and experience, and the basis of his daily thought and hopes and aspirations, as is done in the practice of religion, without being profoundly affected by them. It cannot be otherwise than that these principles should be absorbed into his very being until they become a part of it, and mold his character into conformity with them. This is a law of nature, as immutable as the law of gravitation.AMS August 18, 1898, page 502.4

The Word of God declares, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” This declaration is true if God himself is true: and as certainly as it is true, and as certainly as it must be that the character is molded to the principles embodied in the thoughts and practices of the life, so certainly must it be that the principles of the papal religion, faithfully practiced through centuries by the Spanish people, have affected them, have molded their character, and have more than anything else made the Spanish nation what it is to-day.AMS August 18, 1898, page 504.1

This is the plain truth. It is asserted by the laws of nature and by observation; by reason and by revelation. And papal spokesmen cannot deny nor evade it.AMS August 18, 1898, page 504.2

And therefore the decadence and fall of Spain constitute incontestable proof of the worse than worthlessness of the papal religion. No papal apologist will ever be able to say, because it cannot be said, why that religion, it if is worth anything, has brought the Spanish nation where it is to-day.AMS August 18, 1898, page 504.3

A religion which will not mold the character is worthless, and therefore it must be admitted that the papal religion, if not impotent, does mold the character, and has molded the character of the Spanish people. They have been faithful to that religion, both in the church and the state; and therefore it has done all it can do for them, and what that is may be seen in the utter humiliation of Spain to-day.AMS August 18, 1898, page 504.4

The same story is told, only less fully, by the other faithful Catholic nations. Austria is to-day a decaying and crumbling empire; and France—what prosperous nation envies her? Crushed to the ground with paralyzing swiftness in 1870, she has ever since showed signs of weakness rather than of strength. And the republics of Spanish America are emerging into the light of civil and intellectual freedom only as they as shaking off the long nightmare of priestly domination.AMS August 18, 1898, page 504.5

Who that is not wilfully blind can fail to recognize these facts? And why will people be blind to truths so palpable, and fail to be admonished by them to be vigilantly on their guard against the encroachments of Rome?AMS August 18, 1898, page 504.6

PROPER legislation restrains man only in that which is criminal.AMS August 18, 1898, page 504.7

THE best way to honor the flag is to live out the principles for which it stands.AMS August 18, 1898, page 504.8

“Back Page” American Sentinel 13, 32, p. 516.

ATJ

WHEREVER mercy and justice appear, there is written the name of Gode.AMS August 18, 1898, page 516.1

NO HUMAN law was ever enacted to enforce the observance of the true Sabbath.AMS August 18, 1898, page 516.2

SIN and slavery came into the universe together, and have gone hand in hand ever since.AMS August 18, 1898, page 516.3

“PEACE I leave with you,” said Jesus to his disciples; “My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto you.” John 14:27. And his disciples to-day may be thankful that Jesus does not give peace as the world gives it.AMS August 18, 1898, page 516.4