Christian Nation Vol. 18 1893 - Rparchives.org

May 3, 1893.A FAMILY PAPEK.in Eome. He has been lunching with the dignitariesof the Vatican, and holding audiences with the Pope.Eumor has it that he wanted to kiss the hand of hisholiness, but was prevented by the Pope himself.—The Anti-Pool room Bill has become law in NewTork State. It forbids pools except In theraoe tracks.The poolsellers and gamblers fought it to the last andit was only by vigilant action that it became law.—Commissioner King of Iowa ofFered a resolutionfor Sunday opening at the meeting of the NationalCommission iu Chicago. It was referred to the judiciarycommittee which is opposed to it.—The dookmen in Hull, Eugland, are still striking.They started a flreiu the timber yards where nonunionmen were employed and soon ten acres of timberwere ablaze, aud the houses close by, most ofthem, were buiut down. The whole district is in anuproar.—The President haa issued the authoritative statementrelative to ths fluancialsituation. The gold reserveis to bs treated simply as so much cash in theTr.;asury and whether the aggregate rises or falls is oflittle concern. Oflfers have been received of goldfrom tlie West and from Bostou and have been accepted.—Chaos still reigns at the World's Pair grounds,although opening day is passed. Over one hundredand sixty guards are on striko.—Letitia Townsend, Seoretary of the Girls' FriendlySociety is dead from typhus fever. Sha had been apatient worker for the society aud her death has causedmuch regret in New York.—Thursday aud Friday witnessed the naval and landparade in the bay and in New York Oity. Naval shipsfor the important uations of the world took part in theparade, the big guns of the fleetsounding t ie voice ofrejoicing on the part of all civilized nations. ThePresident reviewed the fleetand the land parade. Itwasone of the unique sights of modern civilized nationallife.—The Brooklyn Tabernacle is not yet out of danger.Dr. Talmage stated on Stbbath, that unlessBomethlug is doue very soon the church will go intoworldly uses aud become a theatre or concert hall.There is a floatingdebt upon it of $140,000.—Dr. Parkhurst last Sabbath speaking of respectableevil, said, "I would as soon take the chances fjrheaven of a man who dies in a fltof intoxication as ofone who dies after a life of self-seeking. If covetousnessmade a man as dirty and ragged and poor as intemperancedoes, covetousness would soon beoome as disreputableas drunkeness. As much Almighty God is neededto make stingy men generous, as to make a reputablecitixen out of a drunkard."—Miss Susan Anthony declares that we are on theeve of an era of unmarried women, The grounds ofher opinion are that under moderu social conditionsyoung women are becoming self dependent. But thefact that this is so does uot imply the conclusion thatmarriage is declining. If self-support makes marriageimpossible for young women, then they must havesought marriage in the past for selfish motives. Thisis a misrepresentation. Self-support promotes thespirit of equality aud uuity in social relations, andthese coupled with a deep laid affection which oannotbe outrooted from female hearts, cannot but rendermarriage more banefioial.' eii|n nations have bad in tbe discovery and developmentof the New World. Of Britainnotbing need be said. The language tbatreigns from Atlantic to Pacific tells its ownstory of tbe masterful impress which men oftbe British race have made upon AmericaTbe colonies of New England and tbe largePennsylvania and Virginian settlements originatedfrom England. Tbe men wbo wou forAmerieauB tbeir independence were chitfly ofBritish descent. In tbe war of American independenceFrance played uo unimponantrole. Tbe French hoped to make tbe new continenttheir own. Tbey colouiz-'d Canada andsent tbeir explorers to ihe mouth of the MissisJppi. Britain met them ac tbe moderu Caudineforks, and after a fiercecouflict, compelledFrance to retire first iuto Canada and tb«nceentirely to quit Nortb America. In retaliationdesignedly to humble Britain, Yrandb gavea steady support to the colonists in tbeir tightfor liberty. France gave as a result of tbeEdicc of Nantes many noble minded citizens totbis country wbo came as refugees from tbeland of tbeir birth. Spain shares in tbe gloryonly indirectly tbrough her relation to Columbus,the discoverer of the Southern Continent;Italy indirectly also shares in the renown asbeing tbe native land of Columbus, and directlyas baving sent many worthy citizens intoour country. The impress of Holland is stillfelt in the city which was once New Amsterdam,and the Dutch element is one of tbe muststeady to be found in American character.Tbe now United Germany had an bonorableconnection with the early settlement of Pennsylvania.The United States remembers Russiachiefly because of the memory of the EmpressCatharine, who refused to sell ber subjectsas mercenaries to crush down Americansin tbeir struggle for independence. Tbe presenceof tbe Spanish caravels raises tbe questionof the real share of Columbus in tbe discoveryof Nprth America. We cannot put tbeanswer simpler tban in the language of BishopPerry, who in tbe April number of tbe Pulpitsays, " We owe nothing to Columbus, notbingto Spain, notbing to Rome. Oars are tbeEnglish tongue, the English Liberty, the EnglishLaw, tne English Institutions and theEnglish Keformation Catholicity."The Chinese Exclusion Act.On May 5th tbe period during which tbeChinese in this country may take out certificatesof residence will expire. Thereafterevery Chinese laborer not possessing such acertificate may be arrested, imprisoned a year,and then sent back to China. Capitalists andemployers are exempt from tbe Exclusion Act.Many laborers have made themselves capitalistsby deposits in tbe laundry and otber pettybusinesses to evade tbe act. But a great numberof the Chinese are simply laborers, andit is a question wbat is to become of tbem.Very few bave complied witb tbe act, manyChinese believing the act unconstitutional asbeing in confiict witb the treaty between thiscountry and Cbina. In this many able lawyersforbid Chinese ostracism. Tbere is a vast differencebetween restriction of immigrationand a barbarous deportation, sucb as is contemplatedin this Act. The registration andtbe penalties were imposed for tbe purpose ofmaking tbe lot of tbe Chinaman so unbearablethat be would be glad to get off. No accountcan be given of this hatred save tbat it is antipathyto an alien race, as indefensible as itis unjust, and in violation of the guarantiesaud liberties of Ameiican independence. Itis in diiecc violation of treaty rights which areas sacred as any of tbe rights of tbe Atnericancitiz°n, if a nation's honor and good namemerit the respect and confidence of tbe publiccommunity outside tbis country. If notbingis done till after tbe 5cb of May, tbe constitutionalityof tbe Act can be speedily tested byan appeal to the Supreme Court, which it ishoped, will declare it a prostitution of legislativeauthority. Tbe President has said tbathe will "do what is right," and we bave confidencein tha good faub and sincerity of ourchief magistrate tbat he will deliver the uationfrom the humbling position of having recourseto barbarism in tbe execution of law against itsown interests and tbose of bumanity.The Theatre and the Pulpit.A morning paper in referring to a causticattack upon tbe theatre from the pulpit, says,"Many theatres are manat^ed like some newspapers—sensationalmethods for money. Manyare vulgar, indecent, aud demoralizing, butclergymen should not denounce the theatre inw.aoiesale terms. It is a great educator. As ateacher it ought to be band in hand witb thepulpit and tbe press. Let the pulpit labor toimprove tbe stage. Lift it up. Demaad betterand purer plays." Ought is a differenttbing from is. The number of good theatres isvery few, while tbe indecent and vulgar arealmost legion. Most of the theatrical plays oftoday are a disgraee to morality and a reproachto tbe intelligence and honor of Atnerican citizens.Could we measure the amount of corruptiontbat is hatched in tbe box or in the pitof a common theatre, we should findthatit is asa source of evil in life, notbing short of anearthly hell. Purity is a word tbat is seldomengraven upon the canvas of the stage—andeven where tbe high class plays are found thefascination is not suqb as affects to nourish thebetter nature of manhood and womanhood, butrather such as is calculated to give to membersof either sex, an imaginative consciousness ofthe foolish elements of life. The pleasantriesare convivial, the companionships often too unsanctified,and lhe natural modesty tbat makeamen and women blush before tbe uncouth andreproacbable is concealed behind tbe veil ofworldly devoteeism. Life would be dull withouta theatre, say some; where could we spendour evenings? say others. True, for life comesto be bound up in the play-house, and tbe precioustime that sbould be spent io good worksis frittered away in tbe sensational amusementsof the charmed circle.GLASGOW'S HSTORY:A few copies of Glasgow's History of the RefonnedPresbyterian Church, also on hand wrapped ready formailing, will be forwarded at once, on receipt of reducedprice, $2.50.—The SOthREVIEWluternatiOFmalTHECouvantionWEEK.of Y. M. 0.A.'s wi 1 be held The in Indiauapulia, Naval Parade. May 10-14. A specialrailroad rate is secured lor delegates. Among the and worthy citizens are at one with them.The grandest spectacle of modern times wasinteresting topics t) be discussed are the following,Wbat IS to become of the Chinese? Tbe legalityof tbe act sbould be tested, or at leastto be seen in tbe Hudson River tbis week,the promotion of Bible study. Educational work.wbenWork formen-ofboys, Ouligiitiouswar fromtoallthetbeo iloredandgreat militaryforeigners,College of tbe iTork, world Foreign drew Missiou up in work, line etc. before It ests of common humanity. There is said toits operation sbould be suspended in tbe inter­nationsNew shonld York be a City. decided Seldom suocets. do men-of-wai meetbe an anxious desire on the part of revenue officersand Marshalls to get at work in tbe ex­" An offering of a cup of living water which has reBROAD SHADOWS:save wben a naval fight is on. It is all theecution of tbe Act. It is to be hoped thatmore interesting that the guns wern firedmerelyas salutes to tbe great nation which honored wholesale brutality. Public opinion wasAmerican sentiment will rise against suchthe gun-boats by making them guests. The aroused on behalf of the exorcised Jews insight recalled to memory the share wbich for- Russia ; surely the same public sentiment willfreshed the author's own spirit." The object of thisbook is that Faith will work by Love. Cloth: $1.25,Any present subscriber to the Chsmtian Nation sendingus a n«M> subscriber ($1.50) and 10c. for postage willreceive a copy of this book free. The new subscriberwill also receive a oopy.