New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1876. A NATION'S BANE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 189, 10 November 1876, Page 10

New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1876. A NATION 'S BANE.

On the Fourth of July last one hundred years had elapsed since the thirteen colonies or states of America made their Declaration of Independence. These hundred years have seen many changes in the world, but amongst them none more important than the rise and development of the great American nation ; for here a race has arisen, the offspring of the old world, yet distinct in character from those nationalities to which it owes its origin ; endowed with a peculiar genius, full of strength and energy, bright, enterprising, and progressive.

The people of America from the first discarded the traditions that bound the ancient continents, and struck out for themselves a new path ; and were a proof wanted of 'aow wonderfully they prospered under the institutions established by them, and of how generally recognised was the wisdom they displayed, it would be found in the fact that they alone, in the history of mankind, have given a tone to the parent lands from which they took their origin, and influenced, in a far greater degree than perhaps may by many be suspected, the state of feeling throughout the sources from which they sprung. A hundred years are but a short time compared with the life of many nations, and yet, within 80 brief a space America ha-* built up for herself a national character and a history, so that she can point with pride to a long list where are inscribed the names of her great men ; soldiers or statesmen, patriots or men of science, aud many possessed of brilliant literary genius; nor do we count it the least thing amount her excellencies, that her literature bears the stamp of originality, and is peculiar to her writers and icimitable. °

But most pictures have their reverse, and in this world there are few things to be encountered whereon there may not be found a cankerous spot. Amongst this great people there are evil influences at work that may eventually accomplish the ruin of all their greatness. It is evident that some vast source of corruption exists amongst them, for we continually hear of its existence being borne testimony to by the details of some revolting case of immorality, or the commission of some crime of more than ordinary heinousness ; and this, although it seems clear to us that the American mind isnaturally inclined towards religion. Many atheists and infidels there are, no doubt, to be found amongst the masses alluded to, but, as a general rule, they do not seem to be able to settle down quietly into a complete state of unbelief. Thpy have a desire for communication with the supernatural, and we find evidence of this, not only in the many strange varieties of so-called Christianity that exist amongst them, but also even in Mormonism, and the contemptible and absurd deception that goes by the name of Spiritualism.

How comes it, then, that they prove false to their natural instincts, and bid fair to deteriorate from the prudent, manly, and far-seeing character that enabled them to erect themselves from dependent colonies into a united and mighty nation ? How comes it that society in the great Republic, threatens to become utterly profligate and vile ? Society, too, that by its own innate vigor and virtue, availed to raise itself to the level of tuat of the first nations of Europe, to the establishment of whose perfection centuries had contributed their length of years, and venerable systems lent their traditions. The secret of the danger lies in this alone ; the States have taken it upon them to renounce their dependence on Heaven, and to thrust themselves out from under its protection. They have refused the guidance of God for their children, and blasphemously closed the doors of their schools against Him. And they shall have their reward. They have it now in part ; for who have been of late the most cold-blooded and atrocious of their criminals 1 Some who were hardened by the experiences of life, and wrought upon by an ungovernable nature, come to its maturity ? Far otherwise, they have been found amongst- their very children themselves. And this is just, for it is but fitting that they should be delivered over to the guardianship of the master whom they have chosen, and that under his influence and inspiration wickedness should daily increase amongst them.

Godless education, thtn it is, that is the bane of America, and this it is that will destroy her ; for no nation that has become thoroughly profligate, corrupt, and abandoned, has ever yet maintained its place upon the earth, and to such a condition is she recklessly hurrying onwards.