Are They Blind?

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Aug 14, 1866

As we look over the columns of the popular religious newspapers, their apparent blindness to the true state of the nations of the world is astonishing. Their loud boasts of the increasing strength and popularity of this and that denomination, with their glorious prospects for the future on account of the peaceful state of the world, leads us to wonder if total blindness has fallen upon them.

Writers for the secular press, however, having no particular theory to uphold, or else more willing to deal fairly with their readers, are constantly calling attention to the fearful state of things among the great powers of earth.

The following article, clipped from a popular illustrated newspaper, contains so much sound Advent doctrine that it will be of interest to the readers of the Review.

W. C. GAGE.

IS THIS THE NINETEENTH CENTURY?

Is this the first decade of the last half of the nineteenth century? Is this the eighteen hundred and sixty-sixth anniversary of the inauguration of the Christian era, and of the birth of Him who was to bring "peace on earth and good will toward men?" Has our boasted civilization and our religion, after all, resulted in what we see around us?—Nine-tenths of the Christian world in open war, or breathlessly awaiting the dread moment when "Red Battle" shall stamp his foot? Have all our improvements in locomotion, in transmission of intelligence, production and exchange of commodities, only resulted in giving concentration, strength, and deadly effect to the worst and most malignant passions and faults of our nature?

So it would seem! We repeat, nine-tenths of the

so-called Christian world are in arms, or may, at any moment, be engaged in deadly strife. Not two years have elapsed since the dominating nation of the Western World closed the most terrific and bloody contest known in the annals of mankind. How stand her neighbors on this continent now? Canada feverish and unsettled, after the first onset of a subtle and persistent foe; Mexico, the theatre of a prolonged and implacable struggle; Chili, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador struggling against a monarchical enemy; Brazil, with the Argentine Republic, and Buenos Ayres in an unequal contest against Paraguay; Jamaica still smelling of slaughter; the embers of revolution not yet cold in Hayti and San Domingo!

In Europe, Austria, with all her dependencies and her sympathizers in the Germanic Confederation, arrayed against Prussia and Italy; France silently arming in view of eventualities apparent to every mind; Russia and Turkey confronting each other in the Principalities, and threatening a conflict that must drag England into another war, which may re-light the fires of insurrection in India; Ireland under military rule, and heaving with revolution; Spain involved in a struggle in South America and racked by dissensions at home!

Are all these omens, these throes, these prospective and actual conflicts, portents of "Armageddon?" Can Christian, philosopher, or statesman reconcile all these conditions and fearful actualities with the theory or principles of religion and civilization? Are these terms only empty and cant phrases for bad men and charlatans to play and juggle with? Can this really be the nineteenth century? Is this the fruition of the gospel preached on the Mount? Or are we, in spite of its instructions and injunctions, savages as before, with only improved faculties for murder?