Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 12, 1908

A Mighty Republic

It is evident that the nation which fulfils the specifications of the prophecy concerning the beast which arises out of the earth (Rev. 13:11-17) must be a world-power. No nation of limited territory or restricted influence would be able to accomplish what is set forth in this prophecy. We find, therefore, in President Roosevelt's Thanksgiving proclamation unintentional but weighty testimony to the correctness of that interpretation of this prophecy which makes the beast with two horns a symbol of the United States. To quote:—

Year by year this nation grows in strength and worldly power. During the century and a quarter that has elapsed since our entry into the circle of independent peoples, we have grown and prospered in material things to a degree never known before, and not now known in any other country. The thirteen colonies which struggled along the seacoast of the Atlantic, and were hemmed-in but a few miles west of tidewater by the Indian-haunted wilderness, have been transformed into the mightiest republic which the world has ever seen. Its domains stretch across the continent from one to the other of the two greatest oceans, and it exercises dominion alike in the arctic and tropic realms. The growth in wealth and population has surpassed even the growth in territory.

This nation, the first to put into practise the Christian idea of civil government with a separation of church and state, has exerted a strong influence in favor of liberty and equality. When it repudiates the principles upon which it was established, and forms an unholy union with the apostate church, it can easily lead the nations in the path of intolerance and persecution.

An Intolerant Association

In the annual report of the International Federation of Sunday Rest Associations of America for 1908, a statement is made concerning the effort to secure the passage of a Sunday law for the District of Columbia. The whole paragraph follows:—

A bill was prepared early during the last session of Congress, and that the best results might be obtained, a committee, composed of Protestant and Catholic ministers and laymen, and representatives of the labor unions, all residing in the District of Columbia, was appointed to secure its passage. Rev. Wallace H. Radcliffe, D. D., of Washington, was chairman of the committee. We placed in his hands a copy of the large petition we had secured, and brought to bear the influence of the federation wherever possible in favor of the passage of the bill. We urged that if a law be passed, it should prohibit unnecessary business, such as the selling of candies, cigars, etc., as well as labor, and that no exception be made because of religion. The bill at this time has not been finally acted upon.

From this report it is entirely apparent that the movement was a religious one, although at the time this was denied. The united influence of the local committee and that of the federation was brought to bear in favor of the bill. It is worthy of note, also, that so far as the association was concerned, it was urged “that no exception be made because of religion.” This shows plainly what may be expected when the principles urged by these Sunday-law advocates are adopted. The persecutions of medieval times will be revived.