The Returning Tide of Despotism
The recent barbarous massacre of Jews at Kishinef, Russia, and the continuous story of the woes of Finland under Muscovite oppression, inflicted with a settled purpose of crushing out Finland’s national life, call attention to a fact seemingly strange in this twentieth century—that of a returning tide of despotism which threatens to submerge the earth. We have become accustomed to think that the tide was setting the other way,—that the world-wide movement in favor of civil freedom, in which the United States has led the way, was certain, under the example and influence of this great nation, to continue with increasing force. But no previous convictions, however settled, can stand before the daily accumulating evidence that the spirit of oppression is becoming more and more dominant in many quarters, while the spirit of regard for the rights of the weak is but little seen, either at home or abroad. Russia, a despotism controlled by the Greek Church, is spreading out over the northern part of the Eastern hemisphere, on one side grasping China, and on the other crushing Finland, preparatory to an attack on Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Slowly also, but surely, she is moving downward upon India. And what of the great world power which dominates the Western hemisphere—the United States? What attitude is it assuming with regard to the principles and institutions of civil freedom? Do the past few years of its history show a rising regard for the principles of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence? or do they show the contrary? Has not much been said by American statesmen about this nation having outgrown those documents? Has not much been said and done to lower the estimation in which those bulwarks of liberty are held by the American people? Is there not much evidence, also, of a change of the national sentiment and attitude toward the weaker races of mankind? Is there not increasing evidence of a division of race against race, and also of class against class, which can only lead to the oppression of the weak by the strong? These questions must be answered in the affirmative, and such facts compel the conclusion that the tide of affairs in this twentieth century is setting here, as in Europe, toward a return to the oppression from which it was hoped the world had happily escaped, or was about to shake itself free. But freedom is the gift, not of man, but of God; and while man changes, God remains the same,—a refuge for all the oppressed, and a sure foundation for the hope of a coming day when perfect freedom shall be over all the earth.