p. 5 | PROCLAIMING LIBERTY

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 1, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 35.

PROCLAIMING LIBERTY.

FROM the California Independent, published at Los Angeles, Cal., we clip the following:—

Flags and flowers were in evidence at the Boyle Heights last Sunday morning, and a large congregation assembled to attend the patriotic service announced for that time. The special music by the choir was sweetly rendered, the congregational singing good, and a most pleasing feature of the service was that of the children of the Sunday-school marching onto the rostrum with their color-bearer, and singing “America,” with spirit and melody. The pastor’s address was based on the lines, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof.” . . . A strong, deep spirit of patriotism pervaded the address, and it was meat in season. It met with a hearty response in the hearts of the hearers.

The proclamation of liberty in the scripture quoted above had reference to the jubilee year commanded to Israel. “In the year of this jubilee ye shall return every man unto his possession. And if thou sell aught unto thy neighbor, or buyest aught of thy neighbor’s hand, ye shall not oppress one another.” Lev. 25: 13, 14. There is nothing in the patriotism of this country, or manifested under its banner to-day, that indicates any such good prospect as contemplated in that proclamation. The popular contention for liberty in this country to-day is for liberty abroad. It is a demand for other people to let the oppressed go free, and restore possessions; there is no thought of doing anything of the kind at home. Here the taxes may be increased on every hand, the rich may continue to grow richer by the process of the poor being oppressed into greater poverty; but that is all “patriotism” and “enterprise,” all made to appear as an indication of great prosperity, when done at home. But we can wrap the “Stars and Stripes” around us, and march to the house of worship to the tune of “America,” and make righteous demands upon other nations to proclaim liberty throughout their lands; and if they do not do so to our liking, we will take our army and navy, enlarged to several times their normal size, and go forth to enforce our edict upon them. Yes, even our “Christian” and “charitable” societies will lend their material aid to get in good readiness the army and navy to kill and to destroy the people and property of another nation for doing the same things that have been and are being done in our own land. It would be interesting to know how many of the “Christian patriots” of this country would be willing, against their own financial interests, to practically carry out at home the obligations of the jubilee year. The idea is grand to contemplate in the long ago, or even now if applied in Armenia or in Cuba; but in the United States—well, we’ll cover it over with the American flag, and drown it in “spread eagle” oratory. W. N. G.