The Troubled World by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 28, 1871

The Troubled World.

By Editor

The simile under which the Bible sets forth the condition of the wicked, comparing them to “the troubled sea, when it cannot rest,” fitly describes the unsettled, agitated condition of the world at the present hour. Not more is physical nature disturbed by the earthquake upheavals now so common, by the pestilence spreading abroad its silent and sullen death, and by storms and tornadoes carrying ruin and devastation in their path, than are the hearts of men by the fears and forebodings which agitate them, and the nations by the revolutions already existing, or threatening each moment to burst into open action. Where is there peace, or any sign of peace? Where is there not war, or immediate tokens of war?

The agitation of the public mind has been divided the past week between the unexpected and terrible revolution in Paris, and the Ku Klux outrages in our own southern States.

With a blindness and fury scarcely less than that of the revolution of 1793–8, the French have again inaugurated a reign of terror in Paris. How this movement strikes the world at large, we may set forth by quoting a word from two of the leading journals of this country. The N. Y. Tribune says: “The French situation may be painted in one nervous line of Dr. Holmes’: ‘The mob of Paris wrings the neck of France.’ The conduct of the people of the great metropolis during the last two days will go far to destroy any lingering sympathy for them which might have survived the follies and disasters of siege and surrender.” The N. Y. Independent says: “We are oppressed with terrible news from Paris. As we write, we know little of the particulars; for the revolutionists have seized the telegraph offices. We are simply informed that the Red Republicans hold armed possession of the city, have overpowered or persuaded the regular troops, and have, if the reports are trustworthy, foully murdered Gen. Chanzy, one of the few French officers that snatched any bays from the laureled Prussians; and with him, two, and perhaps three, other generals who were attempting to enforce order.” With a fatality inseparable from such movements, they will probably destroy their best men, the ones on whom all hopes of order and prosperity depend. But what can be hoped for stability and permanent peace, when men show themselves so prone to give up their own judgment and reason, and offer themselves the willing instruments of anarchy and mob law?

Coming nearer home, we find events of the gravest importance transpiring at our own doors. It seems as if the spirit of demons had taken possession of a great portion of the people of the Southern States. This is manifested in the Ku Klux organizations, which are committing their depredations in all directions. The papers give full reports of the fiendish outrages which they are committing. It is the spirit of rebellion again becoming rampant. “The lost cause is not an abandoned cause.” The spirit of rebellion, for the time being overpowered by superior strength, is not subdued. It does not propose as yet to give up the struggle for the objects which at first it had in view. And while this hydra-headed monster is again lifting up its head, portending dangers to the country which cannot well be described, the Republican party whose unity and success present the only barrier to the progress of the foe, is cherishing bickerings and dissensions, which threaten to rend it in twain. The removal of Chas. Sumner from the chairmanship of the committee on Foreign Relations, as noticed last week, has raised a feeling which puts the unity of the party to its utmost test. It will be a marvel if the excitement caused by this step subsides, and harmonious action is again secured. But without harmonious action, the party cannot expect to succeed.

Sagacious statesmen foresee the peril into which the country is thus brought, and give free expression to their feelings of anxiety. The N. Y. Independent of the 23d inst. says: “We have reached a grave crisis in the history of the country. We have also arrived at the supreme crisis in the history of the Republican party.” And right at the time of passing this dangerous crisis within, it has to meet the crisis of facing the rising spirit of rebellion without. Says the Independent again: “When we vote at the next presidential election, we vote face to face, and ballot to ballot with the rebellion.”

And should the Democratic party succeed, what would follow? Again we quote from the same paper: “If the Democratic party were to come into power to-morrow, the whole work of reconstruction would be undone; the franchise would be taken away from the negroes, and under some form or other slavery, or its equivalent would be restored.” The italics are our own. But who can doubt from the spirit manifested by the leaders in the South, and their sympathizers in the North, that such would be the result.

From another direction a colossal evil threatens the Republic with ruin. We refer to the encroachments of the papacy. In another column we present an article entitled “The Papacy Unmasked,” which plainly sets forth the objects which Romanists have in view in this country. When any set of men work with undisturbed unity to one end, their efforts will tell. Thus the Romish clergy have worked ever since they obtained any considerable foothold in this country, to secure the control of this government. They have not thought it prudent heretofore, to say much respecting their secret purpose in this respect. With increasing strength they wax bolder, and manifest less hesitation to throw off the mask. They now openly boast of the certainty of their getting control of this country, and declare that the only question now is, how soon.

The time may never come, probably never will, when Roman Catholics alone will have power to control the affairs of this nation. But the time has already come, when, if any considerable number of Protestants should join with them in any measure, they would carry it through. Now all understand that the pet idea of popery, is the union of church and State; and many understand equally well, that the movement now on foot among Protestants to pass a religious amendment to the Constitution of the United States, means the same thing. Catholics will naturally favor this movement; and those Protestants who are so zealous to sustain it, will be willing to avail themselves of their help; nay, it is even urged in favor of the proposed amendment, that it is one in favor of which the Catholic can join as well as the Protestant. And who can say that, should Catholics, and those Protestants who favor the movement unite to carry it through, they could not frame that mischief into law to-day. We look for some such movement as this to take place.

We might speak of other sources of danger and perplexity, issues from which the nations shrink, and over which the hearts of men are troubled. But we have noticed enough to awaken serious thought, and show something of the perils which beset our way. There is but one logical course for the people of God to take in this time. The world’s unrest should lead us to seek our refuge in the Most High.