Yºº-
º
WHY AND WHEREFORE:
OR
THOUGHTS ON HUMAN CONDITIONS AND
DESTINY.
EY
WILLIAM G. A R RISON SKILLMAN,
Author of “Day Dawning.”
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º
-
A º Orpicº. Appress:
º P. O. Box 2006,
º º Philadelphia, Pa.
- º -----
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º PHILADELPHIA.
PRESS OF HARPER & BROTHER,
- - -
No. 413 WA-Nur Sºrrºr.


II.
III.
IV.
VI.
VII.
IND EX.
Progress,
Private Interests and Public Welfare,
Money,
The Responsibilities of Talent,
War,
Christianity and Nihilism,
Day Dawning,
COPYRIGHT.
-L-AM GARRISON S-LL.M.A.N.
1881.
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WHY AND WHEREFORE:
OR
Thoughts on Human Conditions and
Destiny.
By WILLIAM GARRISON SKILLMAN,
Author of “Day Dawning.”
I.
PROGRESS.
PROPELLED by God's almighty hand,
Revolving worlds obedient move;
Onward they fly at his command,
Guided in mercy and in love.
Rejoicing too in heavenly power,
E’en men move on from state to state;
Securely kept through every hour,
Secure alike from chance or fate.


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II.
PRIVATE INTERESTS AND PUBLIC WELFARE.
THE correctness of the theory entertained by some that
“individual or private ownership of property is adverse
to the complete welfare of the people,” will doubtless be
questioned by very many well-disposed persons. It will
be said that—as a rule, at least—private ownership has
certainly not interfered seriously with man's happiness;
that if it ever had done so that fact would have indicated
an evident defect in the Divine economy, for private owner-
ship, in some form, has been recognized as proper among
men ever since the world began. It will be claimed—and,
we believe, with truth—that the aggregate of human happi-
ness has been far greater than that of sorrow or misery;
that there has been far more good than evil in the world;
that our Great Father has done, and is constantly doing,
so much for his children that—as a rule, at least—they
could not become demoralized to such an extent as to be
incapable of a good degree of rational enjoyment.
While we freely admit the truth of these claims, we,
nevertheless, firmly believe that man's complete welfare
never could have been and never will be realized under any
system of private ownership; that private ownership and
irresponsible power are practically convertible terms; that
the latter has been very greatly abused, and will, unless
restrained, be more and more abused until, for the gener-
ality of mankind, life will, in time, become not only
unenjoyable but even unendurable.
The following are the premises or arguments on which
we base this conclusion, viz:
1st. That progress, and that by imperceptible degrees
of growth or advancement, free agency, and freedom
from what we call miracles or the supernatural,—are neces-
sary incidents of man's happiness.
Without progress life would be a monotony, and there-
fore uninteresting; without free agency man would be an
automaton, possessing but few, if any, qualities superior to
those enjoyed by the irrational animals; and miracles would
tend to disturb, more or less, such of his calculations for

8
happiness as are based on his reliance in the certainties
which mark the operations of natural laws.
2d. That, in order that these necessary or indispen-
sable incidents of man's happiness may have full effect, it
is necessary that all things in nature should have infinitesi-
mal or minute beginnings.
Progress requires a minute beginning in order that the
range or scope for the enjoyment of progression may be as
extensive as possible. It is necessary, also, that all things
should progress by imperceptible degrees of growth or ad-
vancement, as, obviously, all large beginnings and sudden
transformations in nature would involve the employment
of miracles, and these, to the extent of their employment,
would interfere with man's free agency and, as already
observed, tend to disturb, more or less, such of his calcula-
tions for happiness as are based on his reliance in the
certainties which mark the operations of natural laws.
Our beginnings, therefore, so far, at least, as our lives
are concerned,—must necessarily be within the exceedingly
minute limits of the infinitesimal, and are, therefore, doubt-
less beyond the reach of finite observation or discovery.
The fact that our lives are thus commenced renders us,
in the earlier years of our existence, dependent upon the
care of those who have preceded us, and peculiarly liable,
through our incidental ignorance and inexperience during
those years, to the commission of errors or mistakes. The
instinct of self-preservation,-so necessary to maintain and
perpetuate life, especially nascent life, ignorance, in-
experience, and the habit of depending upon others have
all contributed greatly to the development of selfishness in
man, and although this has stimulated him to the perform-
ance of much that is good, it has, nevertheless, rendered
him liable to the commission of much that is evil.
3d. That with infancy selfishness is manifestly not only
a harmless but, indeed, a very important quality, but that
with the full-grown man it is susceptible of very great abuse.
When a lion is in his cubhood you may caress him without
fear of harm, but it is not well to trust him too far when
he becomes full-grown. In the early ages of the world,
when the population was sparse and the earth's broad acres
were far more than sufficient for the separate maintenance
of every one, manual labor the chief factor in all industrial

4.
pursuits, and there was a similarity of conditions among
men, selfishness was comparatively harmless; it was in its
cubhood. But now that the earth is becoming thickly
populated, competence (on the basis of private or separate
interests) impossible for all, labor-saving machinery rapidly
supplanting hand power, and human states and conditions
thereby rendered more precarious and insecure, selfishness
is no longer the harmless creature it once appeared to be.
Now it is a lion rapidly approaching to the fullness of its
strength, and, if we are to exercise a due regard for our
safety and happiness, we believe it will not do to allow it
much longer to run at large. If we do not promptly bind
or imprison it we have reason to believe its destructive
power will, ere long, be used to the increasing, if not ir-
reparable, damage of society and the state. The welfare
of the people ought to be and can be made complete. The
great Provider has abundantly supplied mankind with all
that is necessary to so desirable a consummation. God
gives overflowingly, and if all men are not in the full and
rational enjoyment of the bounties of his providence it is
because the leaders of men, the men of influence, have not
yet learned how to correct, or are as yet indisposed to cor-
rect, the errors or mistakes into which, through the igno-
rance, inexperience, and selfishness incident to man's first
estate, the race of man has fallén.
Selfishness, though weak and comparatively harmless in
the beginning, is rapidly becoming strong and aggressive.
The legal owners of immense worldly estates are constantly
striving to increase their acquisitions, well knowing, if they
reflect at all, that it would require but a very few wealthy
persons to absorb all the property of the country, and that
their increasing riches is, therefore, rapidly consigning the
masses of mankind to a condition bordering on hopeless-
ness and despair. The lion of selfishness is already filling
the world with terrible suffering and alarm. Millions of
human beings have, during the past few years, and with
no delinquency on their part, starved to death for want of
food, and millions more are now in conditions of extreme
poverty and wretchedness.
In order that a situation so deplorable may never be ex-
perienced by the people of our happy land, and that the
force of our example may tend to ameliorate the condition

5
of the people of other lands, let the principle of exact
equality, which is the corner-stone of our political system,
be made the basis, also, of our social system. Every man,
without regard to his position in society, enjoys here the
right to but one vote; the most prominent but one vote,
and no more; the most obscure but one vote, and no less;
and the rational enjoyment of life—no more, no less—
should be as certainly assured to every human being. We
believe this can be done only by merging all private in-
terests into one common or undivided interest, or, in other
words, by abolishing all individual and private ownership
of property. This, when the people are so disposed, can,
in our country, be easily accomplished by amending or
modifying the law of the land to that effect.
Right and wrong—or, in other words, benevolence and
selfishness—are both now rapidly developing in the earth,
and the day is not far distant when there will not be room
enough in any land for both. When that day arrives one
or the other must succumb. Which shall it be?
III.
MONEY.
DURING the present century, and particularly within the
past few years, there has been much diversity of opinion
among our people as to what should constitute or be em-
ployed as money. While it is true that among civilized
nations gold and silver have, for centuries, been recog-
nized as the common measure of value, it is, nevertheless,
equally true that gold and silver coin have for many years
comprised in our country but a small part of the circula-
ting medium, a large part of our bank circulation and
other paperissuesbeing represented by values otherthan coin.
This being the case, the question naturally arises, Why
should the paper circulation be redeemable in coin alone?
Why not make it redeemable in other representatives of
value also? If the property of the country, and of the
banks, other than gold and silver, is properly the basis on
which a large part of the paper circulation is issued, why,
with equal propriety, if found necessary or desirable, may

6
not, indeed, such property be made the basis for the re-
demption of the entire paper circulation ?
We are aware that by many gold in particular is claimed
to be “the money of the world,” and such claim that it
should be made the basis of all commercial transactions,
here as well as elsewhere. In reality, however, this metal,
whether coined or uncoined, is, as between nations, re-
garded merely as a commodity, and as such is, on account
of its purity, scarcity, and suitableness for convenient coin
purposes, often used by them in the settlement of trade
balances. Even within the limits of a country or state
gold, whether in the form of dust, bullion, or foreign
coin, is simply an article of trade, and fluctuates in value
like any other article of trade, except where legislation
authorizes its transformation into coin, and gives it for
domestic purposes a definite value. A notable instance of
the power of legislation in determining the domestic value
of money is seen in its effect upon what are known as the
“Bland Dollar” and the “Trade Dollar.” Owing doubt-
less to the recent increased production of silver its value
in gold has been considerably reduced; and yet, although
the “Bland” dollar contains less silver than the “Trade”
dollar, the former is, on account of its status as a legal
tender, of greater value here than the latter, the latter be.
ing simply bullion in the form of coin. And the percent-
age of difference between the lawful value here of our
bronze and nickel coins, and the market value of the
metals composing them, is still greater, the value of the
former being more than twice as great as that of the latter.
Legislation, therefore, determines, within the limits of
its control, what shall be and what shall not be used as
lawful money; and, whatever differences of opinion there
may be among our citizens on other questions of public
policy, the rightful authority of the National Legislature
to determine what shall be lawful money for our whole
country is generally admitted.
If then the National Legislature has the right to prescribe
that certain metals shall be fashioned into coin and used
here as lawful money, and that, too, without particular
reference to their market value as metals, it certainly has
the right to exercise its discretion as to what else, if any-
thing, shall be so used. Our Federal Constitution, it is

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true, provides that “no State shall coin money, emit bills
of credit, or make anything but gold and silver coin a
tender in payment of debts;” but it does not prohibit to
Congress the right to determine what shall and what shall
not constitute such a tender. The right of Congress to free-
dom of action in this regard is, therefore, at least implied.
We claim, therefore, that the General Government has
the right to issue as money its certificates of indebtedness
or promises to pay; to keep in circulation such an amount
of them as the good of the country may seem to require;
and to make them a tender in the payment of all debts,
public and private, except where otherwise expressly stipu-
lated in the contract. We believe it would be judicious
to make all such issues redeemable in gold or silver coin
or interest-bearing bonds of the United States at the
option of the Government; in bonds at their market
value; in coin at its face value. Under the operation of
this plan the Government would never be obliged to en-
tirely suspend payment, for if it failed to redeem its circu-
lation in gold or silver coin it could, of course, always be
ready to redeem it in bonds. When it were redeemed in
the latter it would simply be giving its interest-bearing
obligations, payable in the future, in exchange for its non-
interest-bearing notes redeemable at sight, and so satisfy
all reasonable demands.
“But,” it may be asked, “would it not be better for the
country that the Government should be always ready to
redeem its circulating notes in gold?” “Would it not be
better that it should from time to time even sell its bonds
for gold rather than not have a sufficient reserve of the
latter on hand where with to redeem its circulation ?”
We reply that we believe it is not at all necessary or im-
portant that our Government should maintain gold redemp-
tion. If in the course of our experience as a people
gold as a medium of exchange had always been our chief
reliance in times of trouble, our Government might with
propriety require that it should now be made the princi-
pal tender in payment of debts. But we have generally
found it inconstant and treacherous, especially as a bank
reserve, “keeping the word of promise to the ear and
breaking it to the hope.” When, in former years, it con-
stituted the principal or only item of our bank reserve,

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it would, in the height of our periods of prosperity, gradu-
ally steal away from our country to foreign lands, causing
our banks to contract their issues to save themselves from
suspension, stagnating business, and strewing the country
with commercial wrecks; and during the long and weary
months and years of our dreadful domestic strife it exacted
a heavy tribute for its use. But the Government note,
the “greenback,” has never deserted us. From the time
of its advent amongst us until now it has always been our
steadfast friend. Even in the hours of our greatest peril
it was not refused by friend or foe, for both friend and
foe saw upon its glowing face the inspiring words—a pro-
mise and a prophecy—“THE UNITED STATES WILL PAY.”
Men everywhere felt that the National Common Bond
would ever be honored and respected here by all.
By the plan of redemption which we propose there need
be no entire suspension of payment either on the part of
the Government or of the banks. The latter could re-
deem their notes in either gold, silver, or “greenbacks”
at their option, and the former could, as we have said,
redeem its notes in gold, silver, or interest-bearing bonds
of the United States at its option. It is not likely, how-
ever, that bonds would be demanded, as they could be
purchased on the market on as good terms as they could
be obtained of the Government, and this would doubtless
obviate the necessity of increasing their volume. The
“greenbacks” would undoubtedly remain at home, and,
readily obtainable by the banks, would serve them as a
constant and reliable reserve; and the banks would have
no need to contract their issues by the fear that the
“greenbacks” would ever get beyond their ready reach.
Stability in the volume of the currency could be main-
tained, and contraction, with all the evils that usually
follow in its train, be avoided.
The “greenback,” as our money standard, would indi-
rectly be of great service also as an aid in protecting our
industries against injurious foreign competition. If, for
instance, the value of our imports should ever greatly ex-
ceed that of our exports, the balance would have to be
paid in gold, and this might deplete our country of that
commodity. In that event our Government, unless it
became a purchaser of gold, would be compelled to dis-

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continue the redemption of its notes in that article. Gold
would then become a marketable commodity, and, accord-
ing to the demand for it, its price would be affected. If
our trade debt to foreign countries were large, gold would
command a high premium; if small, a low one. In either
case the premium would tend to check the flow of imports,
and, as a consequence, to more or less protect our indus-
tries from disadvantageous or injurious foreign competition.
Thus, by obviating the necessity for currency contraction,
and indirectly checking the flow of imports, the “green-
back ’’ would, in addition to its other uses, perform a
double service. As in mechanics the fly-wheel and the
“governor” equalize and regulate the movements of ma-
chinery, so the “greenback” would, in our country,
regulate all the movements of trade.
But, superior as we believe the “greenback” to be to
every other form of money in circulation here, it, never-
theless, has no power within itself to prevent the rich from
becoming richer; nor can it give the impecunious and
struggling masses the assurance that, as a superior form of
money, it will ever be instrumental in causing their condi-
tions to be permanently improved. As between it and
other forms of money we regard the “greenback” as sim:
ply the lesser evil. It is true in a bad, as well as in a good,
sense that “whosoever hath to him shall be given, and
whosoever hath not from him shall be taken even that
which he seemeth to have.” Through force, fraud, saga-
city, and the ordinary accretions of private wealth, a large
part of the property of the world is already in the legal
ownership of a small percentage of its population; nor is
there anything in the nature of any kind of money to
prevent the growth of this stupendous evil.
We prize the “greenback” not only because we regard
it as less objectionable than all the other forms of money,
but because it is a conspicuous expression of the confi-
dence which, notwithstanding their many mutual antago-
nisms and jealousies, the citizens of our common country
repose in their form of government and each other.
It has been said that “the love of money is the root of
all evil.” Let us hope that the time is near at hand when
man's love for, and increased confidence in, his fellow-man
shall eradicate this root, and banish money from the earth.

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IV.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TALENT.
It is said that the word “talent” originally signified a
balance or scales. But, as the substance weighed is gener-
ally of greater importance than the scales or balance that
determines its weight, the signification of this word was,
naturally enough, transferred from the latter to the former,
and it was afterward applied to the weight itself. It was,
finally, almost exclusively used to signify qualities, they
being of still greater importance than either substances
or mere quantities. It was applied especially to mental
qualities, particularly to those that have weight or conse-
quence, such, for instance, as preponderating or predomi-
nating influences, superior genius, particular faculty, skill,
etc. -
In the beginning, owing to their inexperience and lack
of conveniences, men, doubtless, attached special impor-
tance to such things as implements, utensils, etc. After-
ward they began to appreciate the intrinsic value of sub-
stances; and finally, principles or qualities, including those
that dignify and ennoble humanity, also received a share
of their attention. The various significations which men
have given to the word “talent,” from time to time, may,
therefore, be regarded as belonging to that class of inci.
dents which mark the progress of the race.
Talent is, doubtless, an indispensable requisite of leader-
ship; for, although there may be talent without active
leadership, there can hardly be successful leadership with-
out more or less of talent; therefore, to discuss the ques-
tion of the responsibilities of talent may be considered as
virtually tantamount to discussing the question of the
responsibilities of leaders.
It will, doubtless, be conceded that the Creator intended
that the human race should eventually enjoy existence to
the fullest rational extent, and that, as an important means
to that end, there should, everywhere, be both order and
variety,+order, that confusion may be avoided; variety,
that life may be employed in those agreeable contempla-
tions and pursuits which uninterrupted sameness would
limit, if not actually prevent.

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Hence we find that, throughout the whole domain of
nature, there is in all things an interesting and pleasing
variety. In the mineral kingdom, although its treasures
are as yet only partially exposed to sight, there are sub-
stances many of which are wonderful, and others which
can be and have been wrought into numerous forms of
strength and beauty. The vegetable kingdom, besides
furnishing the principal means of subsistence, presents an
almost boundless field of ever-varying delights. In this
department of nature it would seem that even the divine
ingenuity had been exercised to the fullest extreme (if that
were possible) to benefit and please mankind. Nor is the
animal kingdom less abounding in its varied dispensations
of happiness to man, for here man is not only furnished
in part with the means of subsistence, but life, as here
presented by the old and the young, by the grave and the
gay, the sprightly and the sombre, the strong and the
weak, the fierce and the gentle, the destructive and the
harmless, and in its numerous other contrasts and manifes-
tations, furnishes also unceasing opportunities for varied
entertainment and enjoyment.
As in the natural world an unvarying sameness would
fail to interest and please, so, in the world of mind, un-
broken uniformity would be also unattractive. We should,
for instance, soon tire of a speaker whose words were all
abrupt and angular, and turn with equal dissatisfaction
from one whose speech was composed of only verbal
graces; nor could a single subject or idea, to the entire
exclusion of all others, long engage our willing attention.
Even talent itself would possess but few, if any, attractions
if it existed only in a single form.
It is important, therefore, that talent, in common with
all things else, should be displayed in various forms and in
different degrees of eminence. Nor does the fact that but
few persons are born with superior talent imply that the
ways of Providence are unequal. Let it be borne in mind
that the various kinds and degrees of talent impose corres-
Aonding responsibilities. We believe that, sooner or later,
every human work will be tested in the balance or scales
of divine justice. In one scale will be lodged the weight
of our talent, be it large or small, and only the tribute of
our willing and devoted service will be accepted as its

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appropriate counterpoise. Whatever may be said concern-
ing the professions and practices of those who claim to be
Christians, the Christian doctrine contains one precept
which, of itself alone, were sufficient to immortalize it:
“Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your
minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let
him be your servant.”
The God of wisdom and of love has made abundant
provision for the good of all mankind, and it is the duty,
as it ought to be the pleasure, of every one, and especially
of the strong and the talented among men, to profit by his
example by promoting the happiness of all. Therefore,
let not the able, the talented, and the accomplished in
society despise the poor, the prostrate, or the obscure, but
use their best endeavors to lift them up. Let the religion-
ists of certain sects no longer indulge the self-satisfying
belief that they have been specially singled out for heaven-
ly joys; but let them remember that, if they are talented,
choice, or chosen, it is “that they should go and bring
forth fruit;” that if they are the elect or select of the
earth, it is “that they should show forth the praises (or
virtues) of Him who hath called them out of darkness into
His marvellous light;" that if they are a “peculiar peo-
ple,” it is that their peculiarity should consist not in the
observance of rites, ceremonies, formalities, nor in the
maintenance of dogmas, but in their being “zealous of
good works.” Especially let the citizens of our beloved
land remember that Providence has showered upon them
unnumbered blessings, for which an enormous debt of
gratitude is due, and that only as they manifest an earnest
desire to benefit mankind can they discharge this debt and
rightly appreciate the blessings that they themselves enjoy.
Under the workings of Providence it is probable that,
ere long, the stability of our institutions and the virtues of
our people will be put to a thorough and a final test.
May they be ready for the trial Heaven forbid that it
should ever be said to us, as a people or nation,-or, in-
deed, to any people or nation,--THou ART weighed IN
THE BALANCEs, AND ARt found wanting.”

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V.
WAR.
Of all the calamities which have at times distressed man-
kind, none have been more dreaded than the demonstrative
and destructive conflicts of the battlefield. They bring
almost unutterable anguish to thousands, and are frequently,
if not generally, injurious to the morals of all those who
are in any way concerned in them. But, alarming and
destructive as they are, there is a conflict which is far more
destructive, one from which, we believe, all sanguinary
strife proceeds,-a conflict which, generally without blood
or tumult, is now rapidly multiplying its victims. We
mean the strife or struggle for subsistence, competence, or
wealth, which, as an every-day affair of life, is constantly
being waged. The conflicts of the fields of blood, though
fearfully demonstrative, are usually short, sharp, and de-
cisive, and generally count their victims by hundreds or
thousands; while the bloodless, and comparatively noise-
less, “battle of life” is unceasingly fought, and is annually
consigning its millions to premature graves. Even during
the past two years more than ten times as many human
beings have died of starvation alone, as, within that time,
have perished on the fields of blood.
An evil so stupendous and far-reaching as this, is not to
be traced to exceptional causes; nor to neglect of duty on
the part of the masses. Its prevalence and increase prove
that it has a widespread, deepseated, underlying cause.
That cause we believe to be competition or antagonism
arising out of the system, still prevailing among men, of
separate or divided worldly interests. The different forms
or combinations under which men array themselves against
each other are, we believe, to be attributed mainly to this
cause. The contentions of political parties, the conten-
tions between different religious sects, between different
congregations of the same sect, and between individuals of
the same congregation, and the difficulties which arise in
any matter, whether between individuals, systems, sects,
states, or nations, all originate, we believe, mainly in this
system of divided worldly interests. We believe, there-
fore, that sanguinary wars may be properly compared to

14
volcanic eruptions, which, though startling and alarming
to the beholder, and somewhat destructive, but faintly
indicate the extent of the greater fires that, quite unob-
served, are constantly doing their consuming work be-
neath. Or they may be likened to boils or pustules on
the surface of the body, which, though forbidding in
themselves, are far less to be dreaded than the disease or
infection from which they spring.
Far be it from us to attempt to disparage the labors of
those who, by any name, or in any manner, are seeking
to promote the cause of peace. Such, doubtless, are
moved in their work far more by the dictates of their own
consciences than they are by either the approbation or
disapprobation of their fellow-men. But we would re-
spectfully suggest to all such that “swords” will not “be
beaten into ploughshares,” nor “spears into pruning-
hooks” as long as human interests are separate or diverse.
There can be no permanent peace under any system of
divided interests, for, wherever interests differ, even emu-
lation readily leads to competition, competition degen-
erates into jealousy, jealousy incites to enmity, and enmity
to war. The most destructive combatants are not those
who professionally wear the sword. The victims of bloody
fields are usually numbered, as we have said, by hundreds
or thousands, and the contests of the field are occasional.
The men who are bringing their millions to premature
graves are the nonprofessional warriors with whom strife
for selfish worldly advantage is continual, and among
whom there are some who bear at least a formal testimony
against the shedding of human blood.
Our forefathers chose for our national motto, the words
“E Pluriºus Unum.” (out of many, one). God speed
the day when, both politically and socially, this motto
shall be universally enjoyed in its full significance.

15
VI.
CHRISTIANITY AND NIHILISM.
Between Christianity and Nihilism there is, as in other
opposites or extremes, prominent points of likeness. A
brief comparison of these two influences or forces may
not be uninteresting or unprofitable.
Christianity, for instance, would annihilate sin. Nihil-
ism would destroy both sin and the sinner. Nihilism would
overthrow its enemies. Christianity would overcome all
enmity. To accomplish its purpose Nihilism demands of
its votaries that all domestic and fraternal ties be held in
utter contempt. And Christianity, with like singleness
of purpose, also requires perfect consecration, and declares
that “if any man come to Christ and hate not (the sel-
fishness of) his father, and mother, and wife, and children,
and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life, also, he
cannot be Christ's disciple.” Nihilism denounces all
individual or private ownership of property. Christianity,
with equal radicalness, says to its votaries: “Whosoever
he be of you that forsaketh not all he hath, he cannot be
Christ's disciple.” Aroused to madness by oppression
and tyranny, Nihilism wildly shouts “AWhil, nihil " while
Christianity, uttering the same word, with patient endu-
rance sweetly sings “Oh, to be nothing, nothing.”
“Oh, to be nothing, nothing /
Only to lie at his feet,
A broken and emptied vessel,
For the Master's use made meet.”
Paul, the great apostle of Christianity, in writing to his
fellow-believers, says: “I am determined not to know
anything among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
And, with equal earnestness, Nihilism declares that it will
know nothing but entire obedience to its own radical be-
hests. Nihilism, with bitter hate, would slay Caesar.
Christianity would “give unto Caesar the things that are
Caesar's,” but eventually overcome him and his power by
love. On a certain occasion it was said of the early
Christians: “ These that have turned the world upside
down are come hither, also.” Nihilists, also, are charged

16
with attempting to accomplish purposes most radical and
revolutionary. The Apostle Paul, in speaking of the
estimation in which the early votaries of Christianity were
held, says: “We are made as the filth of the earth, and
are the offscouring of all things unto this day.” Nihilists,
too, are by many regarded as the offscouring of the
earth, the vilest of the vile.
Thus it will be observed that influences and forces en-
tirely different may have striking points of resemblance;
and this fact renders it highly important that, in forming
our opinions of measures and of men, careful discriminations
should be made. Although Christianity and Nihilism are
utterly dissimilar in spirit, and are, therefore, operating
from exactly opposite points, we nevertheless believe that,
under Providence, both are tending toward a common
centre, viz., the universal good; and that when they meet,
. Nihilism, the lesser force, will be swallowed up by Chris-
tianity, the greater. Nihilism itself will then be nihil,
and Christ shall be all in all.
VII.
DAY DAWNING.
DIMLy the morning light appears,
And shadows linger o'er the earth;
Years come and go, and still our fears
Disturbus, e'en in hours of mirth,
And mingled smiles and tears bedim our troubled sight.
With hope we greet the feeble gleams,
Nor murmur that they slowly break;
In God's good time the brighter beams,
New lustred, shall the earth awake:
God’s love shall quickly usher in the blessed light.


A BOOK FOR THE TIMES
DAY DAWNING:
O-
REASON AND RELIGION RECONCILED
AND
THE WAY OF HAPPINESS MADE PLAIN.
By William Garrison Ski Lanaº.
In the writing of this book, one of the principal objects
of the author has been to show wherein he believes the
present organization of society is defective, and how its
defects may be remedied so that all may enjoy in this world
uninterrupted peace, plenty and prosperity. To effect such
a reformation he believes that reason, and all that is con-
sidered valuable and important in religion, must first be
reconciled, and he has undertaken to show how this may
be done. His conclusions on these and the various subjects
discussed in the book, are reached through the considera-
tion of the following questions, to wit: Whence are we?
Why are we? Why are we as we are? and What are we to
be º It is believed this work will attract much attention
by the boldness and originality of the thoughts therein
expressed, more especially at the present time, when the
masses, seemingly dissatisfied with existing political parties.
and the increasing variances which disturb and perplex all
industrial interests, are endeavoring, in many sections of
the country, to effect changes which they hope will secur
them against uncertainty, privation and want.
Sent, post-paid on receipt of the price (sico) by the
Publishers,
HARPER & BROTHER,
Mø ºg Walnut Sºet,
PHILADE LPHIA, PA.