DISTRESS OF NATIONS

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 15, 1861

DISTRESS OF NATIONS.

We may go over the entire earth, and we find uneasiness and forebodings everywhere. China, the largest and most populous empire on the globe, is nearly overrun with rebel armies—in a civil war that has raged there for years; and where there is no prospect of the establishment of a just and stable government, and its capital has just been taken by the armies of the west. Japan, the insular empire of the east, is just opening its ports to the trade of the world; but what collisions may grow out of the experiment, time only can determine. In India, British arms have lately re-subjugated a rebellious race, who cannot but burn with a desire to recover what they regard as their lost rights. The whole Mohammedan world are feeling the fanaticism, the rise of which is always incident to a decaying system. Turkey totters to its fall, and only exists because rival states cannot agree respecting its division. Italy has nominally become consolidated under Sardinian rule; but no one is destitute of fear that anarchy and war may yet drench the land in blood. Garibaldi has sounded the bugle note for a million of men to take the field in the spring—Venetia being supposed to be the prize in view. Hungary burns for opportunity to recover her lost nationality, and doubtless hopes to gain it by Garibaldi's expected northward march. Poland has never forgotten her former independence, and would welcome any opportunity for its recovery. Austria, constituted of various heterogeneous elements, both threatens and fears war; to which any movement in Venetia would seem to inevitably lead. France encourages and threatens the Italian leaders; and any serious collision between Italy and Austria would be likely to embroil that government in war. England and France mutually fear and suspect each other, and are each strengthening their internal defenses against any contingency. Russia is not free from internal disquiet, growing out of the question of serfism. In our own country one-half of the States are threatening revolution and secession, whilst containing within their limits four millions of men in bonds, who would hail the advent of any deliverer. In short, the entire governments of the earth are in just that condition, where a wrong movement anywhere might set them all in a blaze.

The condition of things is the more striking in this country, because of our sudden revolution from a feeling of national security, to one of great peril, without any apparent cause. Men had begun to look on our country as an exception to the world's general condition of insecurity and alarm; when suddenly our own hills begin to move and it is seen that even here, men have been dreaming of fancied peace when the elements of explosion are all beneath and around us. And if a few short weeks could make such a change in the aspect of things here, what might not be produced in an inconceivably short space of time, in the feeling of security in any country,—should God only lay on them his finger,—who only toucheth the hills and they smoke.

When we remember that it is God who alone gives peace to any nation, that he alone issues the command to take peace from the earth, and that all the events of his providence will transpire according to his righteous purpose, we can safely trust all our interests in his hands, and repose with confidence on his arm,—whatever may transpire. It is only by trust and confidence in his word, and laying hold of his promises, that any one can view, calmly and unmoved, the turmoil of nations that precedes, if it does not usher in the day of the Lord, and it is only by such trust and confidence, that any one can read these monitions aright, and appropriate their meaning—according to the inspired injunction: "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads: for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke xxi, 28.—Ad. Herald.