Page:The Red Man and the White Man in North America.djvu/390

370 vineyard. Through them it went forth from a despised province of the Roman empire, even beyond its farthest bounds, to make disciples in faith of those not held in law or tribute to its sway. It is a profoundly serious and interesting subject for those responsible for its wise discussion, to account for the comparative lack of energy and success in modern missionary enterprises when set in contrast with those of the earlier Christian ages. Is it that the missionaries have lost their zeal, their fervor, their skill and power, in their work; or that what they offer, without much response of acceptance or gratitude from the subjects of their labor, is not the simple original boon of blessing once so triumphant in its peaceful conquests?

More than three centuries have passed through all of which the solemn avowals of nations calling themselves Christians, and claiming as such lofty prerogatives, have recognized, in obligation and purpose, the duty of making fellow-Christians of our aboriginal tribes. These nations have had large resources and appliances. They could cross mysterious and overshadowed oceans. They could take possession of vast reaches of territory, and assert easily and successfully their towering and divine right over wild lands and wild people. Making sure of conquest and possession, they palliated or justified all that there was of incidental woe or wrong, all the spoiling and tragic suffering of the heathen, by the supreme and ultimate purpose of blessing and saving them. There was no misgiving as to the fearfulness of the doom awaiting them hereafter simply because they were heathen and had had the direful misfortune of being born under a curse. In view of that, any infliction visited on them during their lifetime was of trivial consequence; and all outrages and enormities practised upon them were only blessed means of discipline, if committed with an ultimate view to their conversion. The creed of the invaders embraced two tenets, — one, the desperate condition of the natives; the other, the solemn