E. W. Bullinger
E. W. Bullinger
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July, 1897 | Vol. IV July 1897 June 1898 | Main Index
The Official Organ of Prophetic Conferences.
E. W. Bullinger
July, 1897
Political Signs
Just as Satan in Napoleon's day seems to have produced the principles of the Antichrist attempting to produce him, so, in the powers that overthrew Napoleon, he seems to have produced the principles of that which will immediately antecede the Antichrist, the Harlot seated on the scarlet ten-horned beast, and of late years, say during the last quarter of a century, great advances have to be recorded. Steam and electricity have been drawing all the world nearer together towards one great federation, the bond of which is to be Economics. He has not yet got his ten kingdoms, but the attempt is worth watching.
Political Economy is a hybrid—partly politics, partly economics. The end will be that the scarlet ten-horned beast will do the "politics," the Harlot the "economics." Meantime, however, the woman is hidden in the ephah, and until she emerges, the Christian can let the expression, "political economy" stand, waiting till these theorists tell us (what has been their great puzzle from Adam Smith's day till now) how and why that which "the image and superscription" on the recognized medium of exchange represents is not "Cæsar's." Napoleon is said to have thought it was, and to have aimed at the demonetization, in his intended universal empire, of both silver and gold, substituting his own paper.
All questions of weight and measure, all questions of adulteration, all validity of contracts, and above all, the distinction between money and barter by the compulsory fixture of a single medium of exchange for all commodities (upon which civilisation itself depends), are manifestly the functions of government pure and simple, in virtue of which it certainly has greater right to increase the quantity of currency, and thereby raise prices, than the random discoverers and workers of new mines have to do the same thing.
But to-day there is no Cæsar, no universal empire. Hence the hybrid between "politics" and "economics." When the British workman objects to importations of Russian Jews, and the United States refuses more "Chinese cheap labour"; when the sanitary arrangements of London are preferred to those of Amoy; when an Englishwoman is fined if her child fails to attend school; when the English operative wants an eight hours' day, and reckons wages by the hour, and looms are being sent to Japan, where 6d. per day of 16 hours is sufficient; what do they think is going to become of theory when the sluices are opened by the development of the land of Shinar, and labourers swarm into it from the land of Sinim, by canal and by rail, who want no public house, can herd together anywhere, dress themselves from head to foot for two shillings, and feed upon rice the whole year round with a couple of chopsticks to eat it with, are intensely industrious, and indulge in neither strikes nor beanfeasts? Where will "politics" and "economics" meet then?
The following extracts will show how far the world bears out our report of its doctrines.
What with "the European Concert" and its "federated law"; what with "the Geneva Convention" prescribing how men may kill one another, and who may trade with whom, and in what articles while the killing is going on; what with "federation" of England and her colonies; what with "international' conferences on currency; what with a "magnum opus" on political economy in course of production, there seems enough evidence. Only let us remember that the Ottoman Empire still stands, and it is difficult to conceive, under present circumstances, how Constantinople can change hands without the hound of war being unleashed, and that under still more terrible auspices than in Napoleon's day:—
The Standard of June 4th has the following paragraphs:—
1. "The House of Assembly at Capetown has, by a unanimous Vote, accepted a Motion brought forward by Mr. ROSE-INNES, declaring that the time has arrived when steps should be taken to arrange some basis of contribution by the Colony towards the Imperial Navy, and requesting the PRIME MINISTER to enter into negotiations with Her MAJESTY'S Government, and report the result to Parliament next Session."The Daily Chronicle of June 5th reports:—2. "The example set by the Cape Assembly is one that we fully expect to see followed by all our Colonies in succession."
3. "A moral aversion from avoidable war is one of the most striking characteristics of our time."
"Mr. Henry White, First Secretary of the United States Embassy, leaves this morning (Saturday) for Paris, where he will confer with Senator Wolcott, General Paine, and ex-Vice-President Stevenson, the delegates whom President McKinley has sent to Europe to try and arrange for an International Monetary Conference. The delegates were received by President Faure on Tuesday, and were promised his moral support of their object."The St. James' Gazette of June 4th contributes a review:—
THE DICTIONARY OF POLITICAL ECONOMY."Mr. Inglis Palgrave and a large staff of clever writers are carrying out a work which is admirable both in design and execution. They do not hesitate to give it the character of an encyclopædia of politics as well as economics; and in doing this they are constructing one of the most valuable books of reference now in circulation. It will be completed in three volumes, the third of which is now well advanced...We have sought in vain for an article or contribution which shows want of care or completeness."
In view of a decided disposition in high Roman Catholic quarters to bring about some modification of the Protestant terms of the Coronation Oath, and the Oath of Allegiance in its bearing on the Protestantism professed by the Sovereign, it is well to bear in mind that intimations of a desire for such change have from time to time found expression in the House of Commons. Thus, within recent years, two Papist MP's—Mr. O'Donnell and Mr. Bellingham—have raised such questions as "whether the Cabinet had any intention of bringing in a Bill to alter the religious character of the Oath of Allegiance taken in that House, and whether in that case any steps would be taken to relieve the Sovereign of the necessity of taking the Coronation Oath?" also "whether, seeing that her Majesty's Government use as their main argument for the admission of Mr. Bradlaugh to this House, their desire to introduce absolute religious toleration in the government of this country, he [the Prime Minister] was prepared to advocate the abolition of all remaining religious checks at present existing, such as those which prevent a Lord Chancellor or Sovereign of Great Britain being a Catholic?" The omission from the approved Form of Thanksgiving for June 20th, of all reference to perils to the Throne from "conspiracies," is consequently the more deplorable. The significance of the omission is additionally serious, inasmuch as Convocation has taken steps to make permanent the use of the new Form in place of the thoroughly Protestant service for the Queen's Accession, which, for sixty years, has been provided in the Book of Common Prayer.—(British Protestant)
July, 1897 | Vol. IV July 1897 June 1898 | Main Index
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