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CHAPTER IX

AVING given data by which to determine the location, chronology, and rapid rise of this power, John now proceeds to describe the appearance of the two-horned beast, and to speak of his acts in such a manner as clearly to indicate his character, both apparent and real. Every specification thus far examined has confined the application imperatively to the United States, and we shall find this one no less strong in the same direction.

This symbol has "two horns like a lamb." To those who have studied the prophecies of Daniel and John, horns upon a beast are no unfamiliar feature. The ram (Dan. 8:3) had two horns. The he-goat that came up against him had at first one notable horn between his eyes. Verse 5. This was broken, and four came up in its place toward the four winds of heaven. Verse 8. From one of these came forth another horn, which waxed exceeding great. Verse 9. The fourth beast of Daniel 7 had ten horns. Among these, a little horn, with eyes and mouth, far-seeing, crafty, and blasphemous, arose. Dan. 7: 8. The dragon and the leopard beast of Revelation 12 and 13, denoting the same as the fourth beast of Daniel 7 in its two phases, have each the same number of horns, signifying the same thing. And the symbol under con

Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, in the Heart of the Sierras sideration has two horns like a lamb. From the use of the horns on the other symbols, some facts are apparent which may guide us to an understanding of their use on this last one.

A horn is used in the Scriptures as a symbol of strength and power, as in Deut. 33: 17, and of glory and honor, as in Job 16: 15.

A horn is sometimes used to denote a nation as a whole, as the four horns of the goat, the little horn of Daniel 8, and the ten horns of the fourth beast of Daniel 7; and sometimes some particular feature of the government, as the first horn of the goat, which denoted not the nation as a whole, but the civil power, as centered in the first king, Alexander the Great.

Horns do not always denote division, as in the case of the four horns of the goat, etc.; for the two horns of the ram de

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noted the union of Media and Persia in one government. Dan. 8:20.

A horn is not used exclusively to represent civil power; for the little horn of Daniel's fourth beast, the papacy, was a horn when it plucked up three other horns, and established itself in 538. But it was then purely an ecclesiastical power, and so remained for two hundred and seventeen years from that time, when Pepin, in the year 755, made the Roman pontiff a grant of some rich provinces in Italy, which first constituted him a temporal monarch. (Goodrich's "History of the Church," p. 98; Bower's "History of the Popes," Vol. II, p. 108.)

With these facts before us, we are prepared to inquire into the significance of the two horns which pertain to this beast. Why does John say that it had "two horns like a lamb"? Why not simply "two horns"? It must be because these horns possess peculiarities which indicate the character of

Copyright, 1912, by Kiser Photo Co. for Great Northern Railway

Camp on Two Medicine Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana

the power to which they belong The horns of a lamb indicate, first, youthfulness, and secondly, innocence and gentleness. As a power which has but recently arisen, the United States answers to the symbol admirably in respect to age; while no other power, as has already abundantly been proved, can be found to do this. And considered as an index of power and character, it can be decided what constitutes the two horns of the government, if it can be ascertained what is the secret of its strength and power, and what reveals its apparent character, or constitutes its outward profession. The Hon. J. A. Bingham gives us the clue to the whole matter when he states that the object of those who first sought these shores was to found "what the world had not seen for ages; viz., a church without a pope, and a state without a king." Expressed in other words, this would be a government in which the church should be free from the civil power, and civil and religious liberty reign supreme.

And what is the profession of this government in these respects? As already noticed, that great instrument which our forefathers set forth as their bill of rights - the Declaration of Independence affirms that all men are created on a plane of perfect equality; that their Creator has endowed them all alike with certain rights which can not be alienated. from them; that among these are life, of which no man can rightfully deprive another, and liberty, to which every one is alike entitled, and the pursuit of happiness, in any way and every way which does not infringe upon the rights of others.

On the occasion of the centennial anniversary of the laying of the corner-stone of the Capitol building at Washington (June 7, 1893), William Wirt Henry, the orator of the day, made reference to the influence of the governmental principles of the United States, as follows:

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"Already the hope of our fathers as to the effect of our free institutions upon the human race has been wonderfully realized. That hope was expressed by James Wilson in the Pennsylvania Convention which adopted the Constitution when he said :—

"By adopting this system we shall probably lay a foundation for erecting temples of liberty in every part of the earth. It has been thought by many that on the success of the struggle America has made for freedom will depend the exertions of the Irave and enlightened of other nations. The advantages resulting from this system will not be confined to the United States, but will draw from Europe many worthy characters who pant for the enjoyment of freedom. It will induce princes, in order to preserve their subjects, to restore to them a portion of that liberty of which they have for many ages been deprived. will be subservient to the great designs of Providence with regard to this globe- the multiplication of mankind, their im provement in knowledge and their advancement in happiness.'

"It takes but a cursory view of the present condition of the people of Christendom to recognize the liberalizing effect of our government upon their civil institutions.

It has been well said by a late writer that 'at the close of the American Revolution there was in the Old World only one free nation and no democracy. In Europe there now remain but two strong monarchies — those of Russia and Prussia- while America, scarcely excepting Brazil and Canada, is entirely (at least in name) republican.' Since he wrote, Brazil has dethroned her king and adopted a republican form of government, and there is a strong movement in Canada toward union with the United States. But while other nations have followed more or less closely in our footsteps, striving to enjoy our freedom, how wonderful has been our progress in all that makes a nation great! When we consider the enlarged extent of our territory, the increase of our population, our progress in the arts and sciences, in commerce, in wealth, and in knowledge, we are forced to exclaim, 'God has blessed us, and has made his face to shine upon us!"

And nearly half a century before, at the laying of the corner-stone of the extension of the Capitol, July 4, 1851, Daniel Webster was impressed to say:

"Who does not admit that this unparalleled growth of prosperity and renown is the result, under Providence, of the union