The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-02-25

"ComparisOns, says some philosopher, !" are
odious" Well, be it so. But they are occasion
ally very useful Let US see whether brief COM
parison Of the pulpit and the press-ther relative
utility their relative power, their relative influence
for good or evil, the merits, virtues and vices OF
those entrusted with the exercise Of those two great
instructors and directors Of public opinion, be OF
any service in calculating their respective claims
to the esteem and attention of men, and leading us
to q more Just and discriminating judgment OF their
merits.
We can hardly imagine a more potent instru-
mentality for the instruction and reformation o.
mankind than the pulpit In the abstract, appears
to be- Its occupants have all the advantages CT
mission from OH nigh, which at present we do not
dispute They are altogether removed by the van
tags ground of their sacred Office, from many of
those influences which prevent many others, who
would teach, and rsbuke, and exhort their fellow
men from doing so with fidelity, and without fear.
They have, in this respect, unbounded liberty Of
speech They specially set for the defence Of
the TRUTH and the exposure and chastisement Of the
foes of virtue. They bring TO their aid all the
varied and powerful feelings which religion, devo-
ton, superstition, reverence can excite in the hui
man breast. In the very circumstances in which
they are accustomed to discharge their public
duties, there is every thing to add weight and
dignity to their teaching to their re-
proofs-and awe to their denunciations. There
is, manifssty, no species of eloquence which
is, IN itself, so calculated to produce omnipoten
effect as that of the pulp In all these important
elements of power and influence, then, the clergy
have an immense superiority over the conductors
of the newspaper press. The press has no adven-
titious aids 1t depends altogether upon the intrln
sic truth Of its statemens-he accuracy Of its rca-
sonings, the soundness Of its argument-the
natural and inherent force of its appeals to the in
telgence, good sense, and general regard tor truth
and morality which exist amongst the community
to which it addresses itself
Now, we ashland the question limits the com.
parison to very narrow hut reasonable grounds
what has the Pulpit done in the way of intoxicating
and enforcing the principles of Justice and morality
in the daily business Of this world the part both
of individuals and States, compared with the
Press? What has the Pulpit done in the way Of
exposing to the indignant rebukes Of outraged JUS
tce, the iniquitous frauds Of banks and trust COM
panies, compared with the Press? What have "
seen during the last few years, and what can we
see at PRESENT. We have seen the Press, day after
day, laundering its decunciations against the men
who were plundering the widows and orphans, and
the industrious lower classes, and who were dis
gracing the nation by that dishonest conduct which
has made US a reproach amongst the nations of the
earth, whilst the clergy, like the dumb dogs spoken
Of by the prophet, looking in silence, utter
ing no reproof, expressing no Indignation, echoing
none of the fearful threatnings proclaimed by the
God justice against the oppressors and robbers Of
the poor. And whilst, in the Court of Bankruptcy,
hundreds and thousands were wipng out their debts
by legalized process Of iniquity, what was the
Pulpit about 1t was silent Nay, many Of those
who were thus evading the discharge of their obi
cations, were still retained in the bosom of the
church, and had no fear they sat in their nicely
cushioned pews, that the voice Of divine rebuke
would thunder in their ears. But what did the
Press, then-that is, the honest, independent por.
ton Of the press, which, in its independence, can
at all times speak out in loudest tone OF reproofl
1t failed not to expose the iniquitous conduct of
these criminals, and hold them up to the indignant
rebrke of all honest men. And so in all the rela-
lions of social life. In commercial affairs-in pr-
vate lfe-in the intercourse of man with MANN
all the varied walks of society-the independent
newspaper press has ever been found zealously in
culcnting integrity, honesty, purity, morality, and
benevolence. Thus, the Press, and not the Pulpit,
cate of that squire and undefiled religion" which
Christ established on the ruins of the bloody and
oppressive system of Judaism, and Of whose doc
trines and preceps the whole spirit and tenor may
be summed up in two words-Justlce and Love.
And then again, with respect to the maintenance
Of those decencies and courtesies of social inter-
course, which are as much part of the christian
religion, as are the most sublime observances of its
worship, how wofuy has the pulpit, on innumera-
BILE occasions, been disgraced by its occupants -
Rowling, and vituperaton, and calumny, and fierce
and furious anathema, have been, Sunday after SUM-
day, poured FORTH until every pure and holy spirit
has fed affrighted from the sanctuary, and the de
mons of bigotry, fanaticism and schsm have
screamed in triumph around the altar of God And
thus the congregations who should have breathed
for the time the very atmosphere of peace and cha
rity and felt the spirit of love and Joy tanning them
with his dove-like wings, have been maddened and
impelled into the most envenomed hatred of their
brethren Of other denominations And yet the authors
of all this rancorous sectariA nism-your Hugheses
and Cheevers, and Pottses and Wanwnghts, land
Burchards-talk of the scurrty of the newspaper
press-of its contempt of things sacred-of its ire
lIgious tone-of its profane abuse Of the clergy
Alas. we cam OF pursue the comparison. We can
only, on this blessed Sabbath morn, mplore these
eiring men to repent and reform. Let them cease
longer to degrade the pulpit and the efficiency
of its high and holy instrumentality. If they do
not, will it not indeed be more toerabe for Sodom
and Gomonah, in the day Of judgment than for
them7
The NEW PosT OFFICE BILL-We learn from
Washington that the new Post Office bill, reported
by Col. Merrick, has received or two important
amendments, Newspapers are to go through the
mails as merchandise, and all exchanges to 60 free.
That relative to newspapers going as merchan-
die is very important alteration from the original
bill, and will become very popular. Intelligence
distributed throughout the country at much a
hundred weight is far better than to charge and
two cents a sheet small sheet the same as a much