The New York herald., 1845-01-05


eious efforts to fan the excitement which has beer
created amongst certain classes in this city, on the
subject of the insurrection in Rensselaer, and the
adjoining counties. The organ OF the party, OF
yesterday, is full of the most violent and infam-
matory defamation gainst the laws-landlords-
the authorties-lhe nch-the military-and every
thing but the anti-renters, and its swn agrarian
and insure ctionary principles. II denounces with
loud anathema the measures taken to vndcate
the aws-expresses great delight at hearing that
the Ex-Governor was quite warm friend of the
anti.renters-ca upon " the poor" to form them
selves into military companies with blue'' coats
describes in the most exulting terms the outrages
of the "Indians''-declams about the terrible suf-
ferngs and martyrdom of Don and Mike Walsh
and appears to desire an immediate opening of the
doors of all our prisons, and general division of
property, and community Of goods. Such is the
character Of the organ of the antirent in this
city. II certainly gives clear and painful evil
dence of the existence of very diseased state of
opinion amongst certain classes of the community
Glasses not very influential or numerous indeed,
but still quite capable of doing some mischief in
society.
There cannot be any doubt that this morbid state
Of feeling and sentiment, owe their origin in con-
siderable degree to the publications, lectures, and
operations of that social reform philosophy which
is known under the name of Fourierlsm, which
Horace Greeley and his conJrsres in the Tribune
have been promulgatIng for some years past. The
natural tendency Of the decamations and reason
ngs of these philosophers has been to impress the
idea that society is at present in state of horrible
confusion-that every thing is wrong and Illegal
that the poverty and sufferngs of certain classes,
mo matter how in reality produced, whether by
vice or crme sloth-are the result of the present
organization of society and the expressions OF sthe
rich" The vicious and idle have thus been led
to regard themselves as the victims Of an accursed
social system, and have quietly settled down into
the conviction that their misery has been produced
by conspiracy of the industrious and upright cit-
zens. Hence the loud clamors raised by these
misguided and lazy men against all the fundamental
principles Of law and order which preserve society
from disorganization. Hence their outcries against
the landlords, and the rich, and the laws.
Again, this spirit of insurrection and rebellion
has been encouraged and fed by the mock-philan-
thropy of those who seek to elevate offenders
against the laws into heroes The direct tendency
OF the efforts of these egotistica and hypocritcal
SO called philanthropsts, who 60 about forming
estate Prison Associations" and " Philo- Burglar
Societies." is to lessen the shame and infamy of
crime-to weaken popular respect for the majesty
and righteousness of the law-and to shake the
very foundations Of society Here we have these
good Samartans, who always take especial care
to sound their trumpet before them, affecting to
take to their bosoms the pick-pockets, thieves,
burglars, forgers, and abandoned wretches who
suffering the just penalty Of their crimes, whilst
Il. A.. Il
the thousands who, in cur large Cities in hunger,
and thirst, and nakedness, are beset by immune
rable temptations. Their benevolence is indeed
akin to that of the sentimental Sterne, who wept
over the carcase of dead ass, but had tear for
a starving mother!
Such are amongst the causes that have produced,
in certain quarters this morbid feeling and these
pernicious principles The duty ofthegood citizenis
obvious. He is called on to denounce every mani
festation Of this insurectionary spirit. The au-
thprties are tbound to suppress, in the most de-
tsrmined andl summary manner. the rebellious
manifestations, which have appeared in this State;
and the attempts of the misguided men in this city,
who are endeavoring to fan the fame and en-
courage opposition to the laws, must be also sub
dued. Let both political parties now endeavor to
atone for former culpable trucking and intriguing
with this mobsprit by that course Of action which
the emergency demands. Can it be possible, that
public opinion in this city, will any longer remain
silent on a matter Of such urgent Importance
DKsrITurIoN IN THE METRopoLp.-We hear q
good deal in some quarters about the expressions
of the antrenters in the interior Of the State-the
low price of cotton and embarrassment Of the
Southern panters-the great fall in the price Of
pork, and the sufferinss Of the farmers-and occa-
sonally about the depressed state of manufactures.
These things are pictured by the politicians in
flaming colors, but here few even think Of the des
tltution and heartrending condition Of the poor in
the large cities, as for instance in this metropolis
In the lanes and by y.sreets of this crowded city
there are hundreds and hundreds of poor wretches,
suffering all the pangs ofthe EXTREMIST poverty with
out morsel of food, and scarcely rag to tcoveI
their nakedness. From the poor widow and the or
phan--the homeless outcast-.the sick and dyingthe
cry Of distress is every hour ascending from mise
rable cellars, and yet how little do we hear said
about il!
The politicians declaim about the poor farmers
and the oppressed tenants in. Rensselaer, county
and the distressed planters and cry out against the
policy of the wings and democrats, as the case may
be. Others again get up flaming notices for public
meetings, and make prodisious speeches about the
convicts in Sing Sing, and declaim about the ne
cessity Of turning public attention and sympathy
to the malefactors who are sent there Il
expiate their crimes How vain and ridi
culous, and utterly empty all this, when w
come to examine int the condition of the suffer
ing poor! True philanthrophy does not 60 thus L
work. Like genuine pety, it does not make pub
lie and egotstical parade Of its emotions and deeds
1t does not wsste itself in vain projects whose onl
end is to gain the public eye, and fill the public ear
II visits the widow and the fatherless in their dis
tress-it clothes the naked-it feeds the hungry
and it shall not 60 without its reward. When th
spurious benevolence which gets up associations L
place piano.fortes in Sing Sing for the amusemen
of the convicst, will be overwhelmed with confu
sion, the true philanthropy which we have de
scribed will receive the smiles Of heaven. Its dis
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