The New York herald., 1845-03-30
The Lieentiou.nsss Of the Age.


containing the latest news for Europe.
The Lieentlousness Of the Age.
During the past week we have been called on, as
public journalist, to record several criminal trials
which present striking and ample commentary
on the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF the age. The trial OF the
aIti-renters at Hudson-hat of Polly Bodne in this
olty-and that of the RevMr. Falrchild, at Boston,
each present abundant material for painful refiec-
ton. Mingled, however, with the unpleasant con-
siderations which are thus forced upon the mind,
there is much that is instructive and consolatory.
A wholesome and salu,ary lesson is thus convey
ed, and by the publication of these proceedings,
thei great interests of virtue, morality, and obe-
dlence to the laws, are materially promoted
We have watched with great deal of anxiety,
the progress of the. anti-rent. insurrectionary
movements in this State, from their first appear
ance And it was because we felt that very i'm
portant crisis in these movements had arrived
when the trial Of "Big Thunder" commenced,
that we made arrangements for the full publication
of all the proceedings. Public attention has thus
been universally and strongly directed to the mat
ter, and from the interest thus awakened, we look
for that general counter-movement in public OPT
Mon, which will afford the best grounds for
further progress Of rebellion against the laws Byiar
the worst aspect Of this anti-rent movement
has been that which was impressed upon it by the
course OF the unprincipled politicians Of both the
leading parties in this State During the last Presi.
dental election, as readers will recollect we fre.
quently referred to the manner in which the party
organs treated this seriously alarming manifesto.
tion of internal anarchy and disunion. Now, how
ever, that the public mind has been set right, and
the merits of the case are better known and appre-
cated, political intrigue will be much more haz.
ardous; and, although there is great room to appre
hend that the insurrectonists at present on trial
may escape yet there is much less fear that the ef-
forts OF unscrupulous partzans will impede and OBJ
struct the vigorous and efcie interposition Of the
laws In the efectual supp 5ion Of the dsorgan.
izing spirit.
In Mr.. Fairchd's case, a terrible exposure hal
been afforded of that clerical turpitude agains
which we have been recently so often called tt
point public indignation. Still, the moral effec
will be good The profane may take occasion
from the fall of this hypocrtica teacher of religion
to scoff at all professors of christianity; but the
wise and virtuous will deduce the proper moral
and the public exposure of the culprit now in the
newspaper pillory, will not be without its effect in
warning and alarming the vicious. Fairchild's re
ligion was like that of too many-only cloak fol
iniquity. 1t has stamp, however, always easily
detected. 1t is of the old Pharisaic complexion
1t makes long prayers in the streets, enlarges its
phylacteries. and makes broad the borders of its
garments. 1t makes great fuss and parade about
Its charity and zeal, erects costly temples. and sub.
scrbes thousands of dollars to propagate the gos.
pei in foreign parts But true religion-pure and
undehled-the religion Of Jesus Of Nazareth-is
like its founder-humble, unassuming, unpretend
ing, and has it's abiding-place and temple in the
heart.
In this day. these trials forcibly tell us, there are
two things, which of all others want rcform-they
are politics and the pulpit. Had not political part
zanshlp, reckless, unprincipled, regardless of al
that is just and patriotic, eagerly seized upon the
anti-rent movement-had the organs of party, and
the leaders of party, instead of exciting the spirit
of Reorganization and rebellion dorthe purpose o
catching few votes, employed all the energy and
influence for its destruction, rthe evil would no
have been nearly SO formidable as It has unhappily
become. And then with regard to the pulpit, wer'
men only of known piety and rectitude, chosen I,
the sacred Office Of the ministry-where great pre-
tensions Of religious zeal and purity are always re
garded with suspicion, instead of being received a
qualifications, wesshould have few such cases a
those Of Fairchld Here, however, the free, in
dependent daily press, hasis duty to fulfil When
ever, in politics, inlhe pulpit, it discover crlmi
nality, its work is to expose, and denounce, an,
warn and punish. Daily journalism, when con
Quoted as it ought to be, is but another name fo
sound public opinion, and SO long as it exerts its
full influence in any community, however much
L -
and vice, we need not fear for the continued su.
premacy Of virtue, morality and Justice.
The CHARTER ELEcTIoN-Ex Pc.
srTIoN OF THE WALL STREET PREss.-The interest
In the approaching charter election is becoming
very intense. 1t increases every day and every
hour. What adds greatly to the interest is the sin
gular position occupied with regard to it by the
Wall street press. The Journal of Commerce, after