The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-02-09
po,ItIc. I'm the Pulpit.

In the last number Of tho Southern LIterery
Messenger we have some extracts from sermon
of Rev Charles Wadsworth, Of Philadelphia,
which we think are about as striking and beautiful
as anything we ever read in the whole course OF
our life We wish we had the whole sermon. IL
was delivered on Thanksgiving day.
How striking and how true is the following
sketch of the moral character Of Rome, Greece,
Russia, France, England, Spain end America
Governments have a moral character as pat
ent and as psraded as the device on their banner
folds. The elder Rome was an INSCRIPTIONS rob-
her, The elder Greece an exquisite VoluP-
tuary Russia to-day is sturdy and selfish
churI. France is an ambitious and unprInclPled
man OF fashion. Spain IS a wrinkIed aud wasted
and scorned couTlezan, in the decay and decrepI
rude OF her dissoIute living. England is cross
breed between The Pharisee and the prize fighter
And America is we'll trained yet most passion
ate youth, Of whom it is altogether problem
whether the manhood be fine Christian gentle
man or an unprincipled ruffan."
In speaking Of our criminal code the eloquent
divine says, with force and truth, which makes
the blood run cold to read it,
"It bears unequalIy upon the castles oil society
It's type is too trulhfuly spiders web, strong as
hempen cord around the wing OF poor fly, but
weak as gossamer to the golden plumes OF the
humming bird. 1t Furnishes without mercy The
shiverng beggsr who makes theft Of a coat 20
keep him from freezing, but smiles gracIously on
the fraudulent bankrupt who, out OF enormous
rObberes palace of marble and crowd
IL with the magnificence OF an oriental monarch
IL is all iron to the poor drayman who happens to
ioste your carriage and mar a wheel or panel i;
but only poppy and rose eaft titled command
er who in mad upon the water, runs his
bark into shipwreck-the ruthless murderer oil
your beloved ones. Ii has frtIer md dungeon for
The poor coner who uuers Il spurious shilling, but
only ottoman and cologne for the swIndiIng ottl-
Gals Of banking house, flooding whole land
with ultcrauces as worthless. Verify, the crlml-
nal Jurisprudence OF our times, has the PharISees
moral conscience, stranng out with shudderlng
recoiI the poor suat Of nquity, yet swallowing
without shrUg or con;CrIIun, hump and all, the
Nj. 'npnstrOus camel.
Bu The following reflection on the American
Eagle, the emblem Of Americas power and glory,
is surprisingly beautiful;
.Our eagle does guard jeolousIy and well our
civu rights. Let Il man care not how unknown
i care not how INSTRUMENTATION the banks Of
the Connecticut the ridges Of The Aieg hanies--
let him 90 abroad TO the ends OF the earth with bis
merchandise for commerce, and with the stars
and stripes waving over him-wo be unto the
prince or potentate who dares 20 lay ruthless
hands on one cord of his tent, one ware OF his
traffic! Touch but his pilgrim staff, or his sam
dial shoon, or his garment, and then beware! The
eagle the eagle! How he swOoPs aud screams.
But now let this same man 60 abroad as reLts-
iouS being. pitching his tent a sanctuary for
the living God, and opening therein his blessed
Bible bread from Heaven (; and then let oppres-
sion rock his dwelling into dast, and burn his
heavenly treasure into ashes, and alas for the ca
gle now 1t will swoop you gently as amy
sucking dove and scream you softly as il
were any nightingale