The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-08
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Lecture Delivered by the Rev. 7. Dc
Witt Talmage, at the Second
Dutch Reformed Church, Seventh
and Brown Streets.

Rev. DR.. Talmage delivered yesterday even
ing the following lecture, which we give in
full. The congregation, in point of numbers
surpassed all that had ever before assembled
in the Second Dutch Reformed Church, at
Seventh and Brown streets. The lecture was
listened to with manifest interest, and en-
bodied the views Of all present The reve-
rend gentleman took the following text
Blessed art thou. O ldHd Uhen Hy King Is ne son
OF MOBILES, and My princes eat IN due sedSOH for
strength. and not for drunbeaneSs.- -Ecctest-
dSteS, 10: II.
The morals Of the governed seldom rise
higher than the virtue OF those who govern
A Henry the Eighth makes lmpu-tty popular
and national A Wilberlorce in Parliament is q
perpetual elevation TO an empire. Sin, epau-
letted and starred, comes to respect and
Canonization. Vice elevated is popularized.
Malarias ascend from the marshes, and float
upward and away; but moral distempers descend
from the mountain to the plain. Five Points
and Bedford street disgust the world with
the bPstiality of sin. But French court an
impure Congressiona delegation, put a pre-
MUM upon crime.
The most of the vices of the world are kinolv
exiles. They once had throne, but being driven
out, came down in tattered robes of royalty TO
gain the hospitality of the humble and inslgnifi.
cant. This principle is yet to be appreciated as
applied to city governments. We are all inte-
Presidential election comes off, every patriot
feels he must be at the ballot-boX. We are all
interested in the question of national recon-
struction, read all the Congressional enactments,
count the number of vetoes, and begin already
to wonder who will sit next in the Presidential
chair. But it is high time that this country
began to study the character of city govern
ment. consider that as the more important
question now. Make our cities right and the
nation will be right The fate of cities ALWAYS
decides the fate OF nations. Many of the worlds
cities have wrought nightly for the worlds
welfare. They have been the birthplaces of
civilization. In them popular liberty hrst lifted
its voice. Witness Genoa, Pisa, and Venice.
The entrance of their representatives into the
legislatures of Europe was the death-blow to
teudal Kingdoms.
They are the patronzers of art and learning.
Architecture, pointing to its st. Peters, st.
PauPs, and st. Marks; literature boasting of
its British Museum at London, its Royal Library
at Paris, and its Vatican at Rome. Cities WELD
Greece was Athens. Englandi is London. F,ance
is Paris. Italy is Rome. ] repeat make our
cities right and the nation a0H be right. Yetsome
OF the Governments OF our cities have, consider.
ing their capacity, surpassed in corruption our
State and national Legislatures. Can nothing
be done? With the mightiest of all weapons in
our land-the Gospel OF Christ-shall no effort
be made for the rectifCation OF municipal Gov
ernments? am in sympathy with those who
are opposed to the Carrying Of politics INTO re-
hglon; out tell you that our clues VIII not De
purified until we carry religion into politics.
The character OF our city rulers will have
great influence upon all the higher interests of
our city. will classify some OF those interests
First, commercial ethics feel the pressure of
this Influence. When the officials of any city
wink at fraud, and have neither censure nor
arraignment for glaring dishonesties, CONNER
cial honor is weakened. Every store, shop,
warehouse, and bazaar in aicity feels the mora
character of its City Hall. An unprincipled
mayoralty, dishonest attorneys, court sus
Il IN,slN ryr.stvV
petual license to trio ary. But officials faithful
to their oaths, good laws promptly executed,
vigilance in searching out all crime are the high
est protection to bargain makers. merchant
standing in his counting-room may, through
disgust, refuse to have anything to dc
with municipal politics; but there is
not an insignificant cause IN the City
Councils which does not directly or in
directly affect him. What kind OF Alderman
issues the writ? What kind of Constable makes
the arrest? What style OF Attorneys offer the
plea? What type OF Judge charges the jury
What manner of Sheriff executes the sentence
are questions which will yet squarely strike thC
centre of his counting desk. Likewise are al
the educational interests of the city affected b.
the character of our rulers. The seventy-sevel
thousand children in our schools must feel tn
moral or immoral, intelligent or Ignorant
character of the Board ofControl. Is it nothn
to the people to know that to certain eXten
the public school interests of this city are de
cided at the caucuses which, in some wards Q
and ignorance, to make nominations for place
of trust? And that some persons who hol
great influence in the management OF our publ
schools can hardly write their own names?
Likewise the domestic circle feels the touc
of official morals. When our city government
as at this time, allows, in the face OF all d
cency such a multitude OF grog-shops an
gambling hells, and, through fear OF losing pC
litical influence, Winks at so many OF these fe
tering denominations that are smitiug wit
death so many of our fathers and brothers an
SONS, it is high time that our home interes
make imploration. / have carried in my pOck
for two years copy of a legislative enac
ment which will now read:-
Section l. Be it enacted, etc, That from and an
the first day OF April next i shall not De law ul
spirtuous or malt liquors Wine or cider on the dl
day OF the week, commonly called Sunday, or for q
beer-house or other pub bc house or place, Showing
TO allow or permit any spirituous or matt liquo
or house occupied or kept by such keeper or keepe
his her. or their agents or servants, on the said fir
Section 2 Any person or persons violating the pr
every oiiense forfeit aud pay the sum Of S5i o
half of which shall be paid TO the prosecutor, I
county in which the suit Is brought or in count
having no Guardians OF the POOR then TO the oyese
which the offense was committed. To be recover
aS GsCi sCton % Of debt brought in the name of the 90
mOnwealth OF Pennsylvanla'
Who ever heard of this law being execute
What rumseller OF Philadelphia ever lost
license for selling on Sunday There has l
been enough stamina in our city GovernmC
to execute this law, which would have n
dered immense wretchedness ana sIn.
has not this law been executed because
would interfere with the next electlon. IN
name of God 1 inlpedch our city quthorutes
not haoi1lq e1eeuted that iGGo contend, I
ther, that all the religious influences OF q,
city are affected by the condition OF oll'
morals: In all our great cities thete u Nv, W