Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-11

expectation Of at least semi-poliiical
sermon was excited by the pointed refer
ence 10 the Democratic Convention. Pc
tition was made that harmony, reason,
patriotism, progressive mind and
docile temper might influence the i'm
portant body to such ends as would re-
dound to the good Of the country, and 10
the extirpation Of policy Of passion
and of hate from the politics Of the
people.
The text was the Pauline paradox,
"When / am weak, then am | strong"
The topic deduced was the superiority Of
the higher nature over the lower; the
greater dignity and value Of moral virtue
than of physical forces. Application
was made TO, and examples drawn from,
the conditions OF persons of nclghbor-
hoods and of nations. In the latter con
nection Mr.. Beecher said
at is q momentous question whether
any nation has the moral courage to say,
we refuse to make material profit out OF
open opportunities which involve tyranny
and wrosg. Indeed, it is most danger
Gus thing to tempt nation in this way.
Given the promise of vast commerce,
given an increase Of wealth as the result
OF an aggressive and cruel course, and
there is hardly any people which will not
sink the dictates of humility, generosity,
meekness and kindness for the mere sake
of material gain.
:" 1t remains to be seen If this people
have the magnanimity to act from their
highest interests The present political
| ,Ioth hou aOrf
principles OF kindness, large principles,
principles of honesty, or whether they
respond to the temptation already laid
out for them, to become strong by grind
| ing the weak, and to increase by agrees
sion on others. Where are the
men who are truly great | have been
cognizant, actively cognizant, of public
affairs since lS40. From that time to
this two generations have risen and gone
beyond. OF their popular idols then and
now, it is safe to say that every one OF
them has been made, and is made, simply
by roofing himself in newspaper and
growing as mushrooms do on dung
| hill.
"We grow more mushroom men than
any nation in the world. 1t only re-
quires ten years to put a man in con.
spicuity and to bury him with us. These
be men of power, but not of influence.
! They represent so much physical force,
but they influence no one. The past had
such. 1t had Hannibal, Alexander,
Caesar, Napoleon, Wellington, and it is
true that while they were, they were
powerful. But they died, and to-
day their deeds and the mem
ory of them leave not a vestige of
influence behind. We have such charac.
ters in our time, and we are invited to
honor them. 1t remains to be seen if
the Americans willispurn these creations
of clay, these masses of animalism, and
rise to rewarding men of moral principle,
of Christian character, of civil capacity,
such man as has stood by an idea
through thick and thin, and has calmly
waited till even his foes vindicate his
courage, by adopting his iar-sighted,
ever-held views as their own
In the audience we're several delegates
to the Convention, who were delighted
with the thorough sense and substantial
conservatism of the preachers views,
having expected neither politics nor re-
lgion to be much touched on in the dis
course, but getting a quantum OF both.
Mr. Beecher's own people were very
much exercised about this new depart.
ure," and wonder what will come next