The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-12-17
Miseellaneoms.
Our Country.


pulpit orator, of Philadelphia, preached
u sermon on Thanksgiving day, from
Proverbs, XIV, "a, " Righteousness ex-
alteth nation. but sin is a reproach to
any people" The speaker introduced |
his subject by saying:
I have selected this subject after a
great deal of thought aud reflection, be-
cause I supposed that there was not an
American citizen that would not feel
interested in its solution. Ear be it
from me, on an occasion like this, toia-
troduce any topic in the pulpit calcula-
ted to set men at variance with each
other, or to accomplish any other object
than the alliance Of the heart OF man to
God and to his brethren.
recognize in this discourse no par
ty. no class of men, but will look simp-
ly at the facts as they are, and present
them to you fearlessly, leaving you to
Judge as to their righteousness, or un-
righteousness; their applicability or
their want Of applicability.
With the past history Of our country
we are all familiar, or ought to be. A
brighter, grander history was never
made by men or nations than was made
by the people of America in the first
seventy-fve years of her nationality
Springing up from thechildhood other
being into a mature manhood, in the
brief period of years that rolled on from
her commencement, TO aboat the close
of her seventy eighth year, her progress
was marvellous her far-reaching in
huence wonderful. The men that filled
her offices of trust, aud those who were
Senators and Representative of her
national as well as state governments
were men whose peers could only be
found among the mishtiest of nations
| The present, however, | must candid
ly admit, is shorn of its original glory
aud grandeur. OF this you can speak
as we'll as | /; of this you must decide
from your own experience as | have en-
deayored to decide from mine. Tothls
conclusion you must come, or not, as
you investigate the records OF the past.
In the days that have gone by, states
manship was magnificent, grand, and
| glorious ! Now we find it dwarfed, and
bcreft of every evidence of its moral
character. I give this as my deliberate
| Judgment, from my own observation.
Men Of the present age have lost
their manhood that high sense of hon
or which distinguished the past, alas
has perished, and gone from the mer
of our nation, We have to look at facts
as they are. Forty years ago, who
would have had sufficient temerity to
enter our. halls Of legislation and at
tempt to hrihe How is it NOW ?
Here the spsaket drew an alarming
picture of the bribery and corruption
which stalk through our halls of leg
isk.tion, State and National.
You know that these things are SO
/ Looking into our National Senate fortj
years since, what man or s~nhedrin
would have attempted to bride any o
! the members ofthat august assembly
| The men Of that day were unapproach
able. They sat like giants in their in
tellectual and moral worth. They went
to legislate for the nation to watch oyel
the interests Of this growing empire il
the morning Of its existence, and tc
feed it with food convenient for it, and
TO nourish and chs rish it in its growth
to degree Of manhood that would
command and did command the admi
ration of the whole human racel
Then pass overto the House of Re.
| representatives. at this same period of her
history, what incarnation of an intruder
into Paradise would have offered bride
to one of those men Such an insult
to all that was honorable in the man
hood of the members in those seats
would. in all human probability, have
causedjthe insulter to be lifted most
unceremopiously into cold bath in the
Potomac. aqHs Hsegl as.lia
How is it now2 oorrupting, eorroding
and destroying influences have passed
from your State halls and your munici-
pal council chambers, to the very heart
of your natien. Moreover, is it not no.
! toriious as the light of noontide that
men calling themselves American citi.
zens, put themselves at auction on all
great election days and the highestibid-
! der always secures the prize! Let that
be denied! is there man In this land
that dare deny the statement, that you
buy men on great election occasions, as
sheep are bought in the shambles!
We may think light of these things,
but as God lives they are the canker-
worms at the root OF the tree, and they
are eating at the vitals of your nation.
Can you make any calculations of safety
aud certainty upon the perpetuity Of
the glorious institutions OF this great
land, if your citizens are purohasable
articles in the market ?gsea ~ asg91
Now then, / come tc ask you, quietly
and calmly to-day, with these thingsbe-
fore you, what shall we do? 1t is true
that money is used in the national halls
of legislation for the accomplishment
of personal or party purposes L. IS
true that money is used in your State
legislative bodies for the same end. 1t
! is true that money goes into your mu,
inequalities and your council chambers,
not for the veal of the community, not
for the good Of the citizens, but to fill
up their own wallets at your expense
Ifthis be righteousness, then fare
we'll to the happiness and glory OF this
nation. What, / ask, must be the fn-
ture of our conntry, unless there can pc
! brought to bear upon the judgments,
and the consciences and the hearts OF