Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-01-07
CLEARFIELD, PA
A Bull Against the Oorruptions Of
the Day,

the Day,
Revelation declares that "when the
wicked rule the land mourneth" This
has been so truthfully exemplifed in
our own country the past eight years,
that, had any one been skeptical upon
this point Of holy writ, he is bound TO
believe it now. The corruption IN
Church and State has become so gross
that none but knRves try TO conceal it.
That clerical bufloon, Henry Ward
Beecher, can keep quiet no longer.
An exchange says he electrified the
very large and fashionably attired
congregation which had assembled to
hear this "Master in Israel" at Ply
mouth Church, brooklyn, N. y on
Sunday morning, 18th ultimo. The
sermon was eminently one Of those
practical discourses which bring home
to the minds and consciehces of the
listeners the preachers burning words,
as he denounces their open violations
Of the laws of God and their country.
Taking for his text the words Of st.
Paul, "Abh0f that Which is eU1," be
depicted, with fearful fidelity, the
vices Of the so-callod respectable clas-
ses, not only Of the publicans and sin.
ners known as such, but also Of those
filling the highest Offices in the land
and in the church He spared neither
senator nor Judge. Fearlessly he held
aloft the balances of the sanctuary,
and weighed therein the public rob.
bers, the representatives Of the people
ln our legislative halls, the judges who
preside in our law courts, the public
officers appointed TO offices OF trust,
and even tho pastors and the elders Of
the churches, he demonstrated that all
were found wanting; that the whole
head Of society was sick, and its whole
heart faint that the body polite,
from the crown of the head 10 the
sole of the foot, was full Of wounds,
and bruises, and purifying sores"
The preacher did not mince his
words, did not "prophocy smooth
things 10 his startled but admiring
audience. We could not but hold our
breath as he hurled his anathemas
against the wickednoss ia high places,
himself standing, as it were, in the
/ gap between the living and the daad.
''Uuamcd, save iu the mighty real
Ills country forced h.s heart 90 feel;
IN SORROW. shame, and anger strong,
The patriot preacher rushed along,
Like lightning on che sumhergrs eyes
Flashing Dis glorious energies
Like another jeremiah, he cried
aloud and spare not, and momcntarily
we we're waiting TO hear him exclaim,
in the language Of that ancient proph.
' ct, "As cage is full of birds, so arc
: their houses full of deceit; therefore
; they arc become great, and waxer
rich. They arc waxcn fat, they shine
yea they surpass the deeds Of the
! wicked they Judge not the cause, tn,
cause of the iatherloss, yet they pros
per; and the right of the needy dc
4 thoy not Judge Shall ! not visit fol
these things, saith the Lord shal
!. not my soul be avenged on such I
nation as this z"
u We could wish that the Americal
, nation had but one ear, that all nigh
d. have heard at once tho scathing re
A Dukes Of this great evangelist of th
;, Most High an1 tribune OF the people
g "Corruption, cried the preacher
y corruption holds direct inhuonc
throughout the land, while the stat
of the community is domoralized Il
: the extreme. Gigantic dishonest
, struts forth unrebukod Aud TO wha
may this be attributed z The none
power Of the country. Tho pillag
and plunder Yet the stern voice Z
4, Justice, the frank expression Of homes
p, tv, never reach their ears. Countoi
Pc feitors and polished swindlors are r,
Dt ceivcd with smiles on all sides. Thei
ly friends meet them with kindness an
r. tokens Of esteem. Men arc ashame
to mention their ideas, or give utte
ancc to their indignation, and thus {
bic a degree acquicsco in their villainy b
Sr their roticence Their friends kno
1d that those public plunderers are con
e hitting stupcndous frauds They wi
?, not be allowed 90 be sunk and pro
trated, and thus crime rides triump
ant"
se Mr. Beecher then showed how the
" workers Of iniquity, instead Of beir
singled out and denounced were =
ceived in society with smiles, az
IA. we're even thanked by honest men &
in coming 10 see them.
~ @in And why
"Bccause the plundcrcrs bad mon,
= in enough 10 60 through the whole Ct
nt' endar Of transgrcssions. We are n
"A. accustomed 70 honestly or boldly q
COS pressing our convictions, or applyii
such epithcts as would finally cru
thepublio robbers of the time. lnsto
of which they are applaudcd for th,
T. dishonesty"
B. Then he proceeded TO show that {
j Of corruptions of the present day We
am so glaring that no man could DO tr
- 10 God, who would conceal or fear
upset them.
"Talk about patriotism +" he
+. claimed:
i of while men were mouihing lai
l'us words, while mon proclaimed scr
.'ia monts chat attracted applause, Oh
were cutting tho garment of Just
- and taking away the grand foun
!, ton Of everything that was patriot
Then there was another stage of @
ruption in the legislative halls
IRE, did not think that he slandcrod. wi
and he said that the general rule to-day
the Legislature was buying and s