The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-31
CHURCH OF TEE MESSIAH.

NHNhtn VI uL3SlAns
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Tho Political Condition of New YOrk--Its
Bearing ON the Question of Pablic Morals
RepublicaBism the Acme Of Governmental
Forms-Discourse by Rev. George III. Hep.
worth.
The Church or the Messiah was crowded last even
ing by an unu sually select and attentive audience,
to hear the first OF series OF political dscourses by
the pastor. :.
Mr.. Hepworth's text was taken from Nehemiah
", s-"Win ye ever sell your brethren 9' He began
by saying that he proposed to deliver two discourses
upon the political condition or New York and its
bearing upon the great question OF public morals.
Tonight he would con1ne himself to the more gen.
eral subject OF the responsibilities OF citizen OF
republic and on Sunday night Dext he should
speak 10 detail of the evils with which we are beset
all sides and Of their possible remedy. He said
REPUBLIcASIsM Is THE ULTIMATE OF GOVERNMENT
Just as The palaces on Fifth avenue the ultimate
OF the indian hut. The savage built the simplest
protection from the for him SELF family
| This was the Arst link In the logical sequence.
/ Generations succeeding added new comfort here
and satisfied new necessity there, until the hut
was ~ degSsfs a q to suit tue higher taste
| have everything that can make home comfortable
| and elegant In government men were at first salts
fed with the law OF might-lron-handed and iron
hearted might. BY slow degrees they worked their
way through the long sequence OF changes until at
last they were satisfied with nothing less than the
VIII OF the whole people, and benefited were they
In every way that they got at last to believe that the
voice OF the people is Identical with the voice of 3D.
THIS Is repubicanism, the latest born and most
cherished form of rule. Indeed, so simple and so
fruitful of good results it that all the nations OF the
earth are looking towards 1t as the goal OF their
hopes, as the panacea for all political evils.
But repubcansm Is not only to be attained 1t Is
also 10 be protected. The lips which said
ETERNAL VIGILANCE IS THE PRICE OF LIBERTY
admonItion. We have learned, sometimes to our
cost, that our present form OF government is based
to know what is right; and, second upon integrity
e. the denomination OF each citizen TO 40 what Is
right Unless these conditions are emphasized by
every department are urged upon the people as
prime necessities by all our Institutions, are protec
ted by an omnipotent pubic opinion, the beginning
OF the end Is at hand. II corruption creeps into Of
ofpuDlc trust ifaws administered private
personal ends II bribery has any chance OF success
anywhere you may feel sure that your days are
are the fruitful causes Of rum In any governments:
how much more, then: in such government as
ouTsl Ii you ask why the old and firmly established
Kingdoms OF other Gays have fallen into ruins
why they are not now In existence, swayng the
fortunes Of millions in times OF yoTe, the answer
is plain. Because high trusts were given 10 un-
Trustworthy persons; because politicians, instead OF
protecting the peoples rights, became simply plum
dcrers OF the public treasury. When Rome was
vlrtuous and many-when TO be u Roman citizen
was an enVleu Dlrtnrlgnt Inc VIDE world 0Ver--her
institutions were the pride and boast or history.
When political adventurers, wnen military butchers,
put on the imperial urple, tnen the empire began
TO crumble, and ended heap OF ruins. Now, no
government requires such honesty OF motive, such
integrity in its high offices, ours When men
rule US we are happy; when politicians govern
we begin to see the handwriting ON the wall. Our
fathers felt this They who won our liberties for
us and handed them down to our keeping unlm.
paired, giants; they were true statesmen. Now
aaays we seem to have neither giants nor states
men. We are ruled by pgmies and by intriguing
politicians.
We SEE THIS STATEMENT VERIFIED
in our own State ana especially In this city The
republican form OF government so far as New York
city Is concerned IS dead failure. We are ruled by
a set OF unprinciped adventures who have guam
necessary TO cover up their tracks, and by mob
who are obedlent to the beck and call OF these adj
venturers aud who, for the sake OF gold are wiling
to do any deed, however daring or dastardly. II
New York politics should spread themselves all
the country republlcanlsm would die violent death
In less than year. mean that II the same degree
OF corruption which exists here should take posses
sion Of the central government the whole country
| would inevitably he ruined. We are
RAPIDLY LOSING OUR HOLD
| upon that lofty manliness which makes the past
! heroic. Then the very best, the most trusted, men
| had little influence. To-day the MOP has come to
the surface, has seized the rens OF government dc
courts OF justice and has It's way In every partl
cular. the successful politician OF our time Is man
made up OF inc minimum Of moral principle and the
entered into Tor the simple purpose Of getting money
| ana n0tnlnH eisc Tne Office sought has otentime5
merely nominal salary connected with IT, but there
are chances TO fitch from the money box which are
not to be neglected. They are chosen to protect the
money box, and they do their duty go far to see
that no one else but themselves has chance to get
| his hand in. 1t is very curious TO note that
MAN WHO HAS AN OFFICE
| which is worth $4,000 per annum manages,
by strict economy, TO save enough in four or five
years OF faithful service and hard work to buy a
magnificent mansion and TO lay aside capital 30
pIethorc that he finds 1t difficult 10 spend the In
come. Ihave pondered over the problem and have
been able 70 settle IL In way quite consistent
with the strict honesty OF the incumbent
But cannot tonight enumerate all the evils TO
which we are subjected. Every one knows only too
well that political condition Is strangely
omlnous The hearts of our best citizens are heavy
with fear OF the result OF
OUR CORRUPT LEGISLATION.
Men are SO Respondent that they are Inactive.
THIS is fatally wrong We ought 10 he so Respondent
that we snail at once rise up in holy indignation,
cease efforts until these wrongs are rghted.
As Christian citizens OF q Christian communicates
men who have received u rich inheritance IRON tile
past, and whose duty is to transmit the glory OF our
institutions undimmed; nay, made brighter by our
example ana our work-we are bound 10 be up and
dong. IL Is cswardly TO ST. idly by while bad men
rule US. II is our religious business To stir up bet
ter puOc Opn0n-tO protest by word AMI Iced aud