New-York tribune., 1870-10-31
RELIGIOUS.
DIR. AMMAN on POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY.

for in the peace thereof shall We have peace" At
the time when these words written the Jews
captive in Babylon. They would naturally feel M
terest in the condition of things around them. Jere
uah his distant home In Jerusalem, wrote 10 them
charging them take broad of their citizenship
and deep the community in which they
placed. All this is cumulative for American ct
ship Contemplating the condition Of things in this city,
we see vice, crime, corruption, triumphant Much OF
ihis II unorganizcd and sporadic More of u Is organ
lied and controls the public action and morals II has
invaded the treasury and the judicial bench and made the
baiot-boN thing only OF shame. The question arises
How much is he religious portion Of the community
responsible for this condition Of thngsi They are largely
BY the religions portion Of the community are not
.t te Pous Iy OK m ,ne mn sde 81 law order and
morality. This portion of the communlt! would no
churches throughout the city II would not be going far
sstray say that the actual members OF these churches
iey have the power TO control all about them. The
for this power are several they possess IN arge
degree the intelligence and education OF the cOmmlnity
they high social standing; they possess the Dulk
,,ecessary It is simply matter Of observation. The
Of the statement s palpabe. The moral and re-
iieous portion of the community has then these three
great elements of gence, social standing,
aud wealth Having these they are necessarily more
powerful than any class which is without them Set m
felhgence against ignorance higher social stand
iug against lower wealth against poverty
Is there Question which Is the more pOWeriut poo
of this needed have only 10 note the state oi
things which exists We see ignorance vice. and al
the bad 'lelnentsof society contfoed ana Hleiueu R
men who have these three things-educaton, soSal
of the had elements Of society for their own pr
poses. Therefore when We see Ignorance
no doubt as TO where the responsibility
lies The moral and religions portion Of the community
about them it is because their influence Is not eXered
How can this reserve power be made ayailaolei we
II is not now usedf The answer Is siNold FIRST; Ky
reason Of recreaney TO princpe kegons h ope 40
They mingle in conpanionship with those VINO are
sympathy and assistance from those who are
advance the true interests Of the com
mury. Second They shift responsibility. They see the
Of things around them and say, am not responsi-
bic. IT not my business Third: They are apathee
ami Indifferent. Fourth: They udoen on fearful To
breast the great evils requires eXeron IL may rouse
passion ana impen their wel-1eing' lhey huoienR iR
refuse % exert the power they possess. fgH;
The want OF combination is reason for this para SIS
Is organization. Vice aud crime are organized but
morality and religion are not We are the army OF the
and organization. Sirh: Party spirit II Is not be de-
pTecated. II is necessary to the webeng of rcpub-
country that there should he great political partles
But city like this, national politics are not the stand
ard. The Welheing OF the community Is lhe question
with which alone are concerned And yet we see
on the day of eleeton-on which depends. IT may
interests stake casting their votes simply in view
" their party predictions Ignorance vice. and corrup
hgon dsineerated scatter and make poWeress their
moral people must act upon prime pile and be true 10
what they know is right We want combination and
unity Who doubt that il the whole power pos
forth that il could sway this great city at it, wilt speak
what have and know. have certain city,
where avery large foreign population resident organ
zed attempt repeal al sunday laws and TO promote
frt6 uaiie III if,0Sc6tHg qiof the movement encour
aged by great political party On the other hand TO
meet n the whole religious and moral portion Of the
community reused by the influence OF the pulpit
and the press act in oppostiOn and went to the ballot
box 10 meet the issue and for six successive years they
swept the forces opposed TO them IRON power Ana Rs
Iong the moral aud religious element could be
sSG to ITS sSsESn'GyS S1SS il was entirely saS
pty's history where the thinking may well pause.
What we need is that The whole religious and moral ee-
ment should De reused 10 action. Religious people are
often fearful OF exciting their power as religious and
their power by influencing the aynen OF Their charges
They should exert their fun power ministers, never
ship What want is the influence the combined and
organized influence, of the religious portion Of the com
psh anything this election, but what want 70 do
We must wake those who have the power to mold the
Influences about them. We must mass our forces. .
that walk this earth. with what ingenuity and far
reaching forecast they endeavor 90 alleviate misery
the homes of the sadi Nowhere on earth such Prncely
giving. nowhere more holy living, and yet nowhere OF
earth more OF crime, of shame. Let us seek th
peace OF the cy." and boldly and as men 20 forth an'
act for God and for homes. We need not, we mus
not we cannot, doubt the result. God in His proyi
tenee has given us the power 10 90 what we VIII
resolving that will exert all the power He has pu
within our grasp.
THE CHRISTIAN DUTY OF CITIZENSHIP.
The Rev. R. Heber Newton, Rector of the
Antion Memorial Church, preached, yesterday morning
the second and concluding part of Christian
duty the first part having been devoted TO the duty
men toward each other in business, and that Of yester
day 20 duties politics The aim OF the discourse
yesterday TO Christians from their condition
Indifference in reference TO politics. and in view Of the
corruption prevalent among parties 10 efor
be made to place honest as wen capable men IL
public positions. He said that the Christian never re
allegiance TO his secular nationality in enternl
upon religious. Inspired by the enthusiasm Of tn,
humanity which he is baptized he is 10 labor for
removal OF every OF injustice and tyrannyfor
elevation, physically, morally, and intellectually, OF the
stsG sSE'ff "h'' Is 'ne ou'S 0i ' '1en toward '''
Considerations OF aereeabeness not FOR him. He
10 judge duty by It's promise Of success. II may
voting and injurious; but what is the Christian charac
Ter good for II II cannot be IN t9e midst Of corruption
words OF The teEtLuke xiii, 20 and 2be remembered
Aud again ne said, Whereunto shall hken the King
dom of God 1t like leayen, which woman took and
hid III three measures Of meal, I'LL the whole was
The nature our institutions invests citizenship with
snequaled responsibility; and at such periods the
ihose who acquainted with political affairs know how
appalling Is the incIssse Of corruption The control OF
gogues and the standard Of political character has
,asier for the pass through the eye Of the
seedle than for honest man 10 gain and retain po
rupon block mp the way before an honest man-o that
parties have become huge cankers at the heart of the
sioD, tainting the whole body polite The possibility of
reformation Is slipping away. he gave instances Of the
rofrupl action OF the Judges or the supreme Court Of
certain state, admitted in conversations by them
srlVes.
What be said OF the fact that in this very State
gigantic monopoly obtains Illegal possession OF one OF
greatest railroads and is able defy every attempt
nt restitution and makes itself the bu OF inquity
To what does all this tend No one can contemplate our
future without fear and sorOw, view Of these things
The uDeducated masses will ever be supplying new ma
teTial upon which this corruption fatten itself The
chief cause has been individual indifference
of ciuzenshp The citizen must franchise
obligation and the efforts Of enlightened conscience
must be eNerted FOR reforms. The and urgent
duty OF every intelligent and honest citizen IL 10 ry To