The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-09

In aii,slon to this fact that Socrates remarks
TO Glaucus, SIT amuses me to see how much
afraid some are lest the common herd of people
should accuse you of recommending useless
studies"
People considering themselves learned, or
at least claiming to be so, were afraid then, as
their posterity are now, of being called ''old
fogies' for recommending any studies not
likely to pay in hard cash, or its equivalent,
as if human happiness, that for which we all
toll, though in so many different ways, con-
sisted in nothing which is not material and
earthly.
II is as well to admit honestly that as long as
such notions are entertained, as they unhap-
PLY are by large proportion, if not the
majority, Of our educators, we must not be
surprised at any amount of noise made at
orr commandments. Indeed, from present
appearances, horn-blowing is much more
likely to increase for some time to come than
to diminish the river must grow deep before
we can expect it to be calm and unrufied at
its surface.
In short our educators must learn to reason
somewhat like those old heathens who they
tell us, knew nothing about science, before
we can expect our colleges to attain any very
high rank either in letters, science or the arts.
But we shall not present them such difficult
models as the philosophers. Even those
called tyrants and usurpers teach lessons by
which the most learned of our college facul-
ties might profit. Thus, for example, Alex
ander, who knew sufficient science to conquer
the world, writes to Aristotle, his tutor, telling
him that he esteemed il nober to excel other
men in learning and knowledge than in power
and empire. The conqueror also assured the
philosopher that the only warrior whom he
envicd was Achilles, and his only reason for
envying Achilles was that he had so excellent
a recorder Of his exploits as Homer. Upon
the whole, however, we should prefer the
Pythagoreans as models-at least until our
professors learn to make less noise at their
commandments and to deliver fewer eulogies
on themselves and on those of their friends, by
whom they expect to be repaid in kind.
Review of tho Religious Press-Religio"s
Interview with Judge Hilton.
Our religious contemporaries have been
more political than evangelical the past week.
The Evangelist has three column editorial
upon the actions of the city government, and
asks in preface, care we going to the dogs?"
We are inclined to think from the tenor of the
article OF our Presbyterian contemporary that
we are not going to the dogs nor to the rats,
inasmuch as the writer of the article in the
Epanges5st seems to have had an interview
with Judge Hilton and appears to be satisfied
that everything is all right. The Evangelist
writer concludes with the following RESUME of
his sober talk with Judge Hilton =
Soberly. is it not time to have done with tins
~sam-bang" style OF speaking and writing about
some good by shaming bad men. The whip OF
scOrn may nave lasned them INTO decency. But is
not the thing Overdone2 We do not object to any
fair censure but abuse that IS poured out like
day by day, that never ceases that is never qualified
by one word OF praise must be extravagant aud be
prompted by party bitterness rather than desire
Tor the public good.
OF course nobody pretends that our local govern
ment is all that 1t might be. Here Is city OF a
million OF inhabitants and OF great wealth. A
revenue like that OF y state Is 10 be collected and
distributed every year. This prize to tempt
the curidIty OF all sorts OF punderers OF all
me Idle and shlftless pothouse ..polltcians-loai-
TO become hangers-on OF the city treasury It is 80
IN Washington as well as In New York. and 1t is so
in London and in Paris. Corruption and specua.
every iich government. "Wnere the carcass is
there will the eagles be gathered together" But
that New York Is worse than any other city under
The sun; that 1t has monopoly OF cOrruptOn; that
our sinners are greater than other Sinners we do
not believe, and not believing, we do not mean TO
say so. but the contrary /; Tor this constant i'm
puiati0n OF wrong tends To produce the very evil
that IA denounced. Among the causes that have
bred corruption among us not the least has been
the reckless and Understanding abuse OF city OIL
Gals. it does not take much Knowledge Of human
nature to teach us that to denOunce man as
CRIMINAL and 10 treat him as such, Is the surest
to make him one And we mOdestly suggest that II
the good citizens OF this city, men OF property OF In
telligence and OF character instead OF standing of
and "cursing' the city government would take hold
est administration, we might have government OF
which any citizen need not be ashamed, but might
justly he proud.
Who can assert after reading the above that
the government of the city Of New York is in
the hands of the so-called Irish Catholics
The Presbyterians seem to have as much in
fuence in the dispensation Of official patronage
az the Catholics. We might ask who cares
who has the influence so long as we have
good, sound, economical and efficient munich
pal administration?
/ The Independent characterizes its name by
exhibiting an illustration, presumed to be
patriotic and pertinent to the Fourth Of July,
in which the figure of Washington appears
with arm extended and fingers expanded as
if he were saying to the Goddess of Liberty
frowning over his head, Bring me no more
of that stale lager" Another caricature in the
same buresuue sheet shows where the figure
of the Goddess of Liberty is holding a tallow
candle to light the way of a babe to crippled
niggers bedroom.
Papers like the independents portraying
caroatures like those mentioned above, should
not DO received into respectable families.
Better If the morals of family are to be taken
into consideration, receive the fash and bawdy