Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-06-27
A GREAT WANT.

tutes the MAN, what deficit We hear it
disputed whether Congress has as great intel
lects as formerly whether the bar, the pull
pit, the judiciary of the country have re-
trOgaded or advanced. Such questions we
cannot pretend TO decide. Smart rascals nav
be every where found in abundance. But
the manssof independence, will, truth, integ-
Iity What district does he represent p
The member who can raise above party, vim
dicate the weak, Iebuke the OppTessor. de-
nOunce the dishonest, when it will iniure his
party or political influence to speak OUT
where is he to DO found?
Well would it be were Congress alone de-
relict in this respect But the press is too
often the mere trumpet Of section or faction,
OF political passion and prejudice. Who ex-
poets to obtain from party journal one word
Of truth, if it will injurc "the Tarty?" What
Is to become Of a people where its leaders ara
''the blind leading the blind p Where can
they look for guidance when their public men
and their political editors utter only the words
Of passion aud prejudice?
Even the pulpit, which is looked TO for di.
rectiOn in spiritual and eternal things, is not
always faithful 10 its trust. The most popular.
| aud perhaps the most influential American
preacher. is Henry Ward Beccher. No one
doubts his strength and originality of mind.
or his power as pulpit orator. Even in the
| OIIeI eketchcS Whlch appear OF his Sunday
disc"uTses in the New York papers, we can
trace the hand of master. What good
might not this mau Of genius exert if he ONLY
had character But instead Of enIighteuiur
and guiding public sentiment he truckles TO
It, even when he must know il to be Wronr
! and Injurious to the best interests of society
| With the strength Of au oak, he is as seEsi-
tive to the popular breath as the aspen, culver.
| ing with the slightest impulse of the air
bis "kansas rifles" harauSue years ago, aud
his more recent subserviency in the aduIterOus
marriage OF Richardson and Mrs. McFarI,ud.
| illustrate the truth Of what we say. John
the baptist, at the expense of his head. de-
! nOunced to king an unlawful marriage con.
nectIOn, and St Paul made Felix trcmbIe on
his throne. 1t is clear that. if Beecher had
the talents of john the Baptist, or St. Paul
he would never lose his head iu reproving
the crimes even of the lowest Of the populacc
much less Of kings. Lately, he has preached
sermon III which he spraWls down on all
tours before the IatItudimarian spirit of the
age. lie Processes to have q charity which
can use holy water with Roman Catholics and
| worship with UnitarinDs, aud which find. the
forests a suitable temple for religious worship.
1t u man does not choose to 20 to church =
We too believe that charity is an essential
grace. Christians should hold the truth in
'"'S' ouh A'lC) S'bbulN sun uOiu tHc frHfn.-
They should not give it up for the sake of pop.
uIarity. I he fact is, Beecher is Il pulpit iem.
ag"gue, aud appears TO be as plastic in his re.
ligIous convictions ns IL ward politician in po-
li'ieal Principles.-Eah Episcoput Aeihodist.
4 Man Who Could Set the Pacific
Ocean on Fire-how He Was Muir
dered and How his Taking OF Was
Made Necessary.
Some tine ago Il mSn named Gregory Sum.
nrer!ied, was murd ,rei by being pushed from
tue platform of a car Of the Union Paciciiic
Railroad at Cape Horn, and filling down a
thousand feet ON 10 the rocks below. SUM
merfcId was 4 man of extraordinary literary
and scientific attainments, and was always
known before his death as ''the man with "A
secret. The only person on the platform
with him when he was thrust down the Dreci.
Pcc was LcOuiGas Parker Il Sacramento Law
yer of talent and excellent reputation. Ue
was twice tried for murder, and each time
mystorlousIy acquitted. l;cceutly no died,
but LETT behind him IN explanation OF the
whole transaction. 4 short time before sum
merheld's death hc came into Parker's Office.
that being the FIRST appearance in Sacramento
for number Of years. aud told him that he
had fathOmed the mighty secret of making
water burn by means of a preparation of
pb'aASluul. "nlcn NOulG separate the PARTICLES
aud ignite che liberated oxygen, thus creating
aud recreatinG its own force and proceeding
until all the particles were DESTROYED.
Possessed Of this terrible power he demanded
81 Sl,OoO.OUO to be raised iu San Francisco. or
he would set the Pacific Ocean on fire. and
let the world take the consequences Parker
thought himself dealing with a luDa'io and
treated the matter disdaiufully. but offered to
try one OF his potassium pills in a wash howl
OF water, which skipped and Missed around az
1t always does and seemed about 20 expire
when Il sharp explosion took place and to his
surprise, the liquid blazed ia IuTid flames IN
the ceiling until every drop was consumed
peemiDg this worth considering he Unmarried
the discovery, wish SummeTfeld's condition
to leading banker, bishop, a chemist. two
state University professors, a physician. a
Judge, and two protestant diviues who. with
himself, witnessed the ex pertinent on a grand
scale IN mountain ten miles from San Franz
cisco 10 fifteen minutes every drop of wa,
ter IN the pool was consumed, and the co,n-
mIt'ee became alarmed, while Summer6.Id
became important. Only a half million
could be raised at San Francisco, and some-
thing must be done or the Pacific would roll
bIioWs of fame instead of water. Il was
| proposed to attempt subscriptions in New
/ York. when the bishop rose aud said that all
was chIld's play; that nothing would satisfy
the wretch aud determination was under
! the circumstances just6abIe. All coincidsd.
aud Parker, who knew the windings and
GoTges Of the Pacific road, was chosen as hu
manIty's avenging angel. In the conclusion
OF his document, he says: selected Cape
Horn as the best adapted to the purpose. and
the public knows the rest. Hav-
ing been fully committed by two tribunals of
the law, make this final appeal to nv fellow
| men throughout the State and ,sl- H., 49,,