The New York herald., 1872-07-07
The Topics sna Gossip OF tho Rels-
gious Press.

The Topics snd Gossip Of tho Rels-
gious Press.
notwithstanding the exoruciating weather,
the Golden Ago plunges into the heated pool
OF politics With as much alacrity and apparent
satlsfactlon a. If it were dashing into the oool-
ing SURF at Long Branch It warmly criticisos
the difference in public honesty between tho
legitimate State governments of tbe North and
the ilegitimate carpet-bag State Governments
of the South, and declares that the admin;s-
tration of the latter, beginning in usurpstion.
and ending in rapine constitutes one of thu
blackest blots on modern civilization. And
again-'sIf the Southern people are to get n.
better idea of the North than is reflected to
them from the hideous spectacle presented by
these swindling and thieving carpet-bag Gov
ernors and Legislatures, with their rings and
rings.within rings, they will never cease to
hate us. Every vote for Grant is vote to
sustain these villains and their villany Every
vote for Greeley is q blow for their destruc-
ton" This is rather queer kind of talk. COM
ing from one who did so much toward estab-
fishing these very carpet-bag institutions Of
the South as the editor of the Golden Ago.
The Christian Union AYERS that General
Grant is still SO little known to the masses that
all sorts of accounts can be freely circulated
concerning his personality. People," it adds,
''who judge him from distance by outward
peculiarities alone do not get beyond his
cigar Would it not be rather difficult to get
beyond General Grants cigar almost at any
time, unless he happens to be asleep and
who ever caught Grant mapping? The Union
thinks that if the General would only wear
white hat, or 'swing around the CIRCLE
or make himself personally prominent
in some way, it would simplify the
opinions Of some classes now puzzled
into abject credulity of manifold slanders by
the mere lack Of tangible data. ''But," it con-
tinues, sbeyond being modest and quiet gem
tleman, he does his duty and claims a right to
his own private life, while all the caricaturists,
from Senator Sumner down, draw pictures of
him according to their own malicious wit"
If we are not mistaken General Grant gener-
ally wears about as shockingly bad a hat ~
Philosopher Greeley; therefore he is entitled
to all the popularity that bad hat-white or
drab it does not make much difference which
can afford him. But bad hats, like bad
habits, do not always tend to glorify or sane
tify man. As to swinging around the
circle" it seems to us that General Grant ac-
complished that feat in company with
one Andy johnson, and received the
greater part of the ovations on the
trip. Therefore he is ell right on the
al nd IN
making himself prominent, he or his admins
tration has had several splendid opportunities
to do so-at one time in regard to rigid ad-
herence to the American view Of the Alabama
question at another in relation to the bar
barities practised by Cuban authorities upon
American citizens at another when the vindi-
cation of American rights in regard to tho
Canadian fisheries, when American vessels
were seized, condemned and sold without due
process of law, claimed his attention; and at
many other times, especially when the crushed
South appealed for justice and mercy,
and received in lieu thereof a more
rigid enforcement of military authority.
Truly General Grant has had many grand
opportunities to make himself prominent, in
deed, to "cover himself with glory, 4" since the
war: but perhaps he thinks he obtained glory
enough during that trying period to last him
his lifetime. The Christian Union concludes
that the stories of General Grants enemies re-
fute one another 1t is impossible, it says,
that he should be the ''dull ignorant indiffer-
ent man they represent, and Deep ambitious
schemer, determined to overthrow the liberties
of his country and subject us to a military
despotism." An effort of the latter kind would
probably bring General Grant or any other
man who should attempt it into a degree of
'prominency'' which even the editor of the
Union would not regard with satisfaction
The Observer discusses the Sincerity OF
Scepticsm," taking for its text work
entitled christian Theology and Modern
Scepticsm,' published in England and
written by the Duke of Somerset. The
work is prepared in the interests of scep-
ticism, and has been favorably criticised
by the Westminster Reuieo. The Observer is
not SO favorably disposed towards it, but
admits that ''there are men to-day among us,
occupying a somewhat conspicuous position,
whose talent, genius, learning, or whatever
else they may claim by way Of eminence, is
summed up in the fact that they are admitted
sceptics' Continues the Observer:--
On the whole, this question as to the amount OF
sccptcism in the world appears to us one which
sceptcs discuss only with the risk OF danger to
themselves. Taking their own account OF the rea-
sons why sceptics will not avow themselves, and
anne king to It the obvious reasons by which
many are predisp0sed to scepticism, we have un-
folded TO us chapter In human nature which Is
far from complimentary to those who avow them
selves unbelievers. Among them, undoubtedly,
there are many who are cOnscientiOusly honest;
but In proportion to their high sense OF truth and
honesty they will repudiate all connection with
men who dare not avOw their convictions, for fear
of riskng the successes Of labor the delights OF
leisure"
Tho E,youoy;sJ o;ves ,,s n chor,ter on ssScn-