New-York tribune., 1873-12-18

fation and there are evils inseparable from
contraction however gradual. But the differ
ence is that there,i is an end to the latter, and
no end to tho former. Imagine man shut
I'D by fire in a lofty building, with no resource
but t0 drop out of the window. What should
we think of that man il he refused to drop
| from the second story, or the third. or the
fourth but waited till the flames compelled
him to leap out of the garret and break his
| neck. We should say that he had the Wis
dom of the average Congressman.
|
| The Eulogy delivered by Mr. Charles Francis
Adams upon the occasion of the memorial services
in honor of the late William III. Seward, received
from us ut tho time a cordial appreciation, while we
pointed the less than justice with which some OF
his cotemporaries and associates were treated.
Tho oration seems fated TO give rise to an ntermna-
bic seuss Of mopPgIaphs from distinguished % bonds.
most Of which are bent on tearing tho lsurss from
the grave of the dead statesman which were placed
there by his friend and admirer The most noticea-
ble of these monographs are those contributed to
The Ga,ary by. ex-Secretary Welles and the Hon.
jeremiah s. Black. Mr. Weless articles singu-
larry direct and nervous expression, and fortified
by that wonderful command Of facts which makes
the ex Secretary the most formidable 'adver-
,ary in the world. Bat there is everywhere
evident IA them strong personal dislike of Mr
Seward, which cannot but color most of their de-
duOtions and nferences Mr. Black has less re-
serve. He treats Mr.. Seward as destitute of merit
in any direction. AZ lawyer statesman or man. His
energetic malice is effectively put that you won
der after reading his article how such man a.
Seward kept out of Jail so long. We cannot but
think that Mr. Adams is nearer the truth than his
assailants. He knew Mr. Seward better than either
of them and in closer sympathy with him than
almost any public of tho time. The points in
which he WAS lod into error were those relating
time when he absent from the country and had
no means Of judging correctly the condition of things
at Washington 1t was impossible that he could do
iustlce between Lincoln and Seward, because he
knew the latter and neither knew nor cared to
know the former.
The relations between cergymsn and their con-
eregatons do not seem to grow any less strong and
tender with all the increase of sects and schsms,
and all the attacks which religious organizations
are undergoing from the light guerrllas Of dissent
the heavier artillery of science and rationalism.
There is nothing moro sacred than the relations of
mutual regard and confidence which unite faith
full shepherd to the flock to which hehas ministered
in spiritual things during lifetime. This was
meyer more clearly illustrated than in the proceed
in "a which attended tho resignation by DR.. Adams
OF the Pastorate of the Madison Square Presbyterian
Church and their sequel in Brooklyn When tho
distinguished divine assumed the charge Of that
church Madison-square w1ss sparsely settled
suburb of that city of which it Is now the center
But through all the years of change the town has
passed through since then there has been no change
in the ties that have knit together the pastor and
his people by cords which touch whatever is highest
IL. efipn auf1ria flu
proved this. and when the congregation had made
choice of successor the same class of emotions
came into action on ts4okhsr side Of the East River
when Dr. Duryea was summoned to leave his people,
and their affectionate devotion wa more than he
coud resist. These incidents alko honorable to
the pastors and to the Congregations They show
how rich is tho reward which faithful minister
onius in the love and confidence Of his people, aud
how strong an influence is still exerted in this prac
tcal age by considerations too delicate to be weighed
m the balance Of interest.
The Hon. William II. Herndon, tho lsw-partnsr of
President Lincoln. has grown weary Of the attacks
upon his verscity indulged in by DR.. Holland, Mr..
Reed and Others. who have insisted that Mr. Lincoln
became Christian in tho later years of his life and
hss delivered . lecture in Springfield to establish
tho truth Of his statement that tho President died
IA he had lived outside of tho Christian faith. He
engages in the discussion with the boldnass and
energy characteristic Of him, and certainly goesfar
TO nvalidate much Of the testimony relied upon by
the champions Of Mr.. Lncoln's orthodoxy. The
truth probably is that Mr.. Lincoln was ono Of the
most reticent men who ever lived in regard to his
own spiritual exercises He had o deep respect for
religion and for its outward symbols and FORMS He
had slso . profoundly religious sense, sometimes
approsching mysticism. But il will be a. impossible
to prove that he Christian TO prove that he
vss not and historians and biographers will divide
upon this question, they divided now, accord
ing 10 their own personal beliefs o disbeliefs.
In the extracts copied from the London papers
concerning tho Vile du Havrs disaster, there was
ststement that Mr.. Wsites sou, who was
saysd Was lost and that his sister. whom
he was accompanying to France for the ben
eft of hor health, hnd survived. The facts
having been correctly stated at the time in The
TRIBUNE. we did not suppose this bhiuder in tho
London papen would mislesd sny .one; but as
.thers sesm 10 b spprehensions thSt II msy we
.isls pls.srsin correcting tho impression Il was
tie dsashtss whoss terrible loas Mr. ste hss boon
called " do0lors@