The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-02

The Religious Press and Their
Themes-Thc National scandalizers
and tho Christian Amendment
Shriekers.
The Credit Mobilier tempest having ex-
hausted itself, or, like any other tempest in
teapot, having evaporated into o little less
than nothing, our brethren of the religious
press have not that much-ridden theme for
discussion this week. In lieu thereof, how
ever, some of the most prominent have taken
up the subject of Christianizing the American
constitution and the movement in that direc-
ton advocated by the Convention of Chris
tians held in this city few days since Still
some of the religious press take the text Of
the Washington botheration to ''point moral
or adorn q tale"
For example, the National Baptist (Philadel-
phia) utters some wholesome truths when it
asserts that the universal extravaganza of
living promotes public immortality, and that
every American is aspiring. This is we'll
enough, it AYERS, ''were the aspirations rightly
directed But it is not to be, that we aspire.
We want to seem. The man with one thous-
and dollars o year wants to live as if he had
three thousand, and the man with five thous-
and as if he had twenty-five thousand Tor his
family do, our Philadelphia Christian friend
might have said). Nobody is willing to seem
to be what he really is. Congressman
and officials partake of the universal fever
The Congressman must live in style and have
his receptions-the public, rather demand it
Of him-and the money must come from some
where If there were more simplicity, more
plainness, more willingness to utter those
difficult words, 4 cannot afford it., there
would be fewer bank defalcations, fewer pub
lie frauds, fewer Congressional scandals"
The Christian hteAgencer is equally pointed
and talks to the purpose when it affirms that
the dangers of office-holding in this country
have now become so great that no one is fit to
hold Office who does not realize them. s'Show
us q man." exclaims the lnteuigencer, who
has no fears of the bribery, the immortality,
the irreGgion which prevail in the party
caucus, which now controls all nominations
and decides all elections, and we will show
you an American citizen who ought not to
take Office" Here are wholesome truths in
nutshell -
The recent exposure at Washington OF what has
been going In the dark for some time shows that
the instant naA leaves the privacy OF his home
the national capital he is assailed by temptation OF
the lowest and basest kind. Doubtless some Of
those who have fallen under these temptations
were persons OF some conscience and moral princi-
pie when they LETT private life for public position,
while others were probably tainted at the start.
But the movement was downward with beth
classes. ~
But, il is asked, what is the remedy for this
state Of things? The ballot of universal suf-
fringe cannot be purer than the constituency
that casts it and if the majority of that constit-
uency becomes ignorant, vicious and goddess,
reasons the Inseuigencer, then the problem of
self-eovernment becomes insoluble. Democ-
racy, in this case, is self-government, with the
devil for the self.
The Golden Age recalls the time when, while
discussing the reconstruction measures, Fer
nnndo Wood stigmatized Congress as an Gin
famous body" and was reprimanded for the
remark by tho then Speaker, Schuyler Colfax
and goes on to say
A few days ago Fernando wood-baving waited
chamber and offered resolution of impeachment
against the same Schuyler Cofax, and the motion
body. three.f0urths OF whose members were
WOODS political opponents and Colfax's political
friends. Woods offence had been an indiscretion
OF the lips hasty and heated phrase, an explo-
crime was In cold blood, consisting or series Of
falsehO0ds steadfasty made under oath, and end.
lng In perjury infamous and four-fold.
How true 1t is that Times change and
men with theml'
The Christian Union, treating of the matter
Of Outstanding the constitution, solemnly