The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-02-22
National Iniquity.
WHAT LAIRD COLLIER KNOWS ABOUT IT.

From the Chicago Tribune.
Rev. Robert Laird Collier, pastor of the
Church of tho Messiah, preached sermon Of
rather extraordinary and sensational character
on yesterday morning to large congregation,
some of the members OF which evidensly did not
entirely relish the hiyh-Spiced spiritual food
with which they were served.
Mr.. Collier chose his text from Isaiah i. 90:
"Thy princes are rebelllous and companions
of thieves; everyone loveth gifta. and followeth
after rewards
Mr.. Collier said he came to this matter of con.
gressional corruption with conspicuous names,
which stand periured before the country, with
personal and patriotic modification; morthca.
ton which he had no words to indicate, and Ger.
tainly not language to express. He had no wish
to increase the morbid hunger that feeds upon
details OF scandal, or that depraved temper,
which fuds cloak for ones own moral defects
i'll the exposure of another, or to stimulate that
sGlfrighteOusness which caused one man TO say
| OF another II am holier than thou" Popular
| conscience was aroused, ard the American peo.
| pie should pledge themselves, as citizens of a
| Justly proud nation, that the escutcheon Of our
country should no. be soiled by the names Of
princes who have sought gifts and who have fol-.
| lowed after rewards and have become the oSm.
| panions Of thieves. The unhesitating complete.
ness with which we perform this duty shoul3 be
Nm assurance to the nations Of the world that
America has moral sense exquisite that it
Immediately perceives any weakness Of these in
high places.
1t was nothing that corruption had character.
lied other times. 1t was nothing that the rulers
aud legislators of other times had been dragged
to the earth and walowed in the mire. 1t was
nothing that luxury and riches had overborne
the consciences Of senator's and Judges in Greek
and Roman times. 1t ia nothing that what VIC
called worldliness, and what we knew to be
greed for gain, had destroyed the usefulness, the
reputation, and clouded in shame the illustrious
names of English statesmen. All this wa.
nothing in sxtenuation of this tide of corruption
that was sweeping away honorable Esmes in his
tory, and dragging them downward
This investigation demanded, and now going
on, was but the process Of clearing away thu
underbrush. 1t was purvinv Of tho dross from
the silver II was true that it was an investiga
ton that WAS impeaching the morality OF me,
who had heretofore held high places in the esti
nation of their fellow.countrymen, but tina
should not matter.
lie said it WAS splendid spectacle to NEE
whole people aroused and indignant, willing 4
have nstcs done to the accused, but determine
that Justice should be DONE though the name
, of those implicated have been gathered to thei
hearts. They should be cast from us, until b.
repentance and confession, AS full and public u
, the exposure, they should b. made worthy to b
. taken back again. The whole nation was no
f.. stupefed and benumbed with the sitting atmo
4 phere of corruption.
=. The details If this congressional investigation
y, he must assume they we're all familiar with. II
/ wished to Impress upon their minds this fac
n That 1t was disrcputable for congressman to bu
y and to hold and to receive enormous dividend
1t by Credit Mobier stock; that it was known
n be wrong; that it was An accusing spectre in II
:. condolences of the senators aud representative
:. who bought and handled it, aS was fully show
a by the fact OF the persistent conoealment and d
Y NAL of the holders. They have added to tn
"a the rim OF falsehood one Of tho viest. one Of Il
most inexousable Of all sins. concerning oil
Of which Hnper's Weekly Jomnal Of Ciraisatit
,b says "Therc 10 . painful feeling that u