The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-20
The Moral Significance Of the Recent
Elections.
AN ELOQUENT EXTRACT.

The Rev. Mr.. Rollins, of Newark, New Jersey,
who some months ago paid visit to New Or
leans and delighted many of our citizens by his
able and eloquent preaching. delivered Thanks
giving discourse in the Second Presbyterian
Church, Railway, which was singularly powerful
and appropriate to the times. We mako the fol-
lowing extracts:
liberty. but they scared amids. fields Of carnage
prompted by the Unsuitable ambition OF Napoleon,
and fell with torn plumage and broken wing,
when Gods vengeance smote them amidst the
thunder Of Waterloo! Our own land lifts on her
standard the same proud bird of the unblanching
eye and the tireless wing. She has planted the
stars of heaven on the banner, and she has the
noblest legends for her inspiration, but all these
may continue to challenge the eye, while Invisible
spores Of death dill the atmosphere in which the
banner floats, and the cancer OF corruption Is
eating at the heart Of the nation.
speak but for myself when express the con-
viction that the last few years OF our national
life have witnessed much that . noble. virtuous
and God-fearing people could not suffer to go
unrebuked. Tic land has been rite with the
tales Of corruption; the most beautiful and fertile
portion Of our country has been made q desola.
ton. know Of what speak. tor have stood
amongst it; have looked into the faces and
watched the acts OF tie greediest set Of cormo-
rants that ever prayed on nations vitals, and
have wondered at the patience which submitted
to tyranny - brutal as it was oppressive; and
over all this have seen the power OF the national
government extended to perpetuate the misru!e.
l did not tremble for my country when the
thunders of war were shaking the land. have
trembled for it since: and if, in the results Of
the recent elections see any cause for gratitude.
it is one that rises above al party ties or personal
predelictisns; it is to me token that the heart
Of the nation ia sound.
II the recent elections have . moral signid-
mean that the day has passed when Kellogg
can telegraph to defeated candidate: Pay no
attention to election reports-all will be made
right they mean that the men who " understand
addition, division and silence" are to be taught
that the vultures which prey on the nation . Vi
tails shall find no further toleration and to those
who may still be pursuing their career Of greed
and crime revelng in their corruption, they may
we'll come like chose words Of Holy Writ: - After
this-the Judgment" 1t is q handwriting Of
flame on the wallis of our capitol, yet lis interpre
tation should have no terror, save to such as may
be linked with the schemes Of c0rruptionists, and
the partisan who sees in this only political Veto.
nv or defeat, is blinded to its meaning. While II
the great party Of the past but listen to the ad-
monition they have received, the time may not be
distant when they shall not lack the following,
which will insure them victories as grand "a
those they won OF old. :,
Some weeks ago, IN one OF our national dOck
Yards. an iron-clad vessel was hauled up on the
ways for cleansing. As they had launched her
but few years before she had glided into the
water clean and buoyant; but since then, sailing
through summer seas, and swinging idly ut an
Choir for months in tranquil ports, the barnacles
had gathered on her sheathing till they lessened
her speed and weighted her hull, and from hel
bottom was ecraped ton and half Of those
narasites-each one weighed but triae, yet the
mass was enormous. Was it not well that the
vessel should be cleansed? Had they been suf
fered to continue to accumulate they might IL
time have even sunk the vessel. Was not it q
benefit to the noble ship to be freed from them
Some of the metal that sheathed her bottom ma,
have gone with them: but to-day the vessel ii
better for her cleansing and safer for those who
During these years OF prosperity and power
manv a barnacle has gathered on the ship O
State; they have weighted her hull and lessened
her speed. and it was we'll that these at leas
should be scraped of. The ship WI! be lighter
when = sBen Butler" no longer clngs to hel
sheathing, and will be safer and stronger wher
the Murphys and Caseys no longer, load hel
Sides And this lesson is Is emphatic to the par
" that has won as to the party that has lost, to-
it teaches that the heart Of the people is sound
that the only word which the hand OF corruption
can trace on the escutcheon Of any patty is tina
word Of doom" Ichabod." The glory has de
parted! The hand may he gioved in silk o
gauntleted in STEEL but neither art nor force
cajolery nor intimidation can alter the IL scrip
ton" Ichabod will blaze on its banners.