New-York tribune., 1874-07-06
NATIONAL DANGER.


m. D.. I,m>, NJ LndLop D. D., at the c0lkgtdb CngrA
The Rev. DR.. Jas. NJ. Ludlow preached yecter-
IN the Collegiate Church, at Forty ghths
nd Fiftbaye taking as the first verse OF the fifth
cbanter of Gaatians "Stand fast In the liberty where
vim Chrt, hath made us free" Tho following was hia
line OF argument;
Az the thoughts Of many OF you this morning must be
more or less confused with the noisy patriotism OF YES
terday t would be almost useless to invite you to med
tstion on purely spiritual themes and VIII Try to In
craft a few solemn and practical thoughts upon the com
mon stock OF national sentiment developed by the
anniversary lust passed. We have been exutng IN our
feedom asserting that We are the frees people In ths
world and We consider that we are teachng new les
son OF liberty nations and that from our teaching
and example liberty shall go forth through all naons
Those who have read history carefully do not have this
unclouded satisfaction the state OF our Affairs or 20
hrivbt OF the rapid spread Of liberty
the earth There has been age when men have nos
aspred 10 liberty and when some nave not ade as noble
sacrifices for II as any that we or our la els mare
Tnis a.niration these sacrifices nave generally mes
with some but they have had 70 sruese agins
strong tendency IN the desire 5ss 70 ensave eos oser 70
and the spirit of. tyranny has been STRONGER
SIond and strong as the flooding Of the sea; liberty
mas been like tue occasional dammDg-up OF tho waters.
He who reflects on tue lessons o history may nhd cause
10 fear that the dykes which protect liberties may be-
al any tme II not by the hand OF an invader
like PDip OF Macedon, then by one risI3g from inc
forms OF government among men nave Deeh tne mob
espoc the weakest have been those the eornerstone
of Which was freedom The records OF free gOYernmens
IN Greece brief compared Win the snccessOn Oh
m,garcnies aud drspotlsms. The ROnan Republic only
sd sCo %ears i'm history aud was not a really free
state for than One-htt of that tlme' Slnce me
@ hrnn es,biShed which mas drawn the attention Of
the world except own, which IS now only IN he nrt
century OF ITS existence, while In oriental countries
there are sing gle dynasties 700 years 0d ana almost
every monarchy In Southern Europe boasts oi Oeinss
branch of the ancient Roman Empire.
Is inst
serve that the symptoms, winch appeared toward the
end OF the Roman Republic are being exactly repeated
here. Young people, We have many of the com
plants OF old age. In the last days of the Roman e
property which had come as an heirloom from aDces
lors property Of which an lndlYi1ual might appOp
ate as Inucn as possible for himself The ambition iof
honor for supremacy for power, was applied Win the
Instinct OF leecD. 10 political affairs one Oh tue sname
ul OF those days OF decline was tbat fVnpeH
with the pecdniary gains coming from political pace
was able 10 buld great ampbltheaters wh,cn @ aer,
crowded with people ready Tth apPseSs Hre S0s tue
lust "rings" as there are I'D TINS country 'OlI
aud Caesar at MS pleasure, used hem 10 orns Oh tns
Empire destroy those which had not power enough
10 endure. As an illustration OF the corruption O th
day. consider the acqulttal VI the pr0gate Cdudus N
mad been guilty Of a crime which made sOclety Dush
shameless as 1T ON bis uial no defense could
male except the merest qdihbe put lie Was acquitted
merely because he Cldudus, the James FISK Jr Vi
thai age man VINO roied publicly, ana OOldly aFONeI
his resolution to turn TO his own advantage al pohucs
Influences Contrast this evil picture with the stern
virtue OF the desD0tsn OF the ola Persian CamOyses
who made law tnat the bench OF Justice should De Gov
A grave sign of dissolution the ancient Republic
was Inat OF virtue, when they got INTO power
were obliged TO make use OF vicious men IN OIder 70
accomplish anything. Virtue no longer ruledi wee
held the balance power such men as Cidulls, Win
their gangs used as the tools Of both parties Just
within three IN ths city, aud even sato
was found Involved with them, aud excused himself Dy
saying that nothing could be done without toin' 90
at the polls now. II Is "pollcy. not prnclpe, "hlen
carries the day-pOicy meaning the trucking 10 those
whom we should rather put IN prison. Inc times nov
are 80 bad that wee hods the Oaanee ol PV"Sa.
Ano her from la W ntsLe
the unsettled state OF the law. Originally law.
looked upon permanent, but 10 the last daysot
the Republic Tney became subject t. the whims OF each
party as 1t came IN power People lost all reverence
Tor law ITSELF because IL became the expression Of
the policy or the reigung power III ever IN TINS couh
try brought To demand dictator. We shall 10
compelled by the continual tampering witn tho
law by the people VINO get into power. The laws must
be allowed TO rest for term of years IL country 10
be stable nd secure When SOlOn established laws for
the AIhenans lie induced the people 10 take an Oatn
not to change them for ten years A like thing was
by Lycurgus Sparta Tue wisdom OF the anclents
was show ia leaving laws alone ull II necessary
to change them for public safety AT the present me
people are largely losing their respect for law "hat
heart now glows with tue name oI Justice as eAiesSed
in the laws OF our country
Another feature IN the decline OF the Roman Republic
the formation OF trade guilds or societies to uphod
their own interests at the expense of the general good
These associations, Cicero SAID, nenaced tho safety W
the commonwealth There is something Ike that In the
air OF to-day Again. various politicians OF Rome CURED
favor with the people by sugg stons 10 revive the
agraran laws aud 10 distribute property aud land
among tho people. The muterlng OF similar thunder
cloud may be heard every sunday evening IN the many
socalsc clubs IN this city Another sgu OF decadenco
in the Roman State was that while the philosophers
auded the virtues as they had done before the MASSES
began 10 parade wees un0ushneiy and 10 cal ihclu
generous Irregularities such sign Is not wdnuhs III
the American Republic. Another alarming indication
that the Roman religion. such as was began 70
lose Its hold the people, Within hall century OI
the death Of Roman liberty the people were brought
into disbelief through their sordd and sensual habs
which destroyed not only virtue but reverence. con
fess that know no page or history 50 IKE the history
we making today that which describes the VI
liberty going down behind the hills OF Rome 10
appear again only In The form OF the burning spiendos
OF imperialism Every citizen must bear IN mind tha!
CIVIL freedom strange thing In The experience Of
the human and foreign 10 Of the strongest
passions OF the human heart. Judging from the only
example history affords, there are breeding among u
rapidly the diseases which destroyed the repuDno
which gives that example.
l believe that the republican, nav the ultra-dem-
ocrafc, will DO the final form of government for tba
world. Kings do not rule BY the grace Of God any
than pestilences rage by the grace OF God. Gods
proyal OF democratic form OF government was shown
most plainy al Sinai when he submitted to popular
vote the laws He had given to Moses. lhs a.
an election as the world has It only Ia
anger for the sins OF the people that God allowed Israel
" establish monarchy. Tue republic ig1nal
form Of government under the Divine approval and
think II Will De the final But the IL Will
be very slow, aud must be very cautious. IL Will not
come In response TO cries OF Liberty Equality, and
Fraternity" for these simply another name for
anaFcny, was shown u the various OF 10
come when there shall be followed tne woris OF the
greatest statesmsn-I u with all revereuce-wh0m
every shall become a law unto himself; shall
diligently respect his neighbours rights, and love
that nelghDor as himself; IL viii come when
Oil the people shall bo combined into cOmpac.
party all having one WILL To pursue the revealed wi
God as their ambition. CHRIST has taught that the
heartfe OF the people must be regeneraled first We
have turned away from this and have tried the sad i
E Experiment. OF seeking liberty other ways. IL bas
not come secure and satisfying. republic must roo.
Itself IN the hearLyirIues OF the people and deNeiVp
those virtues.
CHRISTS CONSISTENCY.
rA< Ber. Prof n 4. Bss az ST. raNF' NJ h. ch'reA