The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-05

STRUCTURES ON OUR NATIONAL LIFE.
The Rev. DR.. Bellows preached an impressive
sermon Yesterday forenoon In All Souls cAurcn,
corner or Fourth avenue and Twentieth street.
There were but few people present to profit by Inc
reverend and eloquent genreman's DISCOURSE the
greater bulk OF this wen known congregation
being In the country rusticatlng for the summer
months, or hearing mute sermons from stones"
''by the SAD sea waves" During the service the
congregation assisted In singing the hymn COM
.menclng with the following verse;
Oh guard our shores from every foe
40 with peace our borders oie ;3s r
Our fields with plenteousness
The text for the day was taken nom Deuter-
onomy. vi, 6, IN the words, "And these words
which l command thee this day shall be in tune
hearth Among other things the preacher said
that 1t is meet for US to assemble in prayer TO
honor the anniversary OF that great celebration
winch twelve months hence shall have come and
gone hundred times since the Am erican natio
was ushered into existence. The progress OF our
history has Witnessed events OF magnificent won
derlul, sublime Importance, III the settlement of
vast territories, the building Of great cities, the
opening up oilarge rivers. traversed by wonderful
steamboats,, while our immense territories are
networked by tnterminable lines OF railroads.
But TO the degenerate
RAcE AFTER RICHES,
which has been brought about in some measure
by unparalleled prosperity as a people. may
be ascribed present love OF luxury and falling
on from those safe, conservative principles en-
Inently possessed by the founders of this vast Re-
public. To the desire for a rapid accumulation
oil wealth may be attributed domestic inielicity
extravaganza: increase OF crime in our midst;
want OF heightened honor In the professions and
an unworthy disposition that is too often appar-
emit TO look upon honest labor as sonnet ing igno-
bic and unworthy OF consideration. The evils
Oficials are not chargeaole TO any fault OF
democracy, but muss be laid TO the
door or political and religious sectananism De-
mocracy makes no mistake In thinking all men
equal before the law, but err5 IN imagining that
al are equally able to enjoy the benefits OF
tree government. The real power In America
nwels where it was always looked for; not 50
much in charters or periodical legislation, but
win the people themselves.
WHAT'S MEANT By LIBERTY
Is to allow, the individual the greatest possible
exercise OF his personal will that is consistent
with the rights oil his neigbbor. Property is
not 10 De more sacred than human nature; the
law OF primosenlture could be tolerated hered-
itAry nobihty allowed to exist nor a ruling
,soVereig9 70 sway rna \" sGeptpS IN TINS
form OF government TO It's lowest terms; disre-
gard for Class government and resolution TO be
nee were tine causes that ushereu America into
existence as a nation. Personal morality and the
principle OF selfeducaton, together with de-
tempted interference OF any governing classes,
were the guiding principles that animated our
forefathers. 10 these ana 70 their sterLng worth
Ills mercantile riches aud astonishing advances IN
mechanical improvements are all raceabe TO
tnat fertility oil mind and hand winch stlngulshes
above all other peoples. And TINS growth or
wealth and population Is due to tine efforts OF In
life the meagre expense Of government gave no
cause. and little cnance, FOR corruption People
then went TO Congress 10 oDlige their coDstitu-
ents. Now all that ls changed, and
TEE CHIEF IAMORALIZER
IN public and in private Lille Is be found in gov
ernmenral Innuenee Politics are no Longer pure
or honorable as they used TO be- Land speeu-
lators, an army Of ONCE holders and crowds OF as.
prants for servile posts and places under govern
ment are fearful sources or public CORRUPTION and
dangerous agents TO political sentiments. We are
forcea to acknowledge that the causes Ol progress
have become those Of our decentralization. The
money grasping tendencies OF men IN these days
are alarming TO behold. Examples OF TINS are 10
be found In Congressional rings, STATE rlngscanal
rlngs corporation rings, and rings In all xmas OF
business, beginning with bankers and brokers,
but ending, no one knows where, among specu-
lators OF all kinds. The possibilities Of war were
much extended by the very means that were
adopted to carry it on. 1t produced q wretched
class OF contractors who MADE colossal fortunes on
TIE MIsFoRTUNEs OF THE PEOPLE.
Then was witnessed such sad state OF things as
never had been dreamed OF before. The people
were blindy taught TO believe tnat by taking from
themselves that which was their OWE, they were
only changing money rom one pocket into
another, and the general amount or riches re-
unwonted stagnaton OF business alter having
lived ten years since the close Of the war in the
same style or reckless extravagance that was
usnered in soon after the rebellion broke out.
A PERNICIoUs PRESS
weighed by our people, who sigh for daily excite
ment. Immense capital is needed TO carry on
she large daily journals OF these days. owners
and managers OF these papers profess TO be
directors or public opinion. Editors now take the
highway and become
LITERARY FO0TPADs.
But II is 70 be hoped that the day has changed
for better state Of things, ana more conserva-
we course seems TO be loresnadowed on the part
Of the great daily press. lac most provoking part
oft Is the insuneraDe pretensions OF editors who
presume to lay down the law on all points, while
tgnOrantly writing upon subjects In science,
theology or politics, OF what they know nothing
about. To so great an extent are the people pes
tered vita
AMERICAN PERIODICALS
that they have become one OF the hurtful
tnings which ought TO be suppressed. They
help to make restless, smart superficial people.
They are sometimes dedicated for months to-
Eether TO detailing proceedings that oug mt not TO
come TO the puDlic gaze, and recOuntlng lasciy-
BUS confessions almost as soon as made. Forming
opinions from the newspapers Is ike looking 10
the weather vane 70 control the wind There Is
nothlng 50 dangerous to man or God as neWspa-
per notOriety.
The preacher then went into the question OF
public ed ucatton; claimed that the ROmanlsts are
endangering the institutions and peace OF the
Union Dy their unprecedented attempt TO exclude
she Btbe from tue pubic schools He mentioned
the demOranZing influence or MONKS and nuns
and tue bad example OF So. PatrlcE's Day and
other seotariau parades. In MS peroratlOn the
reverend gentleman predicted better state OF
things, roth relgiouslJ and politically. In the