The New Orleans bulletin., 1875-12-19
A SHORT SERMON BY A Lay
MAN.

H When the wicked pear rue IIlC pcUpie
Our text, my countrymen, may be found
among the savings of wise man who lived
long ago, and il q distant land, and was him
self Just ruler over his people. Had he lived
in our day end in this country, he would,
am persuaded to believe stand at the head OF
the Democratic party, and you will permit me
to add my indulgent countrymen, that 1
should be ia favor of him for our next Presi-
dent.
The words of our text were undoubtedly
suggested by contemplation of the sad con-
dition of the children Of Israel under the
reign Of the profigate princes Of the house
of the good Samuel, who ruled under the
title of Judges, and who, as the sacred histo.
rian informs us, walked not in the ways of
Samuel, sbut turned aside after lucre and
took bribes, and perverted judgment t'-much,
1 imagine, after the manner OF our own
wicked rulers. And this state Of things con-
tinued through the turbulent reign OF the
wicked Saul, the first Israelitish king after
the deposition of the judges, until the good
and valiant King David ascended the Jewish
throne.
But, my respected countrymen, it is not of
the wicked princes of ancient Israel, whether
Saul, or Jeroboan, or Ahab, or any others
who angered the Most High by vexing and
depressing His people, and by erecting affairs
to heather gods, that l purpose to discourse
on this occasion. But | shall contine the
words of our text to cur own wicked and pro-
figate rulers, and to the mournful and mourn
ing condition of our own unhappy people.
Look, nv admiring countrymen, at Louis-
ana and her people; once SO magnificent III
their prosperity, SO grand in their hospitality,
SO ioycus in their liberty, SO secure against
adversely, now sitting in sackcloth and ashes
and mourning over their fallen greatness and
their deep humiliation.
Their yourg men and maidens despoiled OF
their heritage and reduced to ignoble toll for
the necessities of life; their old men sent IN
sorrow and despair to premature graves and
their matrons seeking consolation from Him
who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. Oh,
my weeping countrymen, Louisiana is to-
day like an inconsolable widow sitting by the
grave of her first born torn from her embrace
by the hand of violence. The desolation
which overshadows her brow gives to hel
weeds of mourning a somoer hue OF "the
valley and shadow Of DEATH" Her fields
once teeming with the rich harvest, neglected
and grown up to weeds and brambles; hei
towns and cities falling into decay; The
voice of her commerce no more
heard in distant marts. echoing The
glad song of agricultural prosperity; th'
merriment of domestic joy stifed by tn
carking cares of adversely throughout he
borders; her banqueting halls deserted ant
the grandeur of her former civilization with
ering as if from the poisonous breath of som
evil genius.
Whence all this sudden desolation? Where
fore this wall Of wo?
II is because "the wicked bear rule" It i
because our rulers have "turned aside afte
lucre, have taken bribes and perverted judg
ment."
And who are our rulers, and whence com
they?
Oh. my indignant couniryman, they ar
one and ali the sons Of Belial the meanest G
all the rebellious hosts tbat God cast out c
heayeni of whom the great Milton says:
che seemed
For dignity composed and high exploit;
But ali was false and hollow though his tongu
Dropt manna and could make the worse appea
The better reason, to perplex and dash
Matrr st counsel: for his thoughts were low;
To vice Industrious, but to nobler deeds
Timrous and slothful."
Like the gluttonous sons of Eli Wills
ministeriug at the altar, they have devoure
the sacrifices of the people. They have thrus
their flesh. hooks into every pan, or kettle, Q
caldron, seething pot, and all the flesh
hooks brought up they have taken for them
selves. Ii any poor tax-paS er has remo1
strated at their greed. and asked them to cor
form to the law of Noses in conducting tn
sacrifice, they have answered him, Nay, bu
thou shall give it US now; and II no
we will take it by force II thel
digestive organs were like those of other mol
tails their eyes would stick ont with fatnes
from the excess of their surfeiting; but SO il
satiate is their greed that their hunger II
creases with the gorging of their gluttony
like Pharaoh's lean kline"
Whence come they?
Alb my astonished countrymen they com
as the wind cometh, no one knows whence
and whittier they will go alter they have DE-
youred the land is problem for Omniscienc
to solve. They are like the grasshoppers ths
have devastated the Western fields during b
past summer and destroyed the hopes
the busbandman. Their origin perplexe
the councils, scientists and savans. TheI
mus, be, my curious countrymen, some dar
cayerns far down in the lowest depths OF th
sarth. like the rartarns Of the anclents frol