, 1876-01-09

o4o 1easoA 4o1 LIS CUHsl0eIhttou VI 6uCAekl
and especially to those who hold pos
tions of leadership and act as guides to other.
Tho distinctive bond which binds huma
society is confidence. There is an accepte
moral standard recognized by all, and b
which the duties and obligations of me
| towards one another and towards the Who'll
community are defined and regulated
| Human laws nre enacted, not as a code g
morals. hut to prohibit aud punish thos
who riolate existing, accepted. and commo
principles on which the social compact rests
The assumption is, that all men will &C
honestly and in good faith towards eac1
other, and human laws arc enacted to Re
strain and punish such exceptional cases a
may rise when men will violate their oblign
tions to their neighbors. Society rests 70
its pence, harmony, and very existence, Q,
the confidence which each man and woman
eutertains in the fidelity and integrity of III
the otLer members. Withcut this confdenc,
laws are idle, md there is no alternative be
tween anarchy and government Of force
Man in his rude state sleeps upon his arms
and Of aggression; lis relations towards
his fellow men are the same as those
he holds towards the wild beast: to avoid
surprise and to take every advantage. Civ
iiized man goes unarmed, meets his fellow
man without distrust, and depends upon the
general rectitude Of the whole community.
When in the course Of time men lose this
confidence; when each one looks upon his
neighbor rs thief, and as dangerous to the
common peace; when ench man feels that
all moral obligations have lost their force,
and that to preserve his life, his liberty, his
property, aud his rights he~must depend on
lis own strength and force, then society be-
comes d;sintegrated, its constituents fall
apa-t, the unity is destroyed, there is no
safety and no freedom, and absolute dcspot-
ism steps in, md, out of the fragments. with
the sword and the halter, compels new or
ganization, in which the masses nre slaves
and the rulers tyrants.
We are about to close the first century Of
our national existence. The Republic was
founded by pure men, and the strongest and
most enduring law that bound them was the
pledge Of IS their ires their fortunes and their
sacred honor" to each other to maintain JUS
tice, to protect virtue, cultivate morals, and
adhere to the standard Of human integrity
This WIS the foundation of the American
social system; anl how far have we adhered
to it?
The daily chronicles Of passing events re-
late occurrencos-not as such extraordinary
violations Of law as to excite general horror
and detestation, but as common affairs happen
ing in the regular routine Of social life, with
pat which the daily paper would be tame aud
rapid. Murders and robberies, violence to the
person md to property, are the natural re-
suits of want ct socinl refinement, of
brutal propensities, evil association, aud the
Frenzy produced BY strong drink In land
where the outcast criminals Of the world may
End refuge, more Of such crimes may occuA
han elsewhere without indicating any gep
erA corruption of society. But these are
aot the distinctive crimes Of tho hundredth
FEAR of our national existence.
The crimes Of this day are those more CAL
:ulated to destroy the mutual confidence
which is essential to the preservation of So
:isty than murder or any other deed of per-
;onal violence. They ere crimes calculated
o shake the very foundations of the whole
ocial system, because they indicate weaken |
ng and destruction Of all the moral obligations !
7hich each man owes to his neighbor and to |
ociety. Let US briefly name the crimes,
'nce so exceptional Us to become historical, !
nd now common. Personal immortality OF !
minister's of the Gospel, and the vehemeace
Eith which the offenders are defended and |
protected by their congregations, especially !
y the sex most exposed 10 Righteousness
he growing disregard md common violation
+ the obligations OF an oath, as instanoed in |
he notorious perju:ies Of witnesses and |
uitors in courts, the open sales of verdicts
y jurors, the corruption Of the executive
Ulcers Of the law the wholesale turpitudc
Inhibited in the records of ! bankrupt
ourts; the universal disregard of official
aths by public oficers in al1 branches
all kinds of government, national,
tate, and municipal; the cultivation
the sentiment het appointed or elected
ffcers are justified in using their Offices to
nrioh themselves beyond their lawful CON-
cnsation, and The other sentiment that
here is no moral guilt in defrauding the
overnmcnt in whatever way it may be done;
1at mans duty to himself and his family is
} acquire wealth, aud that tho successful
;qnisition Of wenlth obliterates all questions
) to the manner and processes by which it
SIS obtained.
The growth Of these sentiments is wholly
consistent with the preservation of indi-
dual and general morality The sudden
quisition Of wealth by few, and generally
: the violation of trust, Justification Of
Forn obligations, and other short cuts, has
'stroyed faith in the slower rewards Of hon.
t labor: Wealth is sought, not for high
ID noble purposes, bnt for display.
otous expenditure, lavish Injury in all
amer OF personal and household adorn-
ents. Labor is humbled and degraded By
Q supercssious display which wealth can
axe. Cultivation, education, taste, and
6nement are put aside to make room for
tentntious wealth. In the very churches. |