National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-06-18

neat Ams,ican newspapers, irrespective Of party,
are published just as any other ne'cs items, solely
for he i,Jormatioa Of our readers Our oWn
opinions AVID riers w, as usual, be expressed only
IN our editorial columns:
| Sunday Schools.
The annual Sunday school convention of the
State of Pennsylvania recently assembled In
Harrisburg, and the Philadelphia Telegraph
avails itself Of the fact TO make some interest
ing remarks about Sunday school instruction
which arc well worth considering and reflect
ing upon:
In the first place, these conventions OF teachers
should remember that they furnish absolutely the
whole religious instruction given by the churches
to children. Not one sermon In a thousand
preached in the pulpits Is within the limits Of com.
day the truth is hammered into the souls Of har.
dcned adults, while the boys and girls are lcft to-
sre az home ,o nS shS Nn h iS
Church should either leave the children to home
teaching or II II offers religious instruction III all,
every want The defect In the majority Of sunday
schools Is too often the defect in the pulpit aud IN
most reforms the spirit of the thing has evapoated
work. The very fact Of the steady week afler
week routine, and their consciousness Of self.
and women employed in this good work
to its inchiciency and mistakes. casual OBJ
large churches would perceive these mistakes at
glance in the first place, as rule, the teachers
are too SSy, young The svSE and older members e.
meaning. giddy girls and boys. The exercise may
be bcncacal to the teachers but It IS not likely TO
help the little ones who left to obtain from the
chatter OF frivolous young girl or the mechanical
dogmas OF man but halEtatlght himself In a half
hour Of Sunday morning their sole instruction In
the most solemn and vital of nil truths. Secondly,
too much Importance ia attached to the giving Of
money. The missionary boxes, the juggling Of
pennies, the counting OF the sums so raised are
made the principal part Of the services. There Is
very little religion in teaching child TO bring its
parents money for an object which u can but
one manly or truthful or kind action on the
coming week would help the cause Of Christ more
We do not say that much Of the teaching on sun.
days Is not devoted to that end but do say that
mght s DC more i direct anu sarncss pafing l'
not all of our sunday schools plodded their weary
way through lifeless International lessons on the
l, simple story of the stable at Bethlehem and the
cr3ss on Calvary almost out Of sight. Teachers
every word counts In child's life would teach the
newsboy or the gamin they have captured on the
streets Of Jesus, In few strong, vivid lessons and
ark OF the covenant ut his leisure The purpose Of
the Sunday school like that Of the ministry, Is the
highest but the effect will he positive injury when
dOetrinAriahs and dognatsts take possession of one
or the other.
Democratic Sorchcads
Under the above heading the New York
| Tribune alludes again to the speeches at the
Manhattan reception, and says that ridden
and Hendricks and Dorshcimcr will excite no
sympathy hut rather disgustby the exhibition
OF their political sores 1t exposes, too, the
lalsty Of the claim of special political honesty
by the Democrats, and says
The country has not been able TO SEQ In the con
duct OF the Democratic party or its managers any
welfare or care for the dcccncits Of political com.
petition If can be truly said of either party that
II has snnrned every obligation Of law, Of morals,
al nt.s,ln
get power and hold II, II Necessary by impudent
and shameless rnbbery 1t can he said OF the Demo
cratic party. Whatever the people may think of
the conduct Of Republican managers II Is certain
that there Is no disposition among fair men to pun
in kepnhlicnn misconduct by placing power in
tho hands of Democrats whose attempts 10 steal II
were open, fragrant and insolcnt. Dccentlnen will
reject with scorn the pretense Of Democratic man
l ayers that Mey are the champions OF public virtue
and honor Republican mistccds may and ought
To be condemned in tho persons Of those who were
guilty; But there will be no mercy for the Demo
cratic managers who tried the methods OF u pick
pocket for the settlement of national election.
The West Point Graduates.
The Philadelphia Times discusses the ques-
ton of what shall be done with the West Point
graduates, and says:
There Is plainly no immediate need of the ser.
field. and the proportion OF officers in our small
military cstabl ishment is already quite liberal
while death and resignation do not diminish the
list as rnpidly as the new commission increase it.
But the Government has abundant work for ediI-
Gated and disciplined young men like these. II II
men have seldom failed ~ give a good account of
themselves in any field, and even II they 10 into
civil life we may always feel sure that ifthc coun-
Try calls them they Will answer. IL Is true that the
Government cducates these men for its own imme-
diate service, and when one Of them resigns upon
advantages he has enjoyed he Is looked upon as
guilty of a Questionable act But we can hardly
afford 70 prohibit this, since man who is forced
To remain In the army against his will can seldom
render really valuable service, and the adyant-
ages to the whole nation OF maintaining such a
body Of tr 11.I men more than counterbalances
periiuous graduates Besides the West Point train
ing Is never wholly lost The Academy would be
places IN the army, and those who enter civil life
bring with them an influence Of the highest posi-
acter Of soldiers IL called upon. and 70 acSn, them
selves as becomes Uncle Samuel's boys, recent ex-
perience has shown abundantly.
Southern Democratic Sentiment.
The Raleigh IN. C.) Daily Ners declares its
determination to give President Hayes Ad.
mnistntion fair support, and states:
We are sustained Sy many Of the best and braycst
beth City Eeonomia, the Roanoke Nelrs the Tarboro
I Sontierner, the Milton Chroaicie, the Salisbury
IdtchiadR and the Burke Blade have taken pretty
much the same view of the situation that we have,
we are proud TO say Many of the other journals
have not yet assumed position upon the question
wing Of the Democratic party OF North Carolina
from that portion OF 1t which contents itself with
extreme views and purposes.
The Union Express, another Democratic
paper Of the same State, says:
The true policy Of the Democratic party IL Gle.
waited far above the plane Of mere personalsm; we
hold that its foundation rests In wise und erstand-
Ing OF patriotic duty, and that true regard for
! that duty prompts us to support the Adminstra-
ton so long as Its policy conforms to convc-
tons OF what the country needs contrary course
I simply arrays the Democratic party In blind and
absurd opposition TO Its own principles, so often
announced and places It In the position Of leopard
izng II not giving away, the good Of the nation 10
crafty an indignation which, natural as II may be
should never be allowed to obstruct the welfare Of
the people.
PERSONAL,