National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-08

The Rev. DR.. Talmagc's Friday evening
lecture to his Brooklyn Tabernacle congre-
gation--telcgruphed to the NATIONAL RE-
PUBLICAN and printed in our eight.pagc
edition of last Saturday-was very pleasant
and suggestive reading for Washingtonians
in general and for lawmakers and other
officials in particular These lectures, al
though informal, familiar talks, are eX-
tierncly attractive, quite as much so to
those who belong to no church or sect as to
the most rigidly strict communicate. DIR.
Talmagc Is wise enough TO recognize the
fact that doctrinal discourscs do not draw
crowds nor attract readers. Even his regu-
lar Sunday sermons, reproduced in our
Monday issues, although breathing a spirit
Of feTent picty, are intended for
the masses. They treat Of domestic
life, Of business life, of the rela-
tions Of man to his fellows, and they
show keen insight as to secular affairs.
They rebuke evil and show the impolicy Of
wrong-doing in a manner that contrasts
strongly and pleasantly with that of the
pulpit platitudnaran. But the Friday
evening talks Of the doctor are fascinating
in their crisp and brilliant simplicity and
dircctness. We take pleasure in announc.
ing that we have arranged to have them
regularly reported for and telegraphed to
our eight-pagc Saturday issues.
The doctor had Just returned from Wash
ington when he met his flock last Friday
evening, and, judging from what he said,
his visit must have been very satisfactory.
lie eXtolcd the beauties Of the capital city
in warm but truthful terms, aud added:
this week looked into the eye of many of
the men now in national legislature aud in
other high positions ut Washngton and !
have TO report that we have higher type of
character in the men at the capital than ever
before. Some accidental slip of temper OF
irregularlty in senatorial or congressional cir.
cles is apt to be reported throughout the land,
but the gcntlcmanlincss, the urbanity, the In.
dustry, the sclfsNcrifcc Of scores of men
who arc wearing themselves out for the coun.
try in committee rooms and other arduous
positions are not so apt to be reported, and
hence make this applaudOtory mention.
It is a fact that we have "hlgher type of
character in official life In Washington
than we have had in times past. We be.
lievc there has been u wonderful change in
this respect. and that the Improvement will
90 on I'm years to come.
The reason for this Is very simple.
Washington is representative city.
Official life here is just what the people
of the United States make 1t. I'm
prOvement here shows an advance in the
morality Of the republic. The fact that
public men in Washington have higher
standard Of morality than that which OBJ
tained years ago is proof conclusive that
the people Of the republic are better than
they used to be- The doctor says:
Washington IS the heart of the nation. If +.
send out good blood, good national life. If II
send out bad blood bad national life. lti to
me one OF the most fascinating cities in the
world, ana has reached higher condition OF
morality than it has ever before reached.
The influences that 20 out from this city
must depend on the character of the men
whom the people send here. Washington
Is not so much Of a cause as an effect, con-
sidered in its relations TO national life. 1t
has reached "a higher condition Of morali-
ty' because the people, In their continuous
ascent 10 higher and higher moral planes
demand higher standards in their public
servants.
1t is well that DR.. Talmage has recog
nized the facts in relation to our public
men. 1t would he well If others-and
especially some of the newspaper CORE.
spondents-could see, as he has seen, how
faithfully, modestly, honestly, anJ, earnest,
ly many Of them attend to their duties. In
all its departments and branches the public
service Of the United States has, by many
years of faithful work, been brought to q
high degree of efficiency, 1t is the best
public service on the globe, and the people
will not permit any party to degrade it.