The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-07-21
PUBLIC OPINION.
The Rev. David MitchelI's Strong
Denunciation of Rings.

DenunclaL10H Oh RlngS.
A large congregation assembled last
night in the Scotch Presbyterian Church
to listen to sermon by the pastor, the
Rev. ID. Mitchell, upon e:Public Opinion. y
The text was the appropriate one. ''And
all the people arose as osse man, Judges
Xxx, s.
The preacher said:-"We have here the
instance of a people reused to indigna-
tion against a manifest wrong The
wicked murder of the concubine who
was in the eyes OF the people the wife of
the Leyite, was committed in Gibeah.
The Levite appealed to the people for
justice, cutting the dead body into twelve
parts and sending one part to every tribe
with a report of the dread crime
Then all the children of Israel from
Dan to Beersheba were gathered
together as one man. In consequence of
the appeal of the Levite to avenge him,
all the people rose as one man and re-
solved to punish Gibeah. God approved
their conduct and at length the tribe of
Benjamin was almost destroyed. We
have before us an example of a people
acting under q sense OF wrong committed
and rising to the grandeur Of united and
determined action. / remember well the
Tweed Ring in New York. How the peo-
pie admired men who could steal millions
from the public purse. A description OF
Tweed purchasing jewels on the occasion
some marriage, snail not forget. The
man was demigod. His nod ruled New
York. There was glamour thrown over
the public mind by the glaring hardihood
of the corrupt ring. But what change
in fortunes wheel, from exalted pros
perity and boasted power, of buying
voters to the trial and conviction, to the
escape and capture, to the tragic end of
Tweed in Ludlow Street Jail The same
lessons were repeated with the Broadway
Ring and with Jacob Sharp at its head.
But for his sudden death, what might not
have befallen the Broadway Boodler?
From being joked about and lauded to
the skies, he became the ball at the feet
of the people to be kicked into fgnomini-
GUS shame and yet the pendulum has
swung to the opposite side and now see
the boodlers returning from Montreal
with the feeling that the storm has blown
over and they are all right 1t was salts
factory to this city to witness the recent
conviction Of those who were tried for
perjury at the polls. All honor to the
judge for his scathing charge to the jury.
But the lion is apt to 20 to sleep after It's
carrion feast. These men are out on
bail Before retrial the lions hunger
may be appeased and these very men who
are under sentence of law may soon be
returning TO society with the look of be-
ings much wrouged.
"Such is public opinion. 1t is long be-
fore it is aroused. 1t is patient. 1t en-
dures much. There is even the feeling
with many that we would not objecJ to
portion of the spoils, il 1t could be done
quickening of the public pulse in view of
the perfidy disclosed. Next, the lion
RACES. 1t would tear the defaulters to
pieces. One of them Is detected, i'm
prisoned, fined. Public opinion is satis-
fed, and we enter upon another period
marked by the incubation of new and
other crimes. We give the pulpit and
the press all honor as exponents of popu-
lar opinion. The press, indeed, wields q
tremendous force for good or evil, and
we are glad TO acknowledge that she is
generally on the side Of law and order.
"Tnere can hardly be another moment
like the present for rousing the public
conscience. There are several subjects
that should stir society to its depths.
Amongst these we would name the es-
cape Of real traitors through the laws
delays and the revulsions of public
opinion. We expect the moment when
the people shall rise up as a great lion.
Again, we hope. to hear the popular mind
expressing itself upon divorce and the
drink traffic. We divide our forces too
much. We are broken up on party
lines There Is the monster
drink-ruining families, degrading
individuals, undermining society.
Obi for the time when the people shall
rise up as one man against the reign of
corruption and poison. II again, the
people were alive to their best interests,
they would declare themselves against
every form of Sabbath violation-against
games and open saloons. and beer gardens
with their music on the Sabbath day. The
people as one man do not see into this
now But let the lion wake up and shake
his name, and what scattering would
ensue.
"Public opinion has to be guided. To be
of value it must be enlightened. Here is
work for the church. Let the Bible be
circulated, and its truths touching all
points Of our social problems be enforced.
Let wholesome literature be encouraged.
Above all let the the press and the pulpit
ally their forces-be on the side of re-
form-and we make but little doubt of
victories for the truth. And when thes Q
are won let us beware of relapse, of fall
ing into death-like sleep, and allowing
the evils once again proudly to lift up
their heads"