Middletown transcript., 1895-07-20

HNg WS pendence Day re-
T9z!a1ssaSEz.llZs calls the double
0f~aG- duty of patriot
ism and loyalty to God. Ihave deemed
it well, therefore, to hold up before yor
this evening a picture of The Idea
Citizen Webster defines citizenshiI
as "a state of being vested with thu
rights and privileges of citizen A
citizen in the narrow and literal sense
is one who enjoys the freedom Of 9
city. The term is also used to desig'
nate native, as distinguished from 8
foreigner. In broader sense, citi'
zen is any person, native or natural
lied, who is qualified to hold a public
office, or vote for public officers. In
still broader sense, the term is applied
to any man or woman who is entitled
to protection in the possession of prop.
erty, and in the exercise of private
rights. 1t is of the voting citizen, and
to the voting citizen, that shall speak.
What the United States needs to-day,
more than any thing else, is not more
citizens, but better citizens. We have
too many mere voters, while good citi-
zens are far too few. Never has the
need been greater for citizens without
fear and without reproach, who dare
stand against all evil, and speak and do
the right, though the heavens fall. We
need citizens in moral reforms who
will not hesitate to say of this great
and growing Democracy of ours that
it is no saint, and that it must cut off
it's vices, and develop its virtues, or it
will degenerate into awful anarchy.
We need citizens in the pulpit, who,
when they preach to Felix-the sover-
eign with the ballot-Will dare to put
righteousness, and temperance, and
future judgement together, and will
haye power so to do it as to make Felix
tremble. We need citizens in the State
who will care more for principle than
for place; who will understand that
this growing Republic can never out
grow law, for it will never outgrow
God, and who will interpret to 1t the
voice of God. We need citizens In the
press who will not measure success by
my such miserable standard as the ex-
ent of their circulation, but by the
moral grandeur of their teachings;
md whose newspapers will rot be
merely the echoes Of depraved public
opinion or the organs of corrupt
,arties, but real instructors in righte-
BUSINESS; not flatterers of prejudice and
,assion, but noble leaders, teaching
Gods eternal truth. Evidences Of
his need multiply on every hand. The
eeking corruption of our whole politi-
al system is proof sufficient. Un-
crupulous ambition, cupidity and
,enality have attained most porten-
GUS magnitude. Entire depart
nents Of our government seem
o be administered with the prime
ntent to buttress party and reward ad-
lerents. The integrity Of the suffrage
s constantly assailed, elections are
'arried by almost open bribery, Offices
re bought and sold, and every politi-
al triumph is succeeded, or oftener
preceded and effected, by a scramble
or the spoils. Instead of govern
nent of and by and for the people, we
re threatened with an oligarchy of
lemagogues, from which decent con-
titutional monarchy would be a well
;ome refuge and relief.
The two great parties which claim
,ach Of them to carry the salt Of the
lation, both Of which need badly to
,e salted, are controlled largely by men
Who do not scruple to defraud the
community of its right to honest elec-
ions. The boss and the booty man
lave the best of the bargain; and the
yreat battle in politics often seems to
% which set of maggots shall eat the
cheese. In State and national affairs,
matters are not very much better. In
our own State, during the past winter
md spring, We have seen and heard
hat which brought pain and shame to
he hearts of all truly discerning and
patriotic men. A man with no fitness
,or the position pushed himself for
ward for an honorable office that was
once reserved for the best and worth
lest. His single qualification for the
place was that he was successful
money grabber. His sole claim was
hat he had contributed large sums Of
money to carry elections, the purchase
If votes, and the degradation of voters
being part of the process. He had
bought the seat, be intimated, and he
meant to have it. Some men who
seemed to put cash above character
md money above manhood, in politics,
shouted for him. Other men, good
men, some of them christian men, said
hat be should have the place, since he
had paid the price. OF all the rest,
heir great majority held their peace
while the disgraceful fight went on.
That such contest was possibility
anywhere in the land, ought to make
t plain to any thinking mind that we
ire on the edge Of the pit and must re-
race our steps. That men who would
not for the world themselves resort to
bribery are ready, for the sake Of party
to condone it in other men
and allow the bad to profit by their in
quity, is fact full Of portent. Ihave
said before-I repeat it, and I shall
continue to say it-that the rich man