Middletown transcript., 1895-10-12
..AMER1cA FOR AM ER1CANs."

''AMERICA FOR AM ERICANS."
Do not be frightened at the caption
Neither editorial criticism nor com.
ment upon the fine, patriotic lecture by
Rev. Merritt Hulburd, D. D., in the
Opera House, Tuesday evening, il
thought of nor is it required. His was
a splendid effort before crowded
house of representative citizens. capa-
BILE of appreciating the wit, the elo-
quence, the intense patriotism of both
the lecture and the lecturer. Praise
can add nothing to the effort; adverse
criticism, If such can be thought of,
cannot detract from it. More frequent
lectures of a similar character could
but have good effect, and the ladies
Of the w. q. T. IT,, who invited DIR.
Hulburd here, and the Jr. o. U. A. NJ,
who assisted in the arrangements, have
not only the thanks of those present
Tuesday evening but the congratula-
tions of every one upon its success. The
TRANSCRIPT wishes merely to recall
one or two statements made by the
doctor and to emphasize them.
When DIR. Hulburd expressed his
disapproval of the donations made to
Sunday-schools by the Levy Courts OF
this State, there we're Intelligent men
present who questioned the accuracy
of his statement, doubling the fact
that.such allowances are made annually,
so meagre is the general information
upon the details of public affairs. His
declaration that no union of church
and State is wanted or can be per-
mitted in this country was applauded
to the echo, and without doubt it had
the endorsement of every one OF his
hearers. But we venture the assertion
that personal canvass of the Sunday
school superin tendents of this State
would show that nine-tenths Of those
men and women, not only accept the
county allowance, such as is made to
outdoor paupers, willingly but they
would protest against the repeal of the
law, or that the allowances should be
decreased. We have found such op-
position. We found it when we pro-
posed in the General Assembly to re-
peal the law. There was opposition to
its repeal last winter, yet it is in a
measure a union of church and State,
q contribution from the State to the
church. We know of one superinten-
dent who objected strongly to any re-
peal of that law and yet he grew in
dignant that property belonging 10 the
Catholic Church should be exempted
from taxation. He was not cOnsis-
tent. Few men are, but most men
like to hide it more than the gentle
man referred to. DR.. Hulburd was
right in his criticisms of the practice
which many citizens did not know ex-
listed, and nine-.enths of the superin-
tendents would agree to the principle
of lis proposition if it were put theore-
tically and they did not know that
having gotten their assent he could
turn and say '.thou art the man." The
principle is wrong and the practice
should be stopped.
Another point, of the many excell-
ent ones in the lecture, that we would
emphasize, is his reference to the con-
ditions that are the greatest foes to our
form of government. He named them
as ~ the ignorant vote, ~ the venal
vote, (3) the partisan vote. There is
food here for reflection upon the part
of every citizen, In the purity of the
ballot lies the safety of the country,
and the ballot should not only be free
from corruption but it should be intell-
igent and liberal.
The ignorant voter may not be bad
ma Intentionally but because of his
lack of education he the more easily
becomes the tool of the demagogue,
and the demagogue is dangerous
character. We do not believe in any
property qualification to the enjoyment
Of the elective franchise but we would
welcome an educational qualification
If 1t were honestly applied. A man
may not be able to read and write and
yet be,competent to cast an intelligent
vote, but there are many whose ignor-
ance should bar them against the bal
bt box. Thousands Of snch voters are
Ade in our counts of naturalization,
and made because they vote in a body
the ticket of their bosses. Those votes
stand against the ballots of educated
men, and often they outnnmber them
and threaten the life of the Republic.
Much has been said of the venal vO-
tar, the bribe taker. DIR. Hulburd said |
that the bribe giver is as bad as the
bribe taker. Both are dangerous. but |
the practise has grown until the vice
has really become popular and people |
are apparently indifferent to the crime,
for crime il is. Men who are the most |
openly guilty of it are honored with
positions of trust and power. II the
law against bribery were strictly en-
forced and every man who has contrib
uted to party corruption funds In this
State were deprived of official position,
there would scarcely be an officer left
in the State from the highest to the
lowest. This is sweeping declaration
but we believe it is true, and it is be-
cause Of It's trnthfulness that there IS
50 great indinerence tosthe danger u |