The L'Anse sentinel., 1897-07-17
TALMAGE'S SERMON.
Tells How to Secure Safety for
Our Cities.
MunicipaI Government from . Moral
and Religious Standpoint -
Counsel to Those Holding
Public Positions.


Ezekiel xvii, 3: 20 thou that art stu
ate at the entry Of the seal"
This is part of an impassioned apos-
trophe to the city of Tyre. Itwas beau
tiful city-a majestic city. At the east
end of the Mediterranean IL sat with
one hand beckoning the inland trade
and with the other the commerce of for
cign nations. 1t swung monstrous
boom across its harbor to shut out for
eign enemies, and then swung back
that boom to let in it's friends. The air
If the desert was fragrant with the
spices brought by caravans to her fairs,
and oil seas were cleft into foam by the
keels OF. her laden merchantmen. Her
markets were rich with horses and
mules and camels from Togarmah;
with upholsteS fnd ebony and ivory
from Deday'TGpE.n emeralds and agate
and Oral ff6| |r Syria; with wine from
Helbo.: witR fircSt needlework from
Ashur and Chiluad. Talk about the
splendid staterooms of your Cunard
and Inman and White Star lines of
International steamers = why, the
benches of the staterooms in those
Tyrian ships were all ivory, and instead
of our coarse canvas on the mast or
the shipping, they had the finest linen,
quilted together and inwrought with
endoroideries almost miraculous for
beauty. Its columns overshadowed all
nations. Distant empires felt its heart
beat. Majestic city, situate at the
entry of the sea-" ~.
But where now is the CLEAN of her
overs, the roar of her chariots, the
masts of her shipping? Let the fisher
men who dry their nets on the place
where she once stood, let the sea that
rushes upon the barrenness where she
once challenged the admiration OF all
nations, let the barbarians who build
their huts on the place where her pal
aces glittered, answer the question.
Blotted out forever! She forgot God,
and God forgot her. And while our
modern cities admire her glory let
them take warning at her awful doom.
At this season of the year l have
thought it might be useful to talk lit
tie while about the moral responsibility
resting upon the Office bearers in all our
cities, a theme as appropriate to those
who are governed as to the governors.
The moral character of those who rule
a city has much to do with the char
acter of the city itself. Men, women and
children are all interested in national
politics. When the great presidential
election comes, every patriot wants to
be found at the ballot box. We are all
interested in the discussion of national
finance, national debt, and we read the
laws of congress, and we are wondering
who will sit next in the presidential
chair. Now, that may be all very well
is very well. But it is high time that
we took some of the attention which we
have been devoting to national affairs
and brought it to the study of municipal
government. This it seems to me now
is the chief point to be taken. Make
the cities right and the nation will be
right. I have noticed that, according
to their opportunities, there has really
been more corruption in municipal
governments in this country than in
the state and national legislatures.
Now, is there no hope? With the might
TEST agent in our hand, the glorious
gospel of Jesus Christ, shall not all our
cities be reformed and purified and re-
deemed? / believe the day will come.
am in full sympathy with those who
are opposed to carrying politics into
religion, but our cities will never be re-
formed and purified until we carry re-
ligioH into politics. look over our
cities and I see that all great inter-
ests are to be affected in the future,
as they have been affected in the past,
by the character of those who in the
different departments rule over us, and
propose to classify some of those in
terests. ...
In the first place, remark CONNER
cial ethics are always affected by the
moral or immoral character Of those
who have municipal supremacy. OFF,
cials that wink at fraud and that have
neither censure por arraignment for
glfttering dishonesties always weaken
the pulse of commercial honor. Every
shop, every store, every bazar, every
factory in the Cities feels the moral
character of the city hall. If in any city
there be dishonest mayoralty, or an
unprincipled common council, or O
court susceptible to bribes, in that city
there will be unlimited license for al
kinds of trickery and sin, while, on the
other hand, II officials are faithful &c
their oath of Office, II the laws art
promptly executed, IL there is vigilance
In regard to the outbranchings Of
crime. there is the highest protection
for all bargain making.
A merchant may stand in his stor'
and say: "Now, tn have nothing to d'
with city politics. will not soil m.
hands with the slush." Nevertheless
the most insignificant trial in the polio,
court will affect that merchant direct
ly or indirectly. What style OF clerk is
sues the writ? What style Of constabl
makes the arrest? What style of attor
ney issues the plea? What style o
Judge charges the jury? What style o
sheriff executes the sentence? Thes'
are questions that strike your counting
A. Al