St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-08-07
TALMAGE'S SERMON,
Tolls How to Secure Safety foa
Our CITES
and Religious Standpoint =
Council to Those HOlding
Public Positions.

DR.. Talmage, in the following sermon,
discusses from moral and religious
standpoint the welfare of all the towns
and cities Of our country. His text is
Ezekiel xvii, b 70 thou that art stu.
~ate at the entry of the sea-"
This is a part of an imp0ssioned apos-
trophe to the city of Tyre. 1t was beau
fiful city-a majestic city. At the east
end of the Mediterranean it sat with
one hand beckoning the inland trade
and with the other the commerce OF for
eign nations. 1t swung a monstrous
boom across its harbor to shut out for
eign enemies, and then swung back
that boom to let in its friends. The air
of the desert was fragrant with the
spices brought by caravans to her fnirs,
and NIL 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 upholstery and ebony and ivory
from Dedan; with emeral1s and agate
md coral from Syrias with wine from
Helbon; with finest needlework from
Ashur and Chilmad. Talk about the
splendid staterooms OF your Cunaru
aud Inman and White Star lines of
international steamers - why, the
benches of the staterooms Ia those
Tyrian ships were all ivory, and instead
of our coarse canvas on the mast of
the shipping, they had the finest linen,
quilted together and inwrought with
eMbroideries 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
towers, 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 borbarians 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 I have
thought it might be useful to talk lit
tie while about the moral responsibility
resting upon the Office bearers in all our
cities, theme as appropriate to those
whe are governed rs to the governors,
The moral character of those who rule
q 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
lis very well. But it Is high time that
we took some Of the attention which we
have been devofing to national affairs
and brought Il to the study Of municipal
government. This it seems to me now
IL the chief point to be taken. Make
the cities right and the nation will be
right. 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 hope3 With the might
lest agert 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-
lgion into politics. I look over our
cities and 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
l 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 nor arraignment for
glittering 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 q
court susceptible to bribes, in that city
there will be unlimited license for all
kinds Of trickery and sin, while. on the
other hand. if officials are faithful to
their oath of Office, il the laws are
promptly executed. if there is vigilance
In regard to the outbrunchings OF
crime. there is the highest protection
Tor all bargain making.
] A merchant may stand in his store
and say: Now. TIL have nothing to do
with city politics. will not soil my
hands with the slush." Nevertheless
the most insignificant trial in the police |
court will affect that merchant direct |
II Or indirectly. What style of clerk is
sres the writ? What style of constable |
makes the arrest? What style Of attor-
ney issues the plea? What style Of
Judge charges the jury? What style Of
sheriff executes the sentence? These
are questions that strike your counting
rooms to the center. You may not |
throw it on. In the city of New York |
christian merchants for a great while |
said: Wen have nothing to do with
the management of public affairs" and
they allowed everything to 60 at loose
ENDS until there rolled up In that city
> aeot of nearly $lae, coo, The mu,