Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-08-11


copyright. 1898, by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
WASHINGTON, Aug. DR.. Talmagc in
this discourse arrnigns tho various modes
by which some people get money that does
pnt belong to them and commonds tho
fair dealing that succeeds best Mt last;
text, Timothy vi, 8, "The? that will bo
rich fall into temptation and n snare,
and into many foolish and hu-tful lusts,
which drown men in destruction and per-
dition"
That is the Niagara falls over which
rush IA multitude Of souls-namcly, tho
determination to have the money anyhow,
right ovNrong Tell me how man gets
his mcxny and what he does with IL and
l will tell you his character and what
will be his destiny in this world md tho
next propose TO speak today about the
ruinous modes of getting money.
In all our city, state and national cleo
lions large sums of money are used In
bribery. Politics, from being the science
of good government, has often been be-
draggcd into the synonym for truculency
and turpitudc. a monster sin, plausible,
potent pestiferous, has gone forth to do
its dreadful work in all ages. Its two
hands are rotten with lcprosy. 1t keeps
its right hand hidden in u deep pocket
Tho left hand is cluchcd, and with its
ichorous knucklo it taps at the door of the
courtroom, the legislative hall, the con
grcss and the parliament. The door swings
omen and the monster enters and glidcs
through the aisle of the council chamber
as softly us u sippcrcd page, and then 1t
takes its right hand from its deep pocket
and offers it in salutation TO judge or leg
islator II that hand be taken and the
palm Of the intruder cross the palm of the
oflicinl the lcprosy crosses from palm to
palm in n round blotch, round as gold
eagle, and the virus spreads, and the doom
is fixed, and the victim pcrshes. Let
bribery, accurscd of God and man, stand
up for trial.
The Biblo arraigns it again and again.
Samuel says of his two sons, who became
Judges, "They tool; brides and perverted
Judgment" David says OF some Of his
pursucrs, Their right hand is full of
brides" Amos says of some men in his
day. They take brbc and turn aside
the poor in the gate" Eliphaz forctclls
the crushing blows Of Gods Indignation,
declaring, Fire shall consume the tabor
naccs of bribery"
The Mighty Fallen.
1t is no light temptation. Tho might
est have fallen under it. Lord Bacon,
lord chancellor of England, founder of
our modern science, author of "Novum
Organum" and whole library Of books
the leading thinker Of his century, so pre-
cuciuus that when as little child he was
asked by Queen Elizabeth, How old are
you?" he responded, 81 am two years
younger than your mnjcstys happy reign
of whose oratory Ben .JonSon wrote, Tho
,f al hnurl IN 10
he should make an end, having an in
como which youwould suppose would have
put him beyond tho temptation Of bribery
$40, 900 year and Twicko'ham court,
gilt and princcly estates in HEREFORD
shirc-yct under this temptation to brib-
cry, falling flat into ruin and on his con-
fcssion of taking brides giving rs excuse
that all his predecessors took them; Inc
was fined 5000, 900, or what corresponds
with our 5000, 900, and imprisoned in Lon
don Tower.
Tho black chapter in English, Irish,
French and American politics is the chap
ter of bribery. some of you remember the
Pacific Mail subsidies. Most Of you re-
member the awful tragedy Of the Credit
Mobilcr. Under the temptation to brib-
cry Benedict Arnold sold the fort in the
highlands for S3lj 80. For this sin GOrgey
betrayed Hungary, Ahithophcl iorsool;
David, and Judas kissed Christ. When
sec so many of the illustriuus going down
under this temptation, it makes me thnl;
of the red dragon spoken of in Revelation
with seven heads and ten horns and seven
crowns drawing u third part of the stars
OF heaven down after him.
The Hobbies of the legislatures of this
country control the country. The land /,
drunk with bribery, "Oh," says somC
one, there's no need Of talking against
bribery by promise or by dollars, becaus,
every man has his price do not bclicy,
it. Even hcathcnism and the dark ages
have furnished specimens Of incQrruptihil
ity. a cadi of smyrna had case brought
before him on trial A man gave him 50t
ducats in bribery The case came ON. Tn,
}riber had many witnesses, The pool
man on tho other side had no witnesses
AT the close of the case the cadi said
"This poor man has no witnesses, h,
thinks. l shall produce in his behalf 50t
witnesses against the other side TheI
pulling out the bag of ducats from undo
the ottoman he dashed it down at the fee
of the bribcr, saying, IL give my decision
against you" Epaminondas offered
bribc, said II will do this thing if it b.
right, and II it bc wrong all your good
cannot persuade me.
"A Poor Compliment.
Tho president Of the American congress
during the American Revolution, Genera
Reed, was offered 10000 guineas by for
eign commissioners if he would botra
this country. He replied, Gentlemen,
am u very poor man, but tell your king h
is not rich enough to buy me-" But VIII
go so far when you and !, If we move il
honorable society, know men and womc
could not he bribcd. They would no NOR
be bribcd than You would think of tempt
ing an angel of light to exchange hcayo
for tho pit. 10 offer n bribo is villainy
but 1t Is very poor compliment to tn
man to whom it is offered,
l have not much faith in those peopl
who go about Dragging how much the
could get If they would only sell on
Those women who complain that they NJ
Every often insulted need to understan
that there Is something in their carriap
to invite insult. There arc men at A
bany and at Harrisburg and at Washing
ton who would no more be approached b
bride than pirate boat with u few ell
lasses would daro to attack n British MAJ
of-war with two banks Of guns on cac
side loaded to the touchhole. They N
incorruptible men, and they are the fe
mon who are to save the city and save ii
land.
Meanwhile my advice is keep out
politics unless you arc invulncrable to tn
style of temptation. Indeed II oven yC
are naturally strong you need religio,