Year: 1876

nrst rebellion, and the religious tone OF


the community is being elevated and


strengthened. The first rebellion did


not shock the moral sense as it ought.


because slavery was not generally re-


garded a great sin, and there was also


the excuse that many conceded the right


Of secession.


But the methods bv which our present


peril has been brought upon US are such


palpable wrongs, such Aagrant violations


Of law, human and Divine they show such


"a contempt for all rules that govern the


conduct Of honorable men. that they


have startled and shocked all who are


not deceived, or have not sunk low


enough to employ them. The moral


sentiment of the general community has


been toned up till it is becoming sensi.


tive and firm.


HONOR TO THE SECULAR PRESS.
1 wish / could say that this is due


largely to the free, bold, plain teachings


OF the churches, and the religious jour


mails. In some degree. doubtless, It is.


But for the most important arousing OF
the public conscience we are mainly in


debted to the great ability. the fearless
I pointed teachings Of the secular press.


When our churches and ministers be-


come thoroughly independent and out
/ spoken, when the ministers teach what
l Christ says, without fear OF the press. or
/ favor to the influential. the political at
mosphere will be purified. Albert Barnes


once truly said: Slavery could not sur
vive year il the churches would do
/ their duty" So it may be said now, il
churches and ministers would do their
whole duty, the most disgraceiul and
dangerous OF our political practices would


be blasted, and perish beneath the
lightning strokes OF truth. But the
churches are being reused. a vast amount
Of religious sentiment tends toward the
right, and we may hope that our pulpits
will soon give it a united and firm sup
port. Gods spirit seems TO be moving
here and there over the agitated deep.
and lie is able to bring peace. order, aud
beauty out of this tumult Of waves that
sweep over the popular sea.


Let US now spend few moments in
considering our present situation and
the nature of the perils which threaten.


WHO NOW ARE OUR GOVERNING cLAssEs2


First. let us see who now are our gov
erning classes. Society in this world is
not composed anywhere as vet of perfect
men, but il has hitherto been thought
absolutely necessary TO place government
in the hands Of the best and most capa- !
BILE men. whose property and business
give them an interest in maintaining
good order, and men who. il not rich, are |
at least decent and respectable in their !
habits. We have not supposed that even /
in our land OF universal suffrage il could /
ever happen that the ignorant, degraded |
classes. the vicious. dangerous men. could 1
ever be so numerous that when rallied to 1
the support of a single party. they could 4
hold the balance of power in National |
election. and thus become the actual gov
erning class in the land Now il we have
not reached that perilous and disgraceiul
condition, we have come within one Of Il.


THE MOB ELEMENT.


Take the single State OF New York. to
illustrate my meaning. and tn show our
danger One party claims the City Of
New York. say in round numbers, by
about seventy thousand majority But
the other party came to the city with
about forty thousand majority. the votes
Of the interior of the State. Now who
were the thousands that not only bal
anced the forty thousand ajority from
the State at large. but rolled up a major
ity of say thirty thousand more for one
Of the candidates. Some thousands Of
them, doubtless, were respectable citi-
Ltust bub tue thNt u bDhN Nut /
great mass Of them were from the worst
and most dangerous class OF the city. and
the result is that those who live in
vicious idleness by plunder. swindling.
violence, and murder, the dead
ly poison element of n great city. over
balance the votes of all the rest Of the
State. in short, they are the governing
class Of the great State Of New York.


In a less degree the same classes have
given their votes and influence to one
party, and have labored persistently to
gain for il victory Yet this is not
party question. No one partv is respon.
shle Tor universal suffrage II has been
adopted as the policy OF the Nation.


The fact which should alarm Us il, not
merely that a President might have
heen, or may have been elected by this
portion Of our population, but that the
methods OF the election have disclosed
their numbers, organized their strength.
showed them the mighty power they
WELD, made fraud, violence, a. D crime
increased their contempt Tor
law. and encouraged them in their mi
quities.


The peril is as great to the property
holders and business men of one party
as the other. Their party may soon be-
one to which the property Of Democrat
will be Just as acceptable as that OF a Re
publican. Ere long they may be EN-.
boldencd To make demands which can
not be resisted without blood.


We know that these dangerous classes
are increasing more rapidly than any
other portion Of our population ia all our
centers, and we can see that
there is but a single step between our
present state and that, when these men.
organized. armed, desperate, and inhu
enced with passion and liquor, and aided
by their tramping allies Of the country.
might pillage the cities OF the land, and
that without distinct on Of party.


FOREIGN PRIEsTLY PowER


Another large division Of our govern
ing classes Is composed of men who as
their leaders declare owe supreme alli
ance, not to this Republic, but To "A Tor
eign priestly power. 1t Is a foreign
kingdom planted in our midst, and plot
ting ever Tor the overthrow of our insti
tuiions; and growing strong. because We
will learn little or nothing from the
teachings OF history. aud are too intent
on party and business, and money max
ing, and luxury. and amu-ements. to
make any serious effort TO protect our
dearest rights and our most precious
privileges.


1t is one important preparation for
battle to ascertain the character and
strength OF the foe. We may be thank
ful that the Two classes which have been
mentioned, the mob element OF the large
cities and that foreign priestly power
which is in alliance with them, that these
stand out III clearer light than ever BE-
fore. We know with whom we have to
deal; we know their spirit and intrn
inns and we find Ihrm acting tnrrIher