The New York Herald Newspaper, December 1, 1876, Page 8

POLMCAL SERMONS. The Curse of Slavery and the Present Crisis. CAUSES FOR THANKSGIVING. The Presidential Election and Its | Lessons. A CHRISTIAN REPUBLIC. | The Majesty of the People a Reflex of Divine Law. PLYMOUTH CHURCH. HE CUBSE OF SLAVERY AND THE PRESENT CKISIS--SERMON BY HENRY WARD BELCHER. The congregation that assembled in Plymouth church yesterday was avery large one. Before the sermon she apnual collection for the poor was taken up, and ur. ner read a notice of a reading to be given xt Tuesday evening in the lecture room, by Mrs. Carter, and said is was owing to the influence ot the father of this lady (Mr. Cutter) that he left Indianapo- lis, where ho was then preaching, and came East, He | added that af the people felt that they had any cause | | for gratitude for his coming that they would have an bpportunity to pay off the debt by attending the read- Ing of Mr, Cutter’s daughter. Mr. Beecher then offered a fervent prayer. Ho said: “We thank Thee that Thou didst guide our fathers to | the founding of wise mstitutions, and bast enabled us to ofler torthe world the example of virtue tn their ad- | ministration; still, O Lord, lead our people not \brough the Red Sea, but through the waters of peace, | \bot we may forget the sight of blood.’’ Mr. Beecher discourse very suddenly. He spoke of the | momentary disturbances which just now alarm the | timid and influence the partisan, and said it was neces- sary to study the situ: tion calmly and carefully. Suid he ;—-It is twelve years since the civil war closed. Look at the fuets which that war Jeft us, Insiead ot applying aso rigid moral standard, Jet ug What was to bavegbeon expected of our people, judged by the standard of ordinary human nature Yhen we can judge justly whetber this should be a fast day or aday of thanksgiving. The war of 1776 broke pM a ance to Great Britain without directly ng the condition of the people The Iaws and general polity remajned the same, under a different ; tue government carried out the polity of the n. How to federate thirteen was the greatest difficulty; but not touch the vital point of the war of the Revolution lett us vo go forward along the line already uarked down. Then came the war ot 186L It was (he most confirmatory and revolutionary war of Any period that ever existed—contirmatory toward the Nortn, revolunovary toward the South, ‘tho effect on Ihe Nort of the wig: was not depressing; 1t changed bo imstitutions, it disturbed no Low of law or of gov- out, Linierruptéd no industries, still less did it rlany; it contirmed the rights and Nberties of sople, who are proud ol the government founded \v their Jathers; it ratified our history and illu. Wined it; it was the old path, broader and piuicr for our progress with renewea impe- s. In no respect, then, was it the result ot any great change” Every great element d social ite Was leit unchanged, except m heing made clearer, stronger and more ‘illustrious, Every torm of industry was augmented, capital flowed Into “us und imventions muitiphed on every hand. From the beginning 0! the troubles between the North aud South in the Jast forty years, 40,000 miles of were endowed, schovis were | The period of twen isa Anarvel in the bistory of the human race. The heart und bra ot the nation Were discussing the tunda- Mental questions of the day, NOW TURN TO THE SOUTH. Its hardly possible to couceive of the results of the + revolution upon the rebel States. [tb took trom t hangs of un imperious people the whole political con- trol which for filly years they had assumed. The North bore rule, the South ruled, The North was busy with business, the South with governing. Atthe close of the war there was not a Southern influence nu our government. For tive years ber men appeared m Congress, and when they entered they were wo longer the wen of oid—brilhiant, wilful, tmperidus—but siraugers came, one by one, impover- x worn, Wasted. The reins bad faen trom their they «ho had driven the magnificent @ continent now hung on benind, walking, auintroduced ito citizenship @ million the South iound themselves by thar odious companionship atthe polls, at was, ‘Are they men or mon- e ty picture such a proud, um- mMpion going among his former to pload Jor their votes’ No greater buzwilia- yuld have befallen them than to go with their ex. aves to the polis, and ina helpless minority at that Lelore that tue South nilemen voted not only for heir sinves as property; now g On two legs, Voted against Severe as Was the political efange the lauge was still more intolerable. They had ded the negro almost back to his Darwiman an- nd now he Was put on an equality with them, hot wonderiul, considering the . that there was no outbreak? bature of the ‘Thore people who Were formerly w y ure now impoverisied; | they Were rich 1m Sitves, and wow they were ony ihe equals of their former servants, It is the necessity for every man working for his own living that hus made the South what it now 18, aud 1 fore: a ume for the South when she shall rival it not surpass the North, These people had lived a hfe of elegant leisure; their pur- yose Was but to enjoy themselves, aud he who had jeurned to dawdle tisteiuily was admitied to ve a gentleman. Of course ali the people of the South were bot w the poor Whites were poor indeed; yet ail | tho rs have now learned or are learuing to | work. The momenta man has to work tor bis living | ew influences get hold cf nim; be cannot beip it. Work is doing tor the South, gradually und siiently, did sor the North in oays gone by. This chanze, | ersal, continuous end irresistible, wrench can be n to a State tion of its whole wealth. producing econ- y. and (hat in two or three years, It iaxes numan | ture to endure it, and yet the South stood the strain | aud has gamed more glory by it than she ever had in | the days when she rujed the Republic, She has | tearned to work. ‘Ihe grand way in which she mam t her cause on the field is a proof that sbe w: achieve greainess in the future, She destroyed her wealth without a tremor and now stands on barren ground, Tue hammer, the anvil and the spade will work out her greatness im the future, Mr. Beecher bere spoke at some length of carpet- Dagging, which, he said, was occasioned vy the refusal for years by the Southern gentlemen to accept politi- cal pi It was a necessity to have a government, aod, as pone could he found im the South to constitute It, men {rom the North vecame possessed of the offices. SOWING THK WIND. When South Carolina inangurated the war she darted @ logical train of circumstances that pow ends in trouble that goads he peration, She sowed the wind and she now reaps the whirlwind. She de- tlares that the wind blows trom the North, but I say that it blows from above. The evils of the ‘South are 9! her own infliction, When was declared sho rubstantiaily declared that she wa willing to take the | issues, General Gordon 1s very lout when the white | man sutiers; but thousands of black men have been driveu from the pollg, scores and hundreds killed out- Tight, and he has no telegrams with whieh to Gli the pape When colored meu are murdered in cold blood, when Whoie counties are throws into anarchy | by te doings of Southern men, General Gordon tays nothing, but when the State House of South Caro- ima ts taken po 1on ot by United States troops to | prevent tumu:t, then he sends to the newspapers of the North a cry of despair, and Northern partisans sit in sackcloth jn the vale of desolation and wail, It is Apparent also that the two Stater, Seuth Carolina and uisiana, which were thorns in the side of the people fore the war, have suffered most in recenstruction, It eins us if the Lord bad said, “I will mage slavery the nishment of ” Ibis n@& strange that ero have been some outbreaks in the South, Ibis Bot in paturo to kiss the rod; the South never was given to kissing the rod. Whenyou consider that for fifty years they reigned supreme, and then had their whole Foclal condition reorgamiaed, 18 it strange that they 40 not seem to enjoy the luxury of their desolation? i never Yet im the main their tendency is wholesome. teel so sure of the success of THE CARDINAL PRINCIP! onder republican government as w: ew of the South. prehensive how so regard the party in whose hands the govern- ment has been for fifteen years. 1 hear men to-dav with those in wer, wus there cver an administration that had buch difficulties to settle? ‘They are doing Muings for which they never had a pattern. To turn 5,000,000 slaves into citizens—was that an oasy thing, right im the face of those who yesterday owned them, to do and keep peace? There never was task as this. t 18 said that there is Treasury, that red hot deu of temptation, but is it the first time that oney has been stolen from the Treasury? (Laughter.) aby ely with the capital im the days of Washington the as been less. (Appiause.) wu and by, when it ia all past, then the lives of thes@men who bave assisted in the reformation of this Iand will staad bigher than the men who formed the constitution, and not far from a martyr will be that man who with his sword put an end to the rebellion and finding fault bat who has been ior cight years at the head et an administration in peace and silence. I will stand second oniy to Lincola, (Appiause.) | The question to-day among the upknow! all men) is wh the enigma of to-day is g solved? There are diflerences in Florida, and South Carolina, and the strain which the has to bear is a great one, but this is a thoroughbred uation, and in such times it tells. (Applause) Nothing ts so much dreaded in Europe asa disputed succession. iwenty-two times without the show of a bayonet, If it is Decessary it will become us to sit patiently under a wrong rather than make tumult. Henry Clay was thought to have been _improperiy deprived of his election g to the —Pres- dency. The Pleqemine frauds re declared to the vote of Lowisiaua, The who party beheved this, but although they 5 rly of the fraud they did not oppose the result declared. In our own Staie John Jay was electe George Clinton was declored Governor, The people waited, and the next timo they put Jay ixto office triumphantly. The South betore rejused to accept the arbitrament of the people at the election of 1861, and South ‘olina struck the first blow. Whatever may be done respecting the Presiaency in this emeggency the North, by both its great parties, will ace formal decision, whatever the justice may be, and look to the future tor redress. And the South will certainly not offer violence; it has no blood lett; besides, Buchanan is not President. (Applause.) And lastly, can we endure to have our whole machinery Vitiated by fraud? We eannot, To-day our courts, our public economy are threatenca, ang if the advance 18 made, and the fraud that corrupts the vote in small districts rises amd touches the chiet executive, thas moment we | be no better than Mexico, N: cannot aflord to have the President, who sits in W ington, upon a fraudulent counting of votes, I know, and you know, that if there had been a fair election 10 Florida and Lousiana, that there would have been an overwhelming majority for the republican candidate. (Applause.) We know that men were denied the right of the ballot, But this wholesalo fraud on one side does not justily fraud ox the other side— (applause)—ana if there is 10 be a man sent to Wash- ington by fraug, let not the other side be tainied vy fraud, Better have your antagonist in the chair than your man by the advance of a single tainted vote, and iheretore I hope that if on a fair report of the state of things in Louisiana Hayes shall have reason to believe that there bas been uniairness in counting, it ts my wish he should say, and make hitasell torever ilus- trios, “1 will not sit im Washington's seat un- less I can sit there with Washington’s purty.” (Applause) Discard from your mind ail anxiety, The country is safe, A part of the road is past, and the rest will be gone through with, and therefore I call upon all men to join with mo tn thauksgiving and praise to God that while we have harvest and peace that we have this—that a revolution ha taken place by which 5,000,000 slaves became 5,000,000 freedmen, by which | the whole political economy was changed, and the day will speedily come when the cbildren of the North and South shall speak together of the deeds of their Jathers, forgetting the furore and bloodshed, bat will sit down together in amity, and this land shall be as Fmanuel’s and, Never before have | stood to exbort you to thanksgiving so profound as this, FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION—-SERMON BY THE REV. DR. ARMITAGE, At the Fifth avenue Baptist church yesterday morning the Rev. Dr, Armitage preached betore aiarge and attentive congregation, The subject of his sermon was the Presidential election, taking his text from II. Samuel, x.,12—"'Be of good counsel, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God;’ and I, Chronictes, xii, 32—‘“The Children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.’ The times of which these passages severally treat, said the reverend speaker, were timos of severe trial in Isracl. The nation was in a state of alarm, making it neediul that men of political sagacity should wake up and look about them. In their straits the Commonwealth demanded something more than prowess and skill in the use of arms. While they needed an army to enforce the rights of their country they just then needed much more—men of patriotic brain and heart, whe could look through a millstone and sco what the grist of the national mill was to be. The Thanksgiving Day of the second American cen- tury finds our Republic in asomewhat similar condi- tion, Fora hundred years it has been our boast that we aroa nation of freemen, of politicians, of states- men, and after overcoming one form of difficulty after another in establishing and maintaining a democracy wo are met, for the first time, with a pecular form of perplexity in the selection of o chiet magistrate, arising largely out of our electoral system of choosing that officer. The most sagacious man in the Republic would have pronounced it incredible tbat we could have drifted into our present embarassment under that system after escaping all serious trouble therefrom so long. But even now there is nothing which needs to seriously disturb the peace ofthe country, much i@ss to threaten the national life, if our sons of Issachar will keep cool, act dispassionately and be actuated by the large and generous incentives of practical common sense, :vstead of the Vague and circumscribed standards ot political partisans. So far from regarding the stirrmg agitation o! to-day as a ground of ii! feeling and bad blood, much less of an- archy and revolution, each citizen should approach it with that fidelity and love of couniry which will most happily guiue us through the emergenc; AN EMERGENCY, NOT A CRI Really it is but in emergency, and not necessarily a crisis Unless we choose ty make it one by the surgings of angry strife, Whichever way the electoral su:- {rages may be cast may make the times critical and iinperil the peace of the Repubhe if true patriotism, sound political philosophy and manly common sense are Jaid aside, The fact is, that in a very important sense the declaration of this or that man as President, at this time, 18 not a party question, while 1n a subor- inate sense it is, Both the parties cannot win, and, uolortupately, the situation ot affairs 1s so shaped that the disappointed purty, whichever it may be, will have but too much reason for the claim of cor- ruption and e¢bicanery against the other, Bat what then? Are our citizens capable of no higher ambition than to convert a difficulty into a danger by its tierce aud ery handling? Have our liberties cost us so lightly that we can aflord to joopard then, even, on every serious occasion that may arise? Is there no other way to make re- publican history than by dogged strife, the sword and tne bayonet Is thero no other way of purging cor- ruption, tighting wrongs and creating progress? any President worth bloodshed and revolution in the United States, either personally or officially? ‘To be sure, our constitution calls for such an ollieer, and under its provisions we have always had one, and are likely to bave one in the future, Butit the peace, unity und progress of the Republic are to be en- dangered on the threshold of (he second century of ils life by the question as to who shall serve the cvuntry in that capacity for four short ycar-, why, then, the gamo 18 not worth the can- die," The Presidential office in a@ republic is not of safticient consequet to justily such resorts, It need be, a republic can live as we out a Pres dont as with one, us 18 proved by the Swiss Conieder- acy, Which knows nothing of such an officer, Our form of government calls for this tunctionary, and our constitution points out the way of obtaining him. Let us tuliow its provisions 80 jong as they ure what the well-being of the nation deman interests call for alterations of that them according!y in pnstitutional way. Bot it is worse than (rifting—it is a crime—for any man to cou sel strite and resistance to the inaugurating of this or that man under our present torm of government, especialy for the reason that traud, overreach- ing, bribery or any other wrong has been per- pirated at the dailot box in securing his elevation, With us the man is chosen but for four years, ana not for lite, he may be impeached and re- moved for proper cause, and he cannot be placed in his chair without submission to the forms of law at If these forms are invaded there. aro other ode of redress side from the violence of popular tumuit, andif these forms are not sufficient to pre- vent corruption in their present state let the people jegitimately make them what they should be, These steps would cover the popwar rights of the citizen NOW aud in all times to cume, Wile the present elec- tion of ether Mr. Tilden or Mr, Hayes, both of them avie und hoporadle citizens, ould be a credit to the country. The reat tact is that we have reached a necessity, a stress upon our torm o! exercising the civetive franchise, which demands all “splay the man,’ rising above trifling and ms, And meeting the occasion on the higher { responsible citizenship. If we pass ¢ 8 1 believe we shail, under the dictation of that manbood which understands the times, the dis- ciphne will mure to that gradual but safe cdacation ol the pation in seit-governuzent which will be of in- valuable service to coming generations, but to nono of them more beneficial than to our own. In truth, the best method of expressing profound gratitude for our past hverties is to protect them by the light of ex- perience, and to guard them the more vigiiuntly aod intelligentiy in the fuvure, And with this in view it may not be out of the way if I should, more asa c izen tha: minister, call your attention to two or Shree things bearing upon tho exercise of our elective franchise, ospeciully in selecting a President, THK PRESENT METHOD UNSATISFACTORY. The speaker then considered the present methods of electing a President, He beiieved that the Electoral Collego was a necessity, The thirteen colonies claimed to be thirteen sovereigntics, and the question arose whether they would govern themselves thirteen separate nations, with as many Presidents, armics, custom houses and Con- gress whether they should “form a more periect ‘union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defeneec,” and * general wellaro’’ of the whole country, or let it go to pieces in the several parts, They wisely decided to take the former course, under the previsions of a eral constitution for “The United States of America, Then the further question arose as to how the federal government should be constitated, in determi: whieh an endiess number of some of them appeart: late day. For cxamp 0 C tion of 1787, Gouverneur Morris made a specch, in which he said that the House of Representatives, originating With the people, would ever be subject to precipitaacy, changeaoility and excess, Therefore, in order to check these tendencies, he proposed that the Senate should bo composed of none but men of great method make wealth, and that they should be chosen jor life. He admitved that ry proves that the men of large property will uniiormly endeavor to establish tyranny,” and asked, “How, then, shatl we ward off is ovil.”? ive them,”” and you secure th This shows how the id he, ‘the second braneb, ight for the public good." jest of men can ve misiaken and when our real | | im the practical workings of a democratic government without the teaching cf experience. The present elect- oral system was dev:sed as the best possible wethod of meeting this case. Each kreat and sinall, was to have an equal representation in the Senate—two Senators, to be elected by the State legislatures, and two olectoral votes accordingly in choosing & Here we have elected sixteen Presidents | President. Then, in addition, the people of each Staite were to elect as mony persons to rep- resent them in the Electoral College as they had Representatives in the popular branch of Congress, Th has worked weil ip the main, althot ite ve always been apparent tu some of our tesmen and jur chietly because it fre- quently happens that while a candidate has a majority of alithe votes ip the Electoral College he has bota minority of the popular vote by which that college is elected. Dr. Armitage then took up a suppositious case. That if the Electoral College was only to act when the pop- ular vote did not elect it would be the means of secur- ing a President tor the majority of the people. The same method might be adopted for the Vice President. But there was even a better way, which was to give the tthe | Vice Presidency to the Presidential candidate receiving the second highest number of votes. CIVIL SERVICK REFORM. He suggested that the first hundred years of our his- tory has fully developed a radical defect in our whoio system of c:vil service, inate connection with excessive Presidential prerogative. For a long time attempts have been made, with but little success, to reform the civil service, The plans which have been devised with that endin view have been matured with cau- tion, and in clearly pure motives; but it seems to have been entirely overtooked that the delect is radical apd copstitutional, while in most respects our form ot government is more demo- cratic than that ef any other Republic, We present the anomaly v! clothing our President with prerogatives which no constitutional monarchy on earth ape trusted to its sovereign. Ha appoints nearly office-holders, postmasters, am’ lors, collec. tors, &c., and the amount of patronage «is- tributed through all will fall but hitue, if an 000,000 ually. Beside thes mmander-in-Chief of the army and navy;’’ has “power to grant repricvesand pardons for offences against the United States, and is jon all the officers of the United He submitted that there is no reason, and can beno justification, for clothing any man on earth with such constitutional powers. 1118 scarcely worth while | to compare the prerogatives of our democratic Presi- dent with those of an absolute monarch, or autocrat, such as the Kmperor of Russ.a, because in the one caso they are ceded by constitutional provisions, and in the other they are claimed as hereditary, Our President has too inuch power, and too much for ove man to do, Shall we never learn anything from the am- bition of executives, who cap if they will, and often do, wield this power to secure prolonged oecupancy of the Presidential chair, who use the public service with Duta secondary view to the public good and with a primary eye to party ends? Is it impossible for us to discover that tbe perpetual fever in which our nation lives about ‘‘the next President’? Is inimical to the public economy, stability aud health? We are per- petually depioring ‘‘corruption” and as perpetually demanding “reform,” and yet wo stubbornly refuse to seo that our very system renuers it hard jor a man to keep bimselt pure if he tries his very best to do so, The very system offers a premium to and fosters cor- ruption in all its forms, and yet we bl Practical oligarehy and deijude ourselves with tho idea that we have reached the very pinnacle of iree and popular government, trom the people and for the peo- plo, and by the people, Cau it be supposed tor a mo- ment that if the President of the United States were a mero executive to enforce the laws, without the power to dispense patronage for political ends, that 40,000,000 of peopleewould be holding their breath to-day lest some unlucky spark should ignité a magazine beneath the Repubiic which may, perchance, not only,enaanger its liberties but its life? Certainly not, nor is there any need for bringing things to such a pass as this. Make the President an executive oilicer of the Republic in fact, and nothing more, and this absurd state of things will soon cure itself, by showing that the President is not the Repubiic. GRACE CHAPEL. CAUSES FOR THANKSG]WNG—SERMON BY REV. SAMUEL OSGOOD. Grace chapel was well ‘fillca yesterday morning with a very attentive congregation, Rev. Samuel Osgeod preached the sermon, selecting nis text from I, Corinthians, 11L, 22, 2%,:—'Ye are Curist’s, and Christ is God’s.”” As we come together to-day, said the speaker, to givo thanks for the blessings thay crown the year, we cannot but remember that Ie has years of his goodness now look us in the face and call us to thanksgiving. Letus enter into the spirit of the occasion and accept from His loving hand the good gifts that have come to us as His people, Let this be our centennial Thanksgiving. Consider, in the first place the wealth of the nation that has been gathered within that century. Allusion was then inade to the prosperity of the nation in all things. Speaking of the present crisis in public Aflairs the speaker saia:— Cousider the government of, the nation in its in- tended and vindicated liberty and law, which make the strength of all the defence of each, education, in dustry and government combine all together to given thanks toGod for the inestimable gilt. 1 rejoice in liberty and law. Let us keep our manhood suffrage and make it truly maniy by training voters to intelli. gence and thrilt, We have, indeed, a bad class of voters, and while our best men never voic but once, some of our worst men are said to vote more than twice. We do not want such voters, and it would be well if we were rid of. them, but Jet us not make this mistake and strike at the head of our government, Do not think for a moment of taking the right of suffrage from the indus- trious poor, God bless the honest, poor, industrious voier, and instead of taking away his vote, insist be- | fore God 1n the dignity of suffrage; and let us not ve usbamed to call upon our men in the name of God to give the vote of an honest patriot. wisely and bravely the present crisis in our nation, We arc im the crisis of a great danger. We were in danger a fow yeurs ago by the contlict of arms, Now | we are in danger by a conflict of parties—perbaps | by a conflict of Jaw. Let us meet the | issuer with fortitude. Let the man who is !awfutiy | chosen President be President. When two superior | men have been nominated for the Presidency let those | two men show their superiority and let them both feel that should either accept the office unlawfully the exe- crations of huinanity and the curse of God would rest | upon him, I would not judge ol the facts, but let tho | rightrule. Let the strength of the nation be the rights ol the States, Let net the stroag oppress the weak. There ts a State that aska to have justice and asks to be loyal. Letit be loyal Let us be magnanimous, While we are just to Svah Carolina let us | rejoice a8 % ‘bation that we are able to vindicate the dignity of our national constitution. 1 am for the Christian principles of justice and magnanimity, And bere our national loy- ally rises into a law reference. I do not say the ree ligion of the State is to be organized by our political element. The President of the United states probably attends church to-day in the sect or doctrine Wesley founded, But the President 1s not to carry the Meth- odist organization into his Cabinet, ST. PAUL'S M. E. CHURCH. THE CHRISTIAN REPUBLIC—SERMON BY RRY. DR. CHAPMAN. Rev. Dr. Chapman, pastor of St Paul’s Methodist Episcopal church, delivered a discourse yesterday morning on the “Christian Republic.” In the open- ing invocation he prayed for the President, the Senate and House of Representatives, Stato legislatures and for a favorable issue to all the perplexing questions that now agitate the country. ‘The second lesson was the thirteonth chapter of the Epistle of St Paul to the Romans, of subjection to magistrates, In his discourse Dr. Chapman said that the people are now standing upon the summit of a century of national life, and the surrounding ficld 18 80 vast and crowded that ail are embarrassed by the multitude of subjects that invite attention, But to bis appre- hension there is one subject that will soon demaod more attention than it bas hitherto received. Thisis a Christian Republic, which seems to have been the design of the iounders of the nation, not as muintain- ing any particular form of ecclesiastical worship, not giving denominational preferences, but recognizing God and the contessed Word of God and protecting all forms of worship that do not interfere with individual Tights or with society, It seemed to him that no one can read the debates and discussions preceding the Declaration,ot Independence without thinking that the Christian religion underiaid all. The Colomal Congress defined religton, and said that the religion o! this country was of the Protestant character, ‘inomas Jofterson, who is claimed by the secularists, recog. nized a Divine Ruler, ana Daniei Webster said that Sunday Schools were the-salvation of the laud. Chris tianity must be made the basis of the civil institutions oft the country, It was faith that made the Revolation a success, and the fathers of the ntry put Lies: ogg to the front, beieving toat it was the conserving force of all human institutions. They held religious liberty to be as old as creation and as far reaching human des- tiny. So he would insist that this is a Christian Ree public and all its institutions must revolve around the Bible. 118 a Christian Republic de facto, and not merely in tho aimsot its designers. All oaths are administered on the Bible, there are chapiaincies in the State legis- latures, the Sabbath is observed and protected, and it is a dics non in legal and banking institutions, Christianity asks Do favor ol government, It has its own laws, and it cannot be protected, any more than the ocean or electricity. It protects in- of being tected. The Christian Republic de- pends upon three great principles. The first is per- sonal freedom. Without thir ere is ho repuvlican form of government. 1! goverment means anything, it means that people obey or disobey, that is, fix upon their Own course ot con- duct. Tre second principle is human equality in all the immunities of citizenship. This is claimed by the Deciaration of Independence, and is not acreated right, but is inherentund inatienable, You for eighty-five years the doors of the temple of liberty were closed uotil Abraham Lincoin threw them open for the slaves, To-day there ig another flagrant vut- Tage upon equality, and this is the denial of the elec- tive franchise 1o women. They are subject vo tho same laws as mon, their property ,is taxed to support We aro to meet | the same government, and they are as capabl man ot governing, Sex has nothing to do with these mat- ters, ana th stultitied until the ballot 18 given to another question that 1s not so easy to deal with. Many persons are disfran- chised because they are held to bo in- competent. these aro minors, whose judginents — are not to be formed crowned a century of anation’s life and a hundred j but the qualificati ine. Whi ion, ted to It ts the aud there m is qu the franchise who are confessedly incompetent? the broadest farce to submit amendments to State constitution to thousands of perso! dv not understand what they meav. should at least bo a standard of education. The elective franchise is the highest investiture of citizenship, and should be closely guarded. All means to prevent fair Voting should be stamped out, Theres nothing eadder than the levity with which false voting, laise counting, goverpment patron: and social os- tracism are treated. publrcanis on trial to-day in every public citizen, and he should be pro- tected in this, bis highest right. When a vote has been cast it is law until it is repealed, 1 appeal of this country is uot to the force of arms, bat 10 the force of ideas. Ketorm is wanted in the raeth- ods and means by which government is sought to bo obtained, and not after the government is ob- tained, The third principle of a Christian re- ublic is religions liberty. In this particu- jar Romavism 18 essentially hostile to this gov- ernment, Until she distinctly and unequivocally abandons ail claim to civil domain she 1s irrecon- cilable, and under her system of absolutio! y of ber subjects may renounce their duties to the State. A centennial has been cismigred under dangers which make a second centennial highly problematical Legis- lation is incompetent to remedy tem. Let the Christian religion be maintained and obeyed by its adherents, and a second century shall dawn upon a re- public of Christiar people. CHURCH OF DIVINE PATERNITY. THE MAJESTY OF THE PEOPLE A REFLEX OF DIVINE LAW— SERMON BY REV. DR, CHAPIN. Yesterday morning the Church of the Divine Pater- nity, at the corner of Filtn avenue and Forty-fifth street, was crowded by a large congregation. Rev. Dr, Chapiu delivered a true Thanksgiving sermon founded on the beautiful 147th psalm: ‘raise ye the Lord, for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant and praise is comely. The Lord doth build up Jerusalem; he gathereih together the outcasts of Israel, He bealeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds, Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; Sing praise upon the harp unto our God, who cover- eth the heavens with clouds, who preparcth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the moun- tains.” Taking the last verse of his text, the preacher Started out on one of the most eloquent, patriotic and philosophic of disquisitions, az to show how intense was the feeling engendered by his words it will be only necessary to note that the audience could not be prevented from testifying their approbation by ap- plause such as met Mr. Beccher’s grand perorations before and during the war. In this beautitul psalm, the proacher said, in rapid transition every chord ‘of the human heart is touched; surely, then, if we recognize God at all, we must recognize Him’ more fully in observing this duy. There is not a word tn the psaim that does not find a corresponding Janguage in the human heart. Religion and science recognize the Divine will as expressea im steadfast law—Providence, law and order are one. He makes grass to grow upon the mountains, but the materialist says he knows why tho grass grows—the wind, the rain and the soli have something to do with thut. Of course this reason- ing 18 good enough as far as it goes, but it does not go fwrenough. Asalawyer says tothe judge aud jury, ‘he facts are not all in.” Who regulates the wind and the rain, apd the thousand conditions going to per- fect the formation of a periect plant—even a blade of grass? I sawa mechanic piace a piece of wire in acer- tain machine and it came out a per'ected implement of trade and commerce. I was not particularly im- pressed with this transformation, but | was impressed with the greatness of the mind that could conceive this machine and make it, OBKDIENT TO WORK TAKSK WONDERS. Therefore, my conception of God 1s not blarred but intensified when I witness the wonders He works upon the earth, and science ouly sets tne notes of an intel- lectual anthem which sings praises to the great God. ‘This bas been a bara and barren year, and in regard to our national matters a perpicxing year, but, not theless, He has covered the hgaveas with clouds, bas given rain to the earth and caused grass to grow upon the mountains, The great question has been the bread quesuon, If the earth gives us ber bounty we cau afford to do without the smiles of mer, Has Na- ture been bountiful to us? Yes Our harvests are good; there is a Providence over all whose method is universal order and whose will 1s steadiast law; He is set up not only to control Nature, but Nature hersclt is He. It is, too, the achievement of natural science to discover Ube good results that Providence intends. If, then, wo admit Providence and the logical order of all, we must believe that if our nation dissolves it 1s time for us to die. If st is not 80, we cannot die, we shall not die; it is not timo for us to die, (Applause.) This is a land of too much promise to have it go dewn iv any kind of a sudden shipwreck, and although our heaven may be covered with clouds, and it may bo preparing to rain, it is only that the grass shall grow on the mountains, The people of this country rise above the fogs and mists of parties. They are stionger than Hercules and more beautiful than Apollo, und they will maintain the glory and integrity of the coun- ry against satraps as the mountains retain their grundeur and glory.”’ (Great and enthusiastic ap- plause). ALL SOULS’ CHURCH. THE POLITICAL CRISIS—SERMON BY REV. DR. BELLOWS. Yosterday morning, at cleven o'clock, Thanksgiving services wore held i All Souls’ church, corner of Twentieth street and Fourth avenue. The sacred edi_ fice was about half filled by a fashionable congrega. tion. Rev. Dr, Bellows preached upon the occasion, ; Ho prefaced his remarks with an eloquent prayer, in which allusion was made to the importance of the day and the blessings vouchsafed to this country by Divine Providence. The anniverary dated back to the time of our ancestors who founded the Republic amia sovere and arduous trials, Through clouds and dark. ness they saw the smile of the Almighty. He prayed to God that the agitations of the present time might not disturb our faith inthe great doctries of liberty which had been banded down to us, and that the blood of a million of people might not be shed in vain, The soil was mado sacred by their sacrifices and accursed might be the hand that raised itself against the ark of our liberties, Alter singing hyinns appropriate to the services the reverend gent!eman proceeded to dehver the sermon of the day, Ho took his text from Psalms, xxiv., 1—‘1 will bless the Lord at all times; his praises shall be continually in my mouth.” From this text Dr. Bellows delivered an eloquent and feeling dis- course, Hie ailated upon the many blessings avd comforts for which we should tcel gratetul to God, and spoke of the advantages of labor and human offort. He next brencbed into a consideration ot national topics, The days were not yet passed when we could do some- thing One of the greates| oftentimes lay in disputed successions, They had caused more seri- ous troubies than any other questions arising in politi- cal disputes. He, the speaker, then thanked God that he had lived to witness the war against slavery. It was the crowning event in his hte, He did not think we were likely to be called upon to witness a second war experience in this couutry durmg the present generation. If so tbe fires of ten years ago would be found to be Bot out, but would burn much flercer than before. Any attempt to inter- fere with the usual order of, Presidential ciections would bring down a terrible vengeance upon the heads of the instigators. He (Dr. Bellows) would address such words to men of either party who make threats at this particuiar time. Tne speaker was not one of those who expected violence, The nation had to-day in both parties men who preferred their country’s wel- fare to tueir own personal hopes. The remedy lay in the hands of the people at large. Ho did not antiet- pate trouble, 1t was only by tho incessant cry of pai tisan newspapers and the one-sided statemenis of poli« Licians that this unnatural excitement was kept up. The royerend preacher believed in the aggregation of the will and honest common sense of the Amorican people to effect a peaceable settlement of pending pub- lic issues. It was this element which constituted the national conscience, Such a pational conscience, how- ever, Was not always found in the Presidential chair or in Congress. The people of the United States will not havo their government broken up by violence. They must vindicate their character asa great an jecessiul nation. In all exigencies the middie «i: of this country, which was neither Irish nor German, might be relied upon. They wore the Bible taught, common school educated, native American stock, tbat would shed their biood in maintaining the government. Ex- citement was kept up by the thousands of politicians who were in and wanted to stay jn and the thousunds who wero out and wanted to get in, bat it would all come out right in the end. Wo should lean with cals ness and confidence upon this middie-claes element oj our country, It holds the bailots, and these citizen- ‘Will insist upon peace and order, WASHINGTON SQUARE M. E, CHURCH. POLITICAL PARTIES ARRAIGNED AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCR'S INTERFERENCE IN POLI- TIC3 REBUKED—SERMON BY REV. WILLIAM LLOYD. A union Thanksgiving service was held yosterday by the Washington square and Asbury Method'st Episcopal churches in the building of the latter. The Rev. William Lloyd, pastor of the former, preached the sermon. He prefaced it with a prayer that was very remarkable for its thanksgivings aud its. lack of petitions. There was scarcely anything in society life, national life, domestic or individual experience that wns not made a subject of prayerful thanksgiving. Tho text of Mr. Lioyd’s discourse was taken nominally from Jeremiah, xvill, 7-10, which describes tho Almighty’s favor or distavor toward nations de. ponding upon the moral condition of such nations; but, as Mr. Lioyd remarked, his real text was the procla- mations of President und Governor calling tho people together on this occasion. Tho words of the sacred text, however, embody the principles that pervade tho 1 should pervade all human governments, Ity to those principles has always led and aiways will lead to prosperity. That this world is ‘wbtil they attain their mayority, The age of twenty-one governed by God isa tact overlovked by maay and NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1876.-WITH SUPPLEMENT. ‘3 ti — — - ——__—_— — denied by others. He isabove the outward forces that 1 your departed friends on, and if a nation will e divi jo but will do |, then that built it up will uproot it and cast are at work developing the pot en to t the same power it away. Aliuding to the many moral and religious blessings we enjoy, and the iemporai bevetits under a wise sys- tem of government, Mr. Lloyd came to THINGS THAT WE HAVE CAUSE TO FEAR. There is danger in our self-glorying and over-esti- mate of things American. From the big tree in Cali- fornia to the big pumpkin in Connecticut we pride ourselves ov our greatness over other nations. But while we are exalted to ‘ven ip manfrespects over be not cast down to he th nd opportunities. Mr. Lioyd then referred to the corruption of the coun- try, brought to ight more torcibly than ever within the last iow weeks. Tho present condition of tuings in our land since the last election is a disgrace to our civilization and our political history, and leaves room for grave doubt of the possible consequences in the future, Ono party is accused of electing its candidate by intimidation and fraud and the other trying to counteract that traud by a greater onv and “counting in” its candidate. It ig not so important whether Tilden or Hayes shall be President us that truth ana Justice sball be maintained the land. The Present condition of the country is the out- come of our method of electing men for years. Men have been and are put up for high and important ottices because of availability and not for character, and you vote to-day for men for office from whom you would turn aside in disgust under any other circuin- stances. This isone of the things that we fear and that will lead to our upreoting, But one result of this condition of things will be to limit 1 Jranchise. Manbood suffrage is a failure. Men who have not studied our political institutions and who know not nor careabout them are atthe mercy of political tricksters who lead them to the polls to vote as cuttic are led to the shambles. We must men intel- ligently tothe use of the ballot, and, if they cannot exercise tho {ranchise intelligently, they should, not be allowed to exercise it at ail, Oh! that we could learn as Christian men that righteousness is above partisanship; that itis more tothe tand than states- mansoip or than uay other power ortntivencs! It pro- tects the land and gives courage tothe people and keeps the nation in a condition of exaltation, Another thing to feur is the encouragement of ecciesiastical-political influences, He would hi in regard to their mor representatives of an ecclesiastical organization at- tempt to interfere and sway the politics of the people on purely ecclesiastical grounds, then we must set ourselves against it. We bave in our midst a Church that bas put itself in antagonism to the liberties of the people wherever it has existed. I mean the Papal Church. It is the most thorough ecclesiastical organi- zation on the face of the carth; 1t stands shoulder to shoulder tm all its parts on every occasion, and if it went ip for the conversion of the world nothing could withstand it. But imatead of that it is the greate: cuemy to the rights and liberties of mankind that hag existed since the Christian era began. You have héard of iis interference m the cuso of tho Surrogate in Kings county during the late election, when it issued a circular recommending Catholics to vote for the candidate of their taith, though the Protestant candidate belonged to the democratic party, and reminding them that they were “Catholics first and citizens afterward,’’ And the Catholic candidate was elected. The main point of attack of this eccle: astical organization now ia our public schools. In a recent lecture in Cooper Institute the case was very Jucidly stated. Therocan be no correct teaching which 1s not religious, and the Church is the proper teacher of religion, and the Catholic Church the gnost efficient, therefore the instruction of tho youth of the Jand should be reiegated to that Church. It we retain the Bible in our public schools they are sectarian, and if we take it out theyare godless, And in neither case can wo satisfy tho Papal Church, which seeks the control of our public schools altogether. Said the speaker in conclusion, a live proses, a fear- Joss and untrammeiled pulpit, a system of national ed- ucution—schools where the principles of ordinary rec- titude shall be taught, Give us wen in our legislative assomblies who love rightoousness and hate iniquity. Bat it cratt and criine be allowed to govern in this land then we shall Lear the voice of God, as in the text, declaring that if the nation obey not His voice He will repent of the good wherewith He hath said He would Venetit it, All history lifts up ita voice to-day to warn us. Mr, Lloyd here cited examples from history, the Jews, the ancient Athenians, the Romans, the presevt condition of Spain, strangled io the folds ot the papal serpent, of Italy, France aud other nations, and then told the young men to be good und religions, and to, countenance no man who is not like minded and who loves not God and trath more than party or creed. THE BROOKLYN TABERNACLE. THE PRESIDENTIAL PROBLEM— BROOKLYN'S ADVANTAGES—SERMON BY REY. 1, DE WITT TALMAGE. The Brooklyn Tabernaclo was crowded at tho sor- vices held there yesterday forenoon, Professor Morgan presided at the organ with his usual skill, and the con- gregation jomed in singing the several hymns ot prai: The text taken by the pastor, Rev. T. De Witt Talmage, was from Ecclosiastes—“‘Say not what is the cause that the former days were better than these.”” In opening bis digcourse the speaker gave thanks to God for the place inwhicb they liye, and said they ought to appreciate the place where God has sur- rounded them with everything attractive. Scotland is beautiful, but it bas chilling mists; and England, but its society is somewhat formalistic; and Italy, but it is too hot and infested with beggars; and France, but it is revolutionary. Give us the land against which the Mayflower struck. And, then, as to choice of American localities, Boston is beautiful, but it is too far north; and Baltimore, but it is too far south; and Chicago, but it is too far west. The cluster of cities about here seems to be the best place on all the earth to live in, Standing at the gates of the con- tinent we keep what ia wérth having and try to pass on what is of no use, Whero is the city more favored than this? Whatever the man’s literary or theological preference ho will find a church and minis, ter to suit him. If he wants to hear deep Christian experience discoursed about he will go to hear Dr. Wells; it he whnts strong argu- ment presented "he goes to Dr. Van Dyke; if be wants old-time Methodistic fervor he goes to Dr. Reed or Dr. Stecle; if he wavts brilliant meta- physics he goes to Dr. Duryea; if he wants tine Orien- tal illustration be poes to Dr. scudder; if he wants the trath presented ina philosophic iorm he goos to Mr. Boccher; it be wants to have the trath in grand and rhetoricul style he goes to Dr. Storrs; if he wants the old-fashioned Gospel law he comes to the Brooklyn Tabernacle. (Applause.) The preacher said that as he found his people in such a physical condition, and coming trom 80 biessed a home, and residing in such a divinely favored metropoiis, he stirred their souls to thanksgiving. There were multitudes of people who thought that THE WORLD WAS GOING BACKWARD, and they argued that the pulpit bad Jost its power, that Christiaaity was not of so deep and thorough a type as it once was, that there was more crime prevalant thun there used to be. There never was so much G: pel preached as to-day. ‘here was more Gospel preacbed on Monday morning in these citics than there was preached in all the Sundays of the year, The secular pripting press became au adjunct of the pulpit, and where the Gospel once came to the eye or ear of ‘one man, it now came to the eye and ear of « thousand mon, Never was there such a demand for Gospel trath ‘as now, and nevor such great multiudes glad to re- ceiveit. He proceeded to deny the assertion that the warld was growing worse, and’ compared in support of his argument the follies ot fashion ana the frequency of wars which were prevalent in the past In tne old time * training days,” the most sober men were aptto take a day lor thermseives. MANY OF THE FANCY DRINKS of to-day were unknown to tbem, but their hard cider, mint julep, metheglin, not toucy aud lemonade— in which the lemon was pot at all conspicuous—some- tomes nade lively work for the broad brimmed hats and siiverkneo buckles. In Somervitle, N. J., he had otten heard aged persons say that right opposite to the church, in the tavern, there was a room called tue “Consistory’s'’ room, where the “consistory,’’ or oficers of the Dutch Church, used to go im with the minister and take a drink betore the service, and then were discharged. was nota political. one. Ih..was. passed over the road tor the exercises of the sanctuary. That was dono every Sabbath morning. Talk about diasipations! ye who have ever scen the old-iashioned sideboard. ‘Did notl have,” said Mr. Talmage, ‘an old relative who always, when visitong came, used to go up stairs and take a drink, tnrough economical habits, not offering auything to his visitors?’’ He could not be made to believe that the world was going backward, There were two or three encouraging facts. Tho first was that the Anglo-Saxon race had become dominant on tho earth. Other races seem shrinking away before tho march of this one. Tho most important discoveries of the world had sprang from its laboratory, and the most startling javentions had darted from its brain, Another encouraging fact in the ‘history of these times is the unpuratieled de- velopment of tbe carth’s material resources. Wo nover had a better harvest than this year. He must be a fool who denied that there was auy important relation be- tween this material advancement of our times and the welfare. Mr. Talmage saw a most encouraging fact in the history of the day tn the fact that civil and roligious jiberty were mighty and you could not stop them. It shouid not be told on earth, in hell or beaven that the land which Columbus discovered and the Pilgrim Fathers settied and Washington freed, and for which Abrabam Lincoln died, cannot star THK TEST OF A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, This question will ve decided, and wil ve decided rightly, and whether it be Rutherford B, Hayes or Samuel J. Tilden who takes the oath in the portico ot tho Cupitol the next 4th of March the whole nation will cheerfully submit. It will not be the Kelloggs and the Wade Hamptons and the Chamberlains or the feueral bayonets which will settle this troubie, but the Lord, who has made this His darling nation inthe past, and who will hold tt in Mis protecting power as an encouragement avd example until all the despotisms of earth have fallen flat on their faces. (Applause. ) The rumbling and quaking of our institutions to-d are only the jar of the advancing chariot of God's de- liverance. What a spectacle to-day! South Carolina— 300 federal troops in tho Capitol and tens of thousands of excited people in the streets, and yet no bivodshed. Woula that have been possible thirty years ago? Away with your nonsense about the world’s going back. Law and order and good government shall yet be iriumpnant over all their toes, (Applause) “Now I send you to your Thanksgiving banquet, It may be ricn and it aay be meagre, but “bottor fs a dinner of herbs where love fs than a stalled ox and red there- with sparkling praise, evor provided 18 the table, you find there be a vacant chair, think of tel irit, and if, gathered at tine the circle nas been broken and wWimuch betier of er and of the whea you Bnall unite w:th them in brighter Peed than earth ever saw, amid the burning chalices of heaven. From that thanksgiving table may none of us be missing. JANE STREET M. E, CHURCH. THE CAUSES OF THANKSGIVING—SEBMOK BY THE REV. W. F, HATFIALD. Union services were heid in Jane ,treet Methodist Episcopal church yesterday, There was a large attend: ance, After tbe usual preliminary services Rev. Mr. Hatfield proached a sermon, taking his text from the 147th Psalm, 12-14—“'Praiso the Lord, O Jerasalem; praise thy God, O Zion. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children withia thee, He maketh peace in thy borders, and fillest thee with the faest of the wheat.” Mr. Hatiicld said that in compliance with the proc. lamation of the President and the Governor of New York the congregation had assembied to render thanks to the Giver of Ail for tne manifold mercies and bless- ings they had enjoyea during the year that had passed. In the first place, we sbould be thankful that health had prevailed throughout the land, and we had also cause for thankfulness in being preserved from foreign and civil war, True it was that there had been sot skirmishing with hostile Indian tribes among the Black Hills, aud the lives of valiant men bad been sacrificed in the attempts to dislodge the enemy, and in the South there had becn collisions between those tong in power and those long oppressed, but the savage hordes had been dispersed by our troups, aud the violators of law arraigned at the bar of justice. We were told that there was dissatisfaction and uneasiness throuzbout the South, that in some quarters it was dificult to enforee the Jaw aad to preserve good order; but these things were only the legitimal what might have been expected r our late terrilic Strugge. But us the leaders in that uggle who did so much to bring it on had passed away and the spirit of revellion begotten by the very system thoy had s¢ long cheristed bad gradually died out the race that for years had been dominant should cheerfully concede to those who had always been oppressed certain rights and privileges which belonged to them as citizens of this country, and any attempts made to drive them from it or to withhold from them privi- leges which they innegited, would be alike fatal to the interests of themsecive#and the Kepublic. That there was jon ia consequence of the freedmen rights th a jana mado great and glorious the liberty we enjoy, and where tne power held for years by a tew bad been in part surrendered to the many, is cause for devout gratitude to God. Alter alluding to the prosperous condition of the country the reverend gentleman commented upon the political contests which azitated the nation, He said that never in the history of the country had there been conflict carried on when there w: ater excitement, when greater issues wore involved, and when the two great part were so. evenly divided as during the recent Presidential election; and yet there was never ono when there was greater ‘patience avd for- bearance dispiayed, when better order prevailed and when there was a firmer purpose to adhere to the Principles of truth and justice. In other lands when lors are chosen, riots and insurrections were not un- mmou, but hore there was a peace and a stiliness that drew forth favorable comments irom those amoung us who were the subjects of other governments, and though the final decision had not been rendered yet there were no riotous manitestations, as some predicted, and when it was rendered the people would accept that decision with marked submission. ‘The reverend gen- tleman also referred to the triumph of America at the recent exposition among the nations of the earth. But we had reason to fear our prosperity. The pluo- ing in positions of honor and responsibility unre- liable and incompetent men was one of the great- est dangers we had to apprehend. With the growth of tho Republic oar politica’ had become corrupt. Political organizations which wero essential to the strength and perpetuity of @ govern- ment founded upon the will of the people had been employed by leading and designing men to carry the most nefarious schemes. Despite all ‘these obstacles—our unholy desire for wealth, our disregard of moral worth in those chosen to make our laws—yes we bad the ability to prevent the “sad results that might ensue. Christianity, the grand corrective of evil, 1s the religion we cherish, and so long as we ad. here to its doctrines and obey its precepts so long will we continue to hold our position among the na- tions of the earth, With a teariess pulpit and un- trammoled press, the two mightiest engines of reform, we would be enabled to advance onwiid toward our high destiny. » THE PARK COMMISSIONERS, Messys. Martin and Donohue, of the Park Board, will this afternoon put in their reply to the charges made by the committee asking for their removal on the ground of mismanagement and improper conduct in discharging clerks in their employment without noe tice. The Commissioners will simply show the record of the department as to the removals and the neces. sity therefor. The reason why the men in question made a necessity by the Board of Apportionment cuuuing down the estimates of the depart. ment over $100,000, and which necessitated a reduction of the working force. In relation to overpaying the Jaborers the Commissioners will show that on an average through tle year the men do not earn more thun $8 a week. Commissioner Dono- hue will present a copy of a letter he sent to Mr. Green in March Jast asking the Comptroller’s advice as to cutting down the pay ot the laborers in the Park De. partment to $1 50 per day. The Comptroller did not answer the letter, being evidentiy unwiiling to commit himself to the redaction, The other Commissioners in the Board also voted against thé same. If aro duction of expenses 1s necessary in the Jepartment Commissioner Donohue thjoks the Commuesonert themselvos should first feel the pruning kuile, THE BROCK MURDER TRIAL. On Wednesday night John Koch, Cyrus Brown and Mrs. Mary Sewell, witnesses against Ryan and Osch- wald in the Brock murder trial, wore discharged from custody at the County Jail in Newark, the Court authorities having no further need ior their services, Mrs. Sewell was housekeeper for Rouben Roo, the “fence,” who is still beid on an indictinent as an ac- cessory after the murder, he having, as alleged, con- cealed evidence, AN ALDERMAN RESIGNS. At tho meeting of the Harrison (N. J.) Commog Council on Wednesday night Alderman William Tierney, representing the Third ward, tendered his resignation. It was accepted. An election will be held to fill the vacancy. The cause of resignation was ineligibility because of removal to another ward. WHAT TWEED WILL DO. A4N INTIMATE FRIEND OF HIS SAYS HE HAS DISMISSED ALL HIS COUNSEL. An intimate friend of Tweed, whose name, though suppressed in this article, is inthe possession of the) Herp, volunteers somo striking information, which, if truo, sheds some light upon the strange fact that Tweed since his return has not renewod his relations with bis former counsel, who have not even visited him at the jail, The information this gentleman di- vulged was nothing more or less than that Tweed, hav- ing been placked of the greater portion of his property until there was but little left, had determined to dis- miss all bis counsel and allow tho law to take its own course. “What prompted Tweed to come to this conclusion ?’” “Well, you sco, he has all along been troubled with too much advice. Ho has proved to be a splendid goose to pluck, Every lawyer who has had anything thing to do with him has made piles of money.” “How does he expect to get along without having some one to appear for him when his cases are called in court?” ‘hat’s a conundrum. I give it up.’ “] suppose somebody will have to represent him ?” “Without doubt tt will be his son, who is a member of the bar,” “How much do you estimate Tweed’s remaining property to be worth #”” “1 cannot tell, His property has been transterred so often that all trace of a greater part of it has been lost, Mortgages to pay legal fees have dissipated immense amounts,’ “How about Tweed’s civil suit ?”” . “Tt has been suggested that he should plead voluntary bankruptcy and have his case transterred to tho United States Court, where, if unable to obtain execution against his body, he might be ablo to save suflicient to live an easy Itfe tor the balance of his days.” “You ap| to think that there is a possibility of his ultimate restoration to freedor “In that connection the latter half of section 302 from. the Code of Proceaure has some significance, It reads as follows: If any person, party or witness disobey an order of the Judge of referee, duly served, such person, party o witness may gh hed bygghe judge xs for contemot, And in all eases of commitm cM under this chapter or the act to abol- ish imprisonment ‘ot, the persun committed may, in ease of inability to perform the net required o the imprisonment, be discharxed from imprisonment by the court or jud. omm iting: the court ia which the Judgment was rendered on such terms as may be just. “Havo Tweed's lawyors been notified of his intention to discontinue their services?” one’s they have, 1 am sure two of them were notifica. “How many lawyers had he as counsel?” “Filteon oF twonty,’? “Can you give the names of any other persons WRe are aware of Tweea’s determination “TI believe that Charles (Conor knows all about i and possibly Thurlow Weed, "? Had Mr. Weed's interview with Twoed anything te do with the matter?” “Tam not at liberty to state,” ‘The above story is given for what it is worth, Mr, Tweod’s persistent seclusion and declination to answer even written inquiries by the press frustrated all eflorts to nave it either confirmed or donted. ‘Tweed spent a quiet but rather bappy Thankagiving (CONTINUED ON NINTH PAGE)