The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1841-03-18
Governmental Degelaeracy.
Humiliatilg Views.


Were people disposed to turn aside
from the hurry burly excitement in which
they are thrown, and reflect seriously,
they might discover a moral in the his
tory Of our country that could not be
without its use. There was time in
that history when merit was the great
sine qua non, and without it man could
no more be elevated to responsible sta
ton in any Of the departments Of govern
ment. the most subordinate, even, than
ne could encircle the Globe with his
puny arms. But the inroads Of mere
ambition. policy and the creation of false
issues-the turning off the mind from
meritorious action to gaze simply upon
the end to be obtained has almost i'm
perceptibly but completely changed the
order Of things. This change began to
show itself when correspondence Of OPT
MON and not merit was viewed as the
criterion for fitness by the party i'll power
When Political Bigotry began to pro-
scribe men on account Of their opinions
ill this country, it made death thrust at
our liberties. Then official station lost
ali its charms as comforting honor on
him who filled it, and the nation became
a grand arena on which contest for
place and power was going on. Patri-
otto men shrank from such contest.
II any suffered themselves to enlist in it,
it was merely TO counteract the evils
that were threatening the country, with
out ray of hope Of changing the des-
sructive course of those who we're oppos-
ed to them. In doing this, however
pure and patriotic they might be, the
fires of reprobation were Immediately en-
kindled and their character and repula.
ton were doomed to political martyr
dom. The modes Of attack bespoke any
thing but refinement of feeling. Mag
nanimity was completely supplanted by
the lowest blackguardism-pure democra-
cy received the epithet Of federalism and
patriotism was branded as abollionism in
its most odious sense. Even the domestic
relations. were no longer held sacred-the
deares. rights were invaded-the most de-
grading espionage was encouraged. and no
means were thought too degrading, provi-
edthey would accomplish their end in blast
ing the reputation Of those against whom
they were aimed. All this was done by
making the press suhservient to those in
power. The press, which ought ever
to be the mouthpiece of an elevated pub
lie sentiment, was prostituted and be-
came the conductor through which all
that was vile and filthy enanated. By
it, men, who should be the pride of the
nation, were debased, and those whose
whole course has been destructive to
our national rights were held up as par
agons of excellence. TO blind the peo-
pie and keep off fair discussion, differ
ences of opinion were no longer viewed
as innocent ;-they were made the occa-
sion by which neighborhood broils and
personal animosities were created -
80 that at length TO be politically opposed
was sufficient to ensure the personal
anathemas and curses from our oppo-
nents. An embargo was thus laid on
social intercourse, and jealousies, envy
ings and slandeious backbitings were
the fruits that festered and corroded the
body polite.
The party who introduced this anti
republican and proscrip,ive course bad
been SO long in power that intl,eir strife
to retain it they seem to have lost all
sense of the value of national honor, pri-
vate reputation and the very constitution
Itself was often violated, TO accomplish
their designs.
The effects Of their measures were
seen in deranged and deprecated cur
rency, trade Of all kinds paralyzed and
broken up, produce itself deprived of a
market, and every branch of business SO
uncertain Of success, tina. the avenues
of all kinds Of enterprise were damned
up and the most Industrious became CON-
pletely disheartened. But this was not
all. The morals Of the nation have so
much deseriorated and lis public con-
science has become so pliable and its
character received such shock, tha, it
will require an age Of ethical discipline
70 place il where il was twelve years
ago.i
To avoid the rocks on which the ship Of
state had well nigh foundered--,he log
book should be often looked at. When
-. y.oI.,c oeepno1 tho ro;rn. - - /