Grass Valley telegraph., 1854-04-27
Morality.

u1OTaAAIys
This has become word of but very little
Importance among nearly all the towns and
villages in the mountains. Indeed, it has al
most come to such a pass, that be who men
tions it or upholds it as principle is brand
ed with the name of "Christian, /" chow igno-
minious y and treated with cool contempt by
all ''1overs of fun" and California liberty"
The good old precepts established by our ven
erable fathers and mothers, have all been for
gotten, or, if remembered at all, remembered
only as nursery tales, as leading string OBJ
legations, such as would disgrace the eleva-
ted and noble character Of manhood, and
brand with eternal shame the fair reputation
of a regular and jolly California /" bhoy. y -
For the truth Of our statement, we call at
tention to the innumerable gambling houses,
drinking saloons, and houses Of assignation
among us. Do they not stand forth as bra
zen and barefaced proofs Of the fact that we
are an immoral people? 1t is painful and
undisputed truth, and while we make confes
sions to the corruptive evils that are coun-
tenanced among us, we tremble for the future
reputation and prosperity Of our country
Men may cry peace, peace" but in the Ian
guage of Patrick Henry, there isno peace"
The dread war of discord and corroding de-
gradation is actually among us, and its vic
Tins are daily and hourly offered up from our
numbers upon the loathsome affairs of rum
and licentiousness. Life, virtue, and honor,
is the forfeit and if the present course is not
stopped, our identity as a nation will follow
in their footsteps. Point us to that govern
ment which has prospered under rule OF
privileged and boasted RIGHTEOUSNESS, and we
will yield the point. Nay, moreL tell US of
nations fall, the cause of which cannot be
attributed to the same source and we will be
ready to concede the grounds that country
may survive in prosperous guilt and degen-
eracy But it is not to Babylon that You will
refer, as that mighty city and nation fell in
| the midst of her most lewd and wanton drunk
enness-lulled into a supposed security un-
der the most foul influences of vain luxur-
iousness and seductive pleasures neither can
you point to Greece, for she survived a glo-
r:ous nation, until her bachanalian revelries
seduced her virtue, despoiled her of her en-
ergies, and made her an easy prey to more
warlike and less enlightened people. The
history of Carthage and Rome will tell you
the same story and America! the boasted
land of liberty, will share the same fate, if
cho oro fo1xy foil o,1, a f+o, 4bo;r oxo
Pile! The virtues of our fore-fathers won for
US the name and privileges ofa great and en-
! lightened people. Let us beware lest the fol-
lies of their sons should consign them to an
untimely and ignominious end. We are full
ly aware of the excuse that some of our most
worthy young men make, when an appeal is
directly made to them, in reference to their
actions here in California. why" they
say, ':we are in California, without associa-
tions, without the privileges of society, and
consequently are placed within the only al
tentative, which is to have good time to-
gether, drink to the merry god of humor, and
bow at the shrine of degrading pleasure-in
a short time we will return to the States,
aUhere somebody lUeS, and then we will re-
form!" Reform My God, then you ac-
knowledge your degradation, and yet boast
in the immeasurable extent Of that degrada-
tion, while engaged therein! If temperance
and virtue is worth any ything, they are as val
liable in California as in any other portion of
the States, and surely they are. needed as
much here, as in any other part of the world.
A well regulated government requires an
orderly people. Then, if we.really love our
country, let us remember that the greatest
patriot to his country, is he GChO best SMbd1teS
the uprisings of his own unrighteous passions.
Why not act upon this principle? Whyonot
commence it here in Grass Valley If this
is carried out to the letter, as should be the
case, instead of an increase in criminality
among us, we shall very soon see it dimin-
ished and instead of being annoyed by mid
night revelries and midnight crimes, we shall
in short time be permitted to rest quietly.
sleep soundly, and arise in the morning with
out the apprehension taat our pockets have
been rif1ed of anything valuable that they
may have contained. ns OK 4ea
Do not sneer, then, at the word MORALITY
lit can never injure people but if pos
sessed, will elevate them to a standard wor-
thy the reputation of great and glorious
nation.
If you want to astonish people say little
and look much. A mastery" silence has