The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-11-26

our neIghbors' conduct, but we do not jude
ourselves N the same way, or BY the same ruiz
! If others perform actions which dsplease u
we ascilbe thor actions to the worst motye
but when we perform actions which offend oil
ers, and have bad motives imputed to US, W
are all prone to exclaim loudly and angriI
against this treatment, as malicious misrepre
9 sentatlon. Look back a few week ago at til
: language in which men of different politicf
creeds and different parties, and of opposing in
terests, spoke Of each other. Look at the art
cles Of the lower order Of the party organs
which Mr.. Webster most appropriately terme'
"the "tfal gatherers and scayenger carts of so
clety"-and see what uncharitableness. wha
disregard Of facts, what filthy slang and Low
abuse runs through almost every paragraph
We are constantly proclaiming our own supe
rlor virtue and great conscientiousness, but how
; very little do We to warrant our impudent as
sumptions Of superiority. The fact is, the mass
of mankind in divilised societies, exhibit then
morality far more in judging and condemning
their neighbors than by striving to live lives Of
practical goodness. They do large credit
business on small capital Of virtue or benev-
oenee and far less candor, and to increase their
credit at another's expense is always leading
aim with them. This is an unhatterng pic
ture, but it is true as rough, general SKETCH
/ 1t is not pleasant TO look on the dark side of
human character; and it would be not only un-
profitable, but prejudcial 10 social happiness to
keep the sombre side always in view, but il is
useful and sautary to turn it round occasion
ally, and let the light of truth reveal what an
amount of hypocrisy, cant and humbug there
is in the world The fact is, without this self-ex-
animation, this conviction of our tendency to
exalt very small virtues into great merits, and
to pass lightly over our shortcomings and omis-
slons of DUTY, there can be none of that real
"progress,' which our democratic friends boast
so much about We may be Wanting our
great humanity, our refinement, our increased
benevolence, our greater desire for the welfare
OF our fellow men, when all the acts on which |
we base these claims are nothing but the means
which a cunning selfshness suggests as the best
calculated TO promote its own ends. If we |
want proof Of this, let US look around US We
are wonderfully exercised by the oppression and
bondage which the greater portion of the peo-
pie of Europe silently endure, but year after
year, we allow federal otfice-holders unrebuked
to ride over and Cypress ourselves, and we at
the sametma suffer demagogueism, corruption
and injustice TO increase throughout our own
and. If We were AS sincerely patriotic and
honest as we pretend to be, this state of things
.ould not and would not exist We pretend to :
'e deeply moted by The barbarity and degraded t
condition OF the far off heather, but we are dai- ,
y thrown into contact with the depraved and +
egraded of *'ur own country, and bloodshed, $
omicide and murder boldly stalk through the Ii
md, unrebukod BY the law and unrestraincd fl
its officials, while we make no effort for the Il
oral improvement and social elevation of our fl
wn State. L is true that we talk great aeal a.
bout what We ought to do, and sometimes at ii
mpt a little, but what we %, measured by r
hat we leave undone, appears small indeed. lie
ak, agitation. holding conventions, denuncia- til
IN of wrong and affectation of virtue, are not al
silly sacrifices, and unless they are accompa- ps
ed by acts, they effect but little permanent w
cd If we were more sincere and practical
our benevolence, and less noisy, we would :,
Get far more for the good and the advance N
INT of the country. If we cultivated the spir- 49,
of good more, and depressed the spirit ofevil, 81,
would easily accomplish great and desired ~
orms, which are now prevented by the pre- IL,
ling want of confidence in the motives, the
cerIty and the . inns of those who agitate -:
m.
The Alta California, Of the 21st ult, speak iss
OF the appearance Of things in San Francis ant
states that the city has not yet been batter Ian
down by the vessels of war, nor have the sta
ltary forces yet been called upon to protect not
ammunition and Notifications of Uncle Sam an
n the attacks of the vigilance committee, sib
ch was 'to keep up its organisation until af- sen
the presidential election, for the purpose of WI
rating politically" but is perfectly quiet and ers
ceable. The good which has been effected the
the committee has not been confined merely zet
he shipping off of a few scoundrels from the of
-. The extent TO which oficisl corruption mel
reached IN San Francisco, the modus ope- An
ii BY which men, who never received soil mis-
vote, have come out of the baiIot-box elect and
o office, these have been exposed by the mo,
mttee, and have awakened the people to mel
necessity of the Inauguration of new con- ers,
IN of things. The Alta California adds we for
kwe can safely assure our friends at the east Ind
the reign ofbigh-handed official corruption ern
an Francisco is almost over The people alth
about to take the management of their at, mer
out of the hands Of the political trcksters C
barganers. the
he New Orleans and St. Louis steamboat pew
azon, has had fitted to her machinery one Ai'
he cefphrated r.1lio,aeD tLoco ,u.u1 ann