Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-10-07
Social Condition Of the Country.

0OCA0A OOhAAbASA Va N-O L
The Charleston Is. C.) Mercury has an
interesting article on this subject, in which
occurs the following paragraph
'We have need 10 address ourselves, with
all our patriotism, to the cure Of great social
defects and evils in education, morals, man
ners, which we have suffered everywhere to
run to waste. We have become acconmoda-
ted to the lowest standards in all these re-
~spects-going down. by o process Of degra-
dation. until church. State, society, politics,
morals, education, manners, have all become
chaotic. rude, reckless, mean, e~vasiye, and
desperately SELFISH Corruption in political
bodies must always argue a general corrup-
ton in society and, where this political cor
ruption has grown, as in Congress, so reck-
less Of shame and exposure, it argues socie.
ty everywhere TO be in n condition of utter
overthrow and disintegration."
We can all see the evils which exist, says
the Baltimore Clipper, but who will point
out the cause Of them, or suggest the reme-
dy which should be applied2 The public
school system has opened the means of edu-
cation to the poorest child in the community
land education, it is supposed, has a ten
dency to soften the heart and refine the man
ners. But, strange as it may appear, as the
means of instruction increase, crime is null
tiplied-we do not say as a necessary conse-
quence, for we do not so believe. But there
is a defect somewhere which prevents eduea-
ton from having its due influence; and it
should be searched out that it may be re-
moved.
We believe that one source of the eorrup-
ton which prevails, is to be found in the
general laxury which has been introduced
and by which the young become so accus-
toned to seeing their parents and friends
live beyond their means, that they become
reckless Of consequences in the indulgence of
their appetitss. If the father resort to gam
bling as a means Of support, the son will be
very apt to follow the example-and thus
there arises a general laxity of moral princi-
pie, and the tone Of society deteriorates. In
former times men did not live by their wits /;
but by honest labor-but now, honest labor
is discredited, and the greatest swindler too
often becomes the greatest man. The pre-
Vailing corruption extends to Congress hall +;
and men who are sent there to promote the
general welfare" by honest legislation, seek
their OWN interests by plundering the public
treasury, or by accepting brides to enable
others to do it. How can it'be expected that
q wholesome condition of society will exist,
whilst men occupying high and responsible
stations, set the example of moral depravity 7
Bat another cause of the corruption and
lawlessness which prevails. may, perhaps, be
found, in the change which has taken place
in the mode of employing the young. A
youth who wishes to acquire a particular
branch Of business, is not bound for a term
Of years, but is put upon moderate wages
from the first, to be increased as he may i'm
prove. He is not taken into the family Of
his employer, or subjected to his supervision
excepting during the hours of labor. He i,
'let loose" after dark, and naturally con
sorts with others who are similarly situated
and thus our streets are filed at night witt
dissolute and reckless boys, who, as the
grow into manhood, too often become despe
rate characters. Their labor supplies then
with a small sum of money weekly, which i
spent in a way not calculated to improv,
their morals, or to benefit society. Their,
are some noble exceptions, and these becom,
valuable men.