New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-03-27
THE .1ess OF THE TIMES.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. "
Under the foregoing caption the Alexandra Demo-
crst Of recent date, contained very able article
referring to the RISE progress decline and fall Of
ancient countries, and giving the reasons therefor
which history furnishes. Prosperity and greatness
led to degeneracy and corruption, such has lately
been exposed in Congress and which is believed 70
pollute almost every artery of the body polite, and
shortly afterwards the mighty fabrics commenced
topping to their fall. Could the sres OF our nation
arise from their honored graves the Democrat ASKS
" what would they see here 7" We now quote from
our contemporary:
Corruption stalking abroad through the land,
rioting its high places and disgacg its legislative
halls Men selling their honor and conscience 10 the
highest bidder, and boastng of the price they BRING;
legislators selling their votes and influence, and
openly avowing the nefarioas bargain every avenue
to place beset BY hordes of greedy applicants ever
more CRYING s'give, give = every Office from the
highest the lowest thronged with candidates whose
Earring claims are pressed on public attention with
the most shameless and indecent pertnacity. AND
in what do those claims consist? In their own fitness
for the Office or in devotion to the country and care
Of its interests? No, indeed Who cares for the
country or concerns himself about his own knowl-
edge Of the duties he is so eager to undertake ?
Their object is salary and their claim, not that they
have " done the State some SERVICE" but that they
have helped some other candidate to other place,
and one good turn deserves another else they have
served !" the party and " the party" must reward
them. ..
Very severe but none the less severe than truthful
the dispassionate observer will be compelled to ac
knowledge. Well our skirts are clear, and SO are the
skirts Of the parties with which we have been acting
since we attained our majority. With the exception
of four years and one month the Democratic party
has ruled the United States since 1928. We will
briefly glance at those exceptions. In 1S40 Gen. VIM.
Henry Harrison, as pure patriot as ever breathed,
was elected President Of the United States with John
Tyler as second on the ticket. He died in one
month after his Inauguration, and succeeded by
the traitor Tyler, who Immediately proved recreant
to the party which elected him and assisted the Demo
Gratis until the close of his term. In ls4S Gen. Tay
Tor was elected, and the Taylor Fillmore admnistr-
tons were Wing administrations for four years. In
1852 Gen. Pierce Democra) was elected over Gen.
Scott, by an overwhelming majority and in 1856
Mr.. Buchanan was elected over Mr.. Fillmore (Ameri-
can) and Col. Fremont (Freesoiler)
We have been thus particular in specifications,
in order to show esteemed Red river contemporary
and the public generally that if corruption has
been stalking abroad through the land, rioting in
its high places, and disgracing its Legislative halls
neither the old Wing nor the American party have
enjoyed much opportunity of i" stalking or riot
ing y in corruption or disgracing our egisla-
tive halls" We do not make these references in an
illnatured, captious party spirit, but merely to
"vindicate the truth Of history" and trust they will
be SO received and considered. ryr
We append the concluding paragraphs of the Dem
ocrat's article: @
But one hope then remains. The party now holding
the reins of power has vast and weighty response
bility resting upon it. Democracy has already done
much for mankind. 1t has been the watchword of
freedom and the harbinger of hope to thousands of
the oppressed of eartha present it is only safe
guard against the tanatcal isms Of the North. To
stem the on-roling torrent of political corruption to
restore something of the purity of former times to
make worth and capacity the sole test of mans fit
ness for any station to stil true Democratic princ
PIES not only into politics and matters of State but
into our daily lives, our hearts, and homes, and bring
back the primitive times and manners of our fore
fathers-Democracy can effect all this, for it is now
in fashion, and we all know what a potent scepter
fashion wields Where is the rebel so daring as to
disobey her high behests? Let the Democracy do
this and she will deserve the praise and blessing of
the, present, and all future times.
We now have just the sort of men at the head of
affairs to take the initiative Buchanans administra
ton will be new era in the history of our country
let us rally to its support as one man, and our word
for it, many reform long needed will be effected in
| quiet way.
If the Democracy can accomplish the foregoing
enumerated results, shall consider ourselves bette
Democrats than many who plume themselves upor
wearing the name. Let the Democracy stem tn,
torrent of corruption; restore the purity of forme
! times make worth and capacity the test for Office
inshi good principles into the minds of our people
and bring back to practice the noble old days of ou
forefathers-and the Democracy will deserve su
premacy that should know end, as well the uni
| yarga1 0ratituia Of al mankind
But can the Democracy do this !? We are constrained
to confess to grave misgiyings, which the first quo
tation above from the Alexandria Democrat rather
strengthens than removes However, as it is urhab
to look on the bright instead of the dark side Of
things let all wait in patience and hope for the best