Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-12-08
The National Vices.

The Philadelphia Eeeniag Journal, a
paper edited with dignity and ability, has
the following article on the procliyities to
politics Of the citizens of this country, which
it properly calls our national vice. 1t says:
The great national vice is politics.
Young men with health and hope for brave
and generous deeds, who might be welldo-
ers for the world and themselves; who
might make footmarks in the paths of high
honor and ambition, turn aside from the
grand purposes and kindly ministries of
early lite, from all that is really ennobling
and profitable, and blather politics. But
whiskey, rough caresses, dismal and dirty
jokes, pot house fumes, the glare, shouts
and vulgar CAB of mass meetings, and all
mean and scurvy tricks, are their portion.
They learn, in hurry, to be loud, unclean,
and unscrupulous, without remorsc. They
feel the fullest pride and the most profound
complacency, with their cleverness and inn
portance, when they are making the most
noise.
The clink of glasses, tossed high to the
health and victory of their "man" and the
| glory of 'the cause" is sweeter much to
their ears, than the low home tones of love
and contentment, than the sisters song, the
good mothers benediction. Have they a
daily work to do? 1t is let alone. They
fly the workshop, the counting house, the
study, the store. Is the privilege theirs of
having others dependent upon them for the
means of existence? They throw it away,
and become beasts and brutes to those who
need their love, sympathy and support
infamed as they are with the horrid pat
riotism of the tavern, the club-room and the
speakers stand. The indulgence in the
fascinating vice soon gets to be all to them
of happiness, and their earthly hope is
bounded by conventions, caucuses and polls.
lfby chance they survive the hot drink and
fierce dissipation incident to campaign,
they will be professional politicians. Is
there drearier sight on earth than this
pimpled and pot-bellied fellow, who smells
rank, and who is seen Of men hard at it,
his arms saving the air, and his eyes wild
with alcoholic zeal, at the street corner, in
the low groggery, wherever there is a vote
to catch or dishonest penny to turn?
| Is III not q 1Hluh vi GuO DclIC-
wives Of aspiring Senators canvassing the
country with winning smiles and gracious
words! Think of the lobby we heard
about last winter when the peoples repre-
sentatives were in Washington assembled
Look at the board of fences and the brick
walls Hear the clang proceeding out of
yonder frantic four-horsed omnibus =
Watch the faces of the crowd who have
come to yonder "grand rally" as the waves
come when navies are stranded The fe-
yer consumes us slowly but surely. 1t has
seized our national vitals-honor and in
dustry-and they are withering away. 1t
is destroying our domestic peace and COM
fort. We have no art-how can so frail
and sensitive plant flourish in the shadow
of the Upas, Politics? Our music is the
brawl of the stump, when it is not the hum
of business. Our home love is all going
to ashes. An election cannot come toe
often; we care not Of what, constable OF
President, SO it be an election. Where
will it all end Let philosophers work out
the problem.