Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1858-07-01
stop and Think.

condition America is, al present, " Big
with the fate of Cesar and Rome"
The shadows of Egypt are distinct upon
the walls Of our seeming strength. We
are cankered by vice and corruption. In
spite of this stern fact, which ought to be
noticed by every one who wishes the per-
mansncy of institutions bequeathed TO our
ancestors, we find stump speakers, Con-
pressional fulminators and Fourth of July
orators, ranting and sweating with great
swelling words of eloquence, about
American liberty and the permanency of
American institutions, as If this nation,
We, in its swadling bands, was as immuta.
ble ms the throne of God. Ideal France
is set all in the shade, by self laudation of
American greatness, power ana perma-
nence. Like the ancient Greeks, we I'M
ngine that we possess the garden OF The
earth, and are the only cultivated people
upon the earth-every thing outside of us
entirely barbarian. a
But is it not time, / ask, for us, to cease
such fulsome, delec,able twaddle, and
look at stern, existing facts To see
ourselves as others see us" While In
some things we are strong, in many 9TH
ers we are very weak. While our ma
,ional domain is immovable, our national
i,y is too much endangered by suicidal
hands. Like the Church in the dark
ages, we are in danger of being ~engulph-
ed by our own corruption.
The current of our own depravlly, is
rapidly bearing US to the fearful vortex OF
destruction. Corruption in its most ma
Iignant forms, has seated itself upon the
yi,als of the nation, while the sores are
continually breaking on, upon every part
of the body polite. We are not only a
nation eff d~yspeptics, physically, but also
morally. Vice has hushed the voice of
conscience. and We are almost lost to all
sense of shame. In illegilimate money
making, we are growing very wise, but
sadly ignorant as regards intelligent NOR
atty. Schemes of the most daring vii.
lainy, are concocted and deliberately car
RED out, and the nation winks with ex-
pressious Of appreciation. Theft, swind-
ling and bribery, constitute the Legitimate
business of men in high places, who have
sworn to support the constitution of the
state rather than that of heaven. The
amenities of scoundrelism have usurpet
the place Of pristine honesty, and RICH
and Justice are sacrificed at the inferna
shrine of selfish Mammon.
Scarcely any ramifcation of society Il
free from such unholy principles and de
leterious practices. Political knavery ha
become the sine qua non for political dis
,incion and the so called salary Of tn
office. mere spending money; while tn
bribery purse, and steaiings in, cons'i'u'
the consideration Of the greatest impor
ance. Legislation for the people, is
perfect farce, while legislation FOR Sc
aggrandizcment, keeps the sage legislato
continually upon the qui pirs. Scarce
a bill, in any Of the legislative depar
ments, passes upon its own merits. Pla
ing of bribery and uncomfortable chic
merry constitute the basis of legislative a
ton. Even the judicial ermine has be-
so defled with corruption, and the viz
of parIizan malignity that 1t is consider
by many as only suitable for those w
would even dare to "Steal the livery
Heaven to serve the Devil in"
The corruption of the present time,
our nation, is wiIhou, a parallel. n
Toombs declared in the American Sent
only a few days since, that this was t
most corrupt government under heavt
Several Senators responded in the afir
alive, and the whole body acquiesc
Thus the North and South, have for
one principle on which they can un.
and hat is the principle of corrupt
The rather singular trio of failui
corruption and rsviUaLs, will form the n
terials for the historian of the pres
time.
In Church. in State, and Social Socie
the condition of morals is wofu. II
esty. ~frankness and sincerity are ain
strangers among us, while trickery
double dealing. stalk in our midst.