The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-14

The author of the Ostend Manifesto has quite
redeemed himself in Europe by his Duquesne
letter. No production of Mr.. BUCHANAN has been
SO acceptable to the foreign press in general, and
to the London Times in particular. 1t is, for that
oracle-a text, theme, sweet morsel under the
tongue,-a something to throw at Mr. BRIGHT,
and to confound all the friends of Republican In
situations, withal. In that epistle our venerable
PRESIDENT, deviating from established custom,
omits much of the usual rhodomontade of our
public men on public occasions-and accompanies
his congratulations to the men of Pittsburg, upon
their material prosperity, with some not needless,
remarks on the evils Of the day. He expresses
alarm at the venalty and corruption said to pre-
vail in our elections, and declares that if the next
centennial occurrence of the 25th of November is to
find us a people united, happy wealthy and
numerous beyond all precedent, the present
generation has duties to perform that must not be
neglected. This wise and kindly admonition from
the national Pater-familias- is regarded here
rather as the Inauguration of an era of better
taste in our public men, in its comparative freedom
from our besettingsin of vainglory-is looked upon
by The Times as an almost official admission of
the present decay and future downfall of the Re-
public. So thoroughly has boasting become part
of our character, and SO much has it imposed upon
the world, that we considered in danger of
immediate dissolution the moment we cease to
brag.
That wealthy and powerful nation should
develop vices not apparent in weak and poor
one, is not matter so strange in history or phoso
ply as to excite either establishment or serious
alarm. Corruption and venality are not the be-
setting sins Of poor but vigorous race. 1t is
only when people become rich enough to furnish
vast revenues, without inconvenience that such
things become possible, not only because the
temptations are then stronger, but because the op-
portunities increase. That vigilant economy which
is always the offspring of national poverty rather
than ofpublic virtue, is wanting-and legal pre-
cautions, which would have seemed ridiculous
when all eyes were instantly turned upon the
operations of the government become necessary
TO preserve the purity of institutions when, as
rwere, they are left to themselves Thus, in the
matter OF elections, although the common form of
vi corruption, through bribery and illegal voting,
was anticipated and provided against by our laws
'ne more dangerous and entire corruption
OF 'he oailot-box by means of completely between
those having the legal custody of il and q
party pretending to vote-appears never 70 have
been thought Of And yet our exner;enc. on The
point, we doubt not, will result in nrou;a;ns
safeguards which will render not only This .hn,a
but probably many Others, hereafter impossblo
There is an ebb as well as flow in the tide of nro
gress-or rather, as rising tide is succession of
waves, each of which spreads over more ground
than it is destined to occupy-though the mass Of
waters is steadily advancing-so national progress
is a perpetual fuctuation of impulse and recoil.
Usually devoted, as we are, to the development of
single idea at time, we push it to the point of
reaction-and then are shocked and reduced to
despair, at the operation of this wel-known law.
The waves of temperance, and kindred moral re-
forms, have successfully swept over the land, and
successively receded; and many, who observe
loosely and generalize hastily, think that more
has bean lost than gained but if they will care