The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1863-11-27
WEALTH, IT'S EFFECTS
Nationally and Individually.

Nationally and individually.
Iwonder if there is an old man or wo
man in the country that has not notice'
the great changes that have taken plac
in society within the last twenty fiv
years. And the question arises. wha
has produced these changes? Has the
great flow Of gold from California ant
Australia produced them? Is it the in
PRODUCTION and use Of railroads. .telegraphs
improvements in arts and sciences, and
the general prosperity Of the country!
An honest answer 10 these questions must
be given in the affirmative, aud these
questions naturally suggest others. Have
these prosperous times made better men
and women now than twenty-five years
ago? Are we more honest, more ohari-
table and less selfish? Are we bound by
stronger ties Of love toward God, our
relatives, our neighbo.s and mankind
generally? Is there any improvement in
manners or morals? And last but not
least, do we feel in our souls any increase
Of patriotism or love Of country To
these questions am reluctantly compel.
led to answer in the negative. And il l
am correct in these answers, they point
to still farther questions. Instead Of i'm.
proving in any Of these important par
siculars, are We not degenerating in all
Of them A degeneracy in all tha.
constitutes the goodness, happiness,
greatness and essentials of man. And
If this is the common effect Of wealth
and prosperity, why do we seek them with
such intense svidity! An avidisy that
knows no surfeit or safety, hunger that
is only aggravated by feeding.
I must frankly admit that am disguised
and confounded with the wild extrava-
gance Of these times. Were it confined
to individuals or neighborhoods only. it
would BE- more tolerabls, but we know
that our government is made Of these
Same materials. Therefore srsmble for it,
purify. setety and perpssuity. We as a
people and government have read his
tory to little purpose, il we decline and
fall as other nations have. Rome in her
rise and decline lasted thousand years,
and from signs Of the present times it
may be seriously doubted whether this gov
srnmen! Vll last halt, nay, a quarter as
long.
The history Of the rise Of nations
is their most interesting history, and that
Of Rome particularly SO. She rose from
semi-barbsrism to the highest state Of
civilization known at that day. Greece,
perhaps, excepted. And about the mid
die of her ascent, was her day Of purest
glory. At this time she was distinguish
ed for bravery. frmness, honor, imparti-
ality, truth and justice. and purer patri-
otism, and more intense love Of country,
than has ever been manifested by any
other nation. As a proofof these asser-
sions, will briefly relate one or two in
cidents Of her history. When Fabricius.
4 Roman ambassador, met Pyrrhus, the
Greek General, for the purpose Of ran-
sonicg some prisoners. they we're wsging
! bitter aan) Pyrrhus' physician made
proposals to Fabricius to destroy his
master by poison. Fabricius disdaining
IN advantage gained by treachery, told
Pyrrhus Of it. and thus put him on his
guard. Pyrrhus was SO much affected
~ the noble generosity of Fsbricils.
hat he liberated his Roman prisoners
without ransom an unusual, if not an un-
known act Of generosity at that day.
cannot refrain from telling another
incident still more remarkable. Rome
was at war with Carthage, and Regulus,
Ihs Roman General was taken prisoner.
The Carthageneaus being tired of the
war. sent him to Rome with offers Of
peace he was bound by oath to. return
and give himself up in case he did not
Accordingly, he went to Rome
md laid their propositions before the
6snats. The Senate asked his opinion on
he subject, and he frankly told them.
they could not honorably accede to the
propositions, and the Senate rendered a
decrss accordingly. He returned to
c.rthsge and made known the result Of