The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-24
POLITICAL DECLINE.

POLITICAL DECLINE.
The United States have exhibited a very
remarkable progress in physical power and
prosperity. In that respect they may continue
TO advance. They have natural resources
which are susceptible of indefinite develop
ment. Every day is adding to the laboring
force, the Industrial skill, the mechanical
means, the capital, and the enterprise of the
country. The social condition of the people
has also improved in many important respects.
Increased facilities of education, a general
diffusion of intelligence, liberal demand for
labor, and like causes, have promoted personal
Independence and domestic comfort among
the masses, so that the distance between the
n1Iuent and the moderately well off multitude
20 reduced as to be hardly noticeable.
this Is most satisfactory to a just national
Z: Z. ff n I1ytas1 that that pride were without
1o Tor shame and humiliation. But the
AN is, that while we have been moving
ierd in material improvement we have
I6eb, for some years past, sadly retrogradng
II III bur political morals and circumstances.
This decline is so conspicuous and decided as
to excite general remark and serious appre-
hension. The fact, however, is most apparent
in the politicians of to-day, as compared with
the elevated personal virtue and public spirit
OF the statesmen of our Revolutionary period.
In that earlier and better era CT the Repub-
lcimen were content TO remain in retirement
until called into the service of the State by
the popular voice. The rage and struggle for
ata
were not known. In the public councils, the
public good was the sole or supreme aim.
There were differences of opinion as to princi-
ples and measures of government, but they
were honest differences. In the halls of legis-
lation and elsewhere, debate rarely arose on
any question not Immediately important to
the general welfare. II seldom descended into
hctious disputation, nor was it ever disgrsced
by the bullying tone and coarse invective of
mere personal alteration.
The members of the first, and next succeed
ing Congresses, were grave, dignifed, and
judicious citizens, who felt that they had
solemn work TO do and they did it honestly
and earnestly. They were as prompt as they
were direct and conscientious in the discharge
OF their high trust As they had no interest to
serve but that Of the State, they were frank
and fearless in their action; as they sought
only truth and right in their discussions, they
dealt in no sophistry, INDUCED in no in
temperate appeals TO passion, listened
patiently to argument, and were open to con-
Viction, whencesoever it might come; and as
they were gentlemen, they were at all times
entirely decorOus in their public as well as in
their private intercourse. And how admirable
for learning, wisdom, virtue, and eloquence
were those first assemblies which legislated
for The nation! With what sagaeious forecast,
with what singleness of will, with what loyalty
of purpose, with what proioundness of jndg-
ment did they plan and lay the foundation Of
our liberties There was not small and
feeble soul in that immortal company Of
patriots.
There are few, if any such men in our State
and National Councils now. Why is thisP
Has the race died out2 Have we no longer
an OTIs, an ADAMS, HENRY, RUTLEDGE,
q FBAHKLIS, a JAY, in all our thirty odd
millions Of peopleP The Congress Of 1883
was composed of the best talent and virtue
ol the country. Is it possible that the present
Congress contains the very flower of the wis
dom and integrity of the nation? II il does,
how lamentably have we degenerated! But
melody imagines that the worthiest citizens OF
the Republic are to be found in its legislative
departments. Why are they not placed there
Is il not of the highest importance that the
National Councils should be directed by the
ablest minds-quite as important as it was
seventy years agoP
We shall not now notice even the more pro-
minent Of the injurious consequences of this
decline in the character of our public men
and that decay Of popular virtue to which the
fact is chiefly attributable. One Of the striking
results, however, is the deplorable weakness
and lieentioUsness of legislation. The public
good has ceased almost entirely to be a con-
trolling element in our politics. Unless
the people, who alone have the power, apply
corrective they must expect the most fatal
undermining of their liberties and happiness.
Let then begin In the present campaign, and
select those who have proved tbeir devotion
to the great principles Of liberty upon which
our form Of Government was based ana which
for half century have been departed from
Let them turn a deaf ear 10 demaeoonos
whose stock in trade consists of appeals 10 tbe
lowest passions and meanest prejudices of the
mob. and who show by their ineendiary an
peals and lnfaming denunclations that they