Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-02
The Rcvel OF Kuin-Teachings Of
History
from the Round Table. /

From the Round Table
II has been said, not once but hundred times,
that stranger landing in New York would never
dream that a war was desOlating the land. he
would see the streets alive with brilliant equip
ages, the shops filled with the cOstliest and most
luxurious goods, the theatres nightly crowded
with CAV and we'll dressed audiences; he would
see cafes, rvalng the most splendid establish
ments of Paris, ablaze with light: from humid
red houses the sweet clamor' of music poured
upon the air, thrilling in tuue to the movement OF
"dancers dancing in tune" All this he would see,
and if he a stranger content to Judge things
bv their superficial aspect only, he might go away
amazed TO 6nd the fearful events which iDr three
wears have been laundering upon our devoted
country, so overcome Us. like summer : cloud
without our special wonder"
But if the inquiring stranger will only look
little more deeply into the state of things about
MIN, and il lie be but ever slightly familiar
with the story of the past, he will see abund-
ant occasion To recognize the working OF an
cent and irresistible laws upon the social or
der in which se live He will see the bands of
social justice. equity. decency, everywhere re-
laxed; he will see men less respectful OF their
social obligations, women less tender of their
social rights; he will see the appetite of wealth
and euoy ment middenIng IN the eyes, and max
ing eager the faces that he meets; he will see.
"a it were, overcastng the whole gay aud gur-
geous panorama about him. the far-fnng shadow
of those awful wings OF death which are win
rowing the land from Z ,st to West. over So
many hundred thousand miles OF what but "a
brief three years ago was the rich anu prosperous
home of a happy aud high spirited people,
shadow which those who do not sec it feel; q
shadow which breeds that burning reckles-ness
of the olden time. "let Us eat and drink. for
Tomorrow die
Felt in our highways and byways, this avn full
shadow reveals itself in the increase of violent
and horrible crimes The sanctlty of life aud
property dies out of the popular heart as the
pressure OF want grows daily heavier the re
ward of labor becomes daily more uncertain. as
its value becomes daily more capracious-
Felt ia the higher circles OF life, where property
exists but the wings of property are seen daily
and visby expanding. where the call of the
dragon of battle for human lives is heard only
afir off and only disturbs the repose without
threatening the safety OF men, this shadow gives
a keener Zest to the Immediate satisfaction OF the
moment and urges not To crimes OF violence
/ but to crimes which may be called crimes of de-
/ sire 10 the "lust of the ewes and the pride OF
! life" All things are taking hight-why not
principles. hopes. purposes. old religions. tradi-
/ tional agencies, the transmitted morals OF anO;h
/ er ageI
In the most tearful cTisS OF the past, THESE
same phenomena, which TO the seeing eve mark
our lite OF To day, swept the great cities oil
/ men Florence saw them when the singers Oi
! Decameron strung their lutes and laughed the
( summer hours away upon the SUNNY yine-clad
/ nights % Fle-ole. while far below the pe>tence
ragged. turning men into demons of despair and
selfishness. Germany saw them when, out OF
the bloody aud rampled fields of he thirty years
war. sprang up a horrible harvest of murder and
madness. OF sensual fury and sensual license
France them when pestIlence and ruin sta Ell
hand in hand over the fair Kingdom. John Law
and the plague dividing the bodies and the estates
! OF a million of men in general bankruptcy Ol
health and We lth.
Never WIS Paris OF the Regency 80 CAV ~ on
the OF the explosion OF the Mississippi scheme
and the morrow of the triumph OF the plague
Men and women hurried from test, al to festival
from ball To ball Masked balls above al
abOunded," human hearts broken or hi ,ddereC
long I'd for mystery ~ well ~ madness flung
themselves desperately upon the lottery ct lite
snd death, staked the worthless remnant Ot their
fortune and their wears against lew moment,
more of illusion and frenzy We. not quiz.
vet reached the point OF PARIS in lI20. but We
are drifting hravely On 10 it.
Then" the historian tells Us four max
came TO ball. bringing fifth who seemed
mimic of death The thing was beautifully done
every one laughed Suddenly the tour dsappe
Ell, the fifth remained. The filth, in truth. was
simply dead Z"
This, YOU will say. the sublime of mora
disease But like causes engender like result,
all the world over and in all time Ont of th,
sweeping humiliation OF gigantic vision o
wealth this hideous extravaganza of devilry rose
The schemes of Law had enriched with apptren
wealth the whole active population of France
The shares OF bis company and his treasur'
notes were IN all hands When the settling ds,
came. all their earthly having melted ava, il
the hands of a million families Al France La,
thought its hands iull, opened them. and founc
nothing!
Ia he recoil Of this fearful shock. reason
sense. public morals, private confidence. alike
went down The less any man hid the more h
>pen, |; w. no longer a race after pleasure: i
arace FOR traction. for oblivion, for suicide
Men seemed mad "a sweep away AZ one blow ever
thing that was EFT 10 them. lie erminei 70 disAp
pear themSeiVes in the whirlpool which had >wal-
loved 20 their fortunes. iLer hopes. their peac
and their plans
We laugh aud are merry 70 dav. But undo
the sun there i no;hing new The thing which
has been shall De. and that iorevermOre.
Greeley breaks out IN the following fashion